You may think of Cholesterol as a particle in the blood that all humans and animals need to live. But in this day and age, we have too much of it. Cholesterol’s main role is to create a membrane (like a bubble) that surrounds molecules in the body and helps them move from one place to another.
When it comes to foods that are extremely bad for cholesterol, we immediately think of animal products, especially red meat and processed foods. When we eat these foods, we are taking in a lot of dietary cholesterol, especially saturated fat, which has been shown to increase cholesterol levels. So the number one message is to reduce your saturated fat intake to at least less than 10% of your daily calories.
Foods that are extremely bad for people with high cholesterol include the following four types:
1. Red meat
Beef, pork, and lamb are typically high in saturated fat. Meats such as ground meat, ribs, pork chops, and roasts are the highest in fat. You don’t have to avoid meat completely, just eat it occasionally. Limit your recommended serving size to 3 ounces and stick to leaner cuts like loin, pork tenderloin, or beef tenderloin.
Even better, replace meat with proteins that are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, such as skinless chicken or turkey breast, fish, and beans.
2. Fried foods
Foods that have been deep-fried, such as chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings, are the worst cholesterol foods. Frying increases the energy density, or calorie count, of the food.
If you like the crunch of fried foods, use an air fryer and toss them in a little olive oil. Or grill foods like french fries and chicken on high heat until they are golden brown.
3. Processed meats
Hot dogs, sausages, and bacon use the fattiest cuts of red meat, so they tend to be high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Bacon and sausages made from turkey or chicken may seem healthier, and they are slightly lower in cholesterol than red meats, but they are not cholesterol-free.
4. Baked goods
Cookies, cakes, and pies are often made with large amounts of butter and shortening, which makes them high in cholesterol. You don’t have to give up desserts entirely, just make some substitutions. When baking, use applesauce or bananas instead of butter. Or use low-fat frozen yogurt topped with berries for dessert.
To live a happy life, you need to keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy state, and there are some foods that can help you do this.
Here are some of the different ways these foods lower cholesterol that you can use every day:
- Oats
- Barley and other whole grains
- Eggplant and okra
- Nuts
- Vegetable oils
- Apples, grapes, strawberries
- Soybeans
- Fatty fish
And remember that not all foods that are high in cholesterol are bad for you. For example, eggs are relatively high in cholesterol. But they don’t raise cholesterol levels as much as saturated fat. And they’re also high in protein and other nutrients.
