PharmEasy Blog

High Cholesterol Diet – Foods to Eat & Avoid!

Heart disease is the primary cause of deaths around the world. Having too much cholesterol can lead to severe cardiac issues. Thankfully, you can control and reduce the cholesterol levels by watching what you eat, i.e. the right cholesterol foods. Everything that you ingest has an impact on the cholesterol levels. Here is our cholesterol food list that  increases cholesterol and foods that lower cholesterol.

The Good Foods List aka Cholesterol Foods to Eat  

1. Legumes

Eating your pulses, beans, and peas will ensure that the cholesterol levels stay in check. They are rich in fiber, protein, and essential minerals. They are not calorie-dense so help with weight management too.

2. Nuts

Nuts are rich in protein, monounsaturated fats (good fats) and other nutrients. They improve heart health, regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol. They are known as cholesterol absorbing foods.

3. Whole Grains

Eating whole grains like oats, barley, and quinoa help to reduce cholesterol and improve cardiac health. They are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They help lower LDL (the bad cholesterol).

Researchers believe that saturated fat levels are high in whole milk, butter, full-fat yoghurt, and cheese, that may raise the levels of bad cholesterol by many folds. I suggest choosing part-skim cheeses like Swiss or mozzarella in your cooking and keeping your weekly cheese intake to no more than 3 ounces. To receive your daily dose of calcium, drink skim (non-fat), 1%, or 2% milk. Choose yoghurt that is low or non-fat. Instead of butter, use extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

4. Fruits

Fruits are full of soluble fiber that they are known as cholesterol-lowering foods. They stop the formation of cholesterol from being formed in the liver itself. They prevent heart issues due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Apples, grapes, citrus, and berries are good options.

5. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has a high amount of antioxidants. This leads to a reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol) and prevents its oxidation in the body leading to a better heart function. Take note to eat a less sweet variety to keep sugar levels in check.

Read More: Dark Chocolate Health Benefits

Foods to Avoid for Cholesterol

1. Refined Vegetable Oil

All refined vegetable oils undergo a process of hydrogenation to improve their shelf life. Try to use virgin or cold-pressed oils. Refined versions of safflower, canola, corn, and soy oil are harmful to your health.

2. Packaged Food

Processed and packaged food is high in trans fats and increases the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. Stay away from chips, crackers and other snack items that come in packets.

3. Ice Cream and Cream Cheese

Ice cream has more fat than ten doughnuts. If you want to lower cholesterol levels, stay away from cream cheese and ice creams as they are very calorie-dense.

4. Fried Foods

When food is fried, its nutritive value decreases and trans fats increase making it very harmful. So avoid French fries and pakoras if lowering cholesterol is your aim.

5. Commercial Baked Goods

Most commercial baked goods are made with hydrogenated oil and are loaded with sugar. They make a delicious treat, but they are terrible for your cholesterol levels. Cookies, muffins, pastries, candies, and cakes come under this list.

6. Microwave Popcorn

Microwave popcorn is full of butter and salt and increases the LDL in the body. A fat-free version with very little or no salt would be a better alternative.

Eating right and making healthy food choices will ensure that your cardiac health and your cholesterol levels are good.

Did you know butter and sugar, used in baking cookies, cakes, and doughnuts, may increase bad cholesterol in the blood? Butter and sugar are rich in saturated fats and cholesterol, which may raise blood triglyceride levels and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. I suggest making your sweets at home instead, sticking to recipes that don’t use much butter.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Good Cholesterol Vs Bad Cholesterol

Note that the above-mentioned foods are aimed at reducing the levels of bad cholesterol aka LDL. High cholesterol usually refers to poor health caused by LDL. But there is a counterpart called HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is considered to be good cholesterol. HDL takes proteins and sends them off to the liver, where they can be broken down and removed as waste. Certain foods like olive oil, grains, beans, fibre-rich foods and fatty fish are all great sources of HDL. When you take your blood test, it is important that your LDL levels are low and your HDL levels are high.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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Ref

  1. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations
  2. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/cooking-to-lower-cholesterol
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/prevention.htm#:~:text=Foods%20that%20are%20higher%20in,grains%3B%20and%20fruits%20and%20vegetables.
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