Food Hospital - Low Cholesterol Diet

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Food Hospital - Low Cholesterol Diet

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid. It is vital for the body to work properly as it is used to produce hormones, cell membranes, bile acid and vitamin D. However, having excessive amounts of lipids in your blood can increase the risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks or stroke.

Cholesterol is carried around the blood on molecules known as lipoproteins that come in two types: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL (or ‘bad’ cholesterol) can narrow or ‘fur up’ the arteries if too much is produced. HDL (or ‘good’ cholesterol) carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver where it can be broken down and removed from the body as a waste product. In general, a healthy diet should be low in LDL and high in HDL.

Foods that are high in saturated fats are bad for your cholesterol. These include red meats, butter, processed meats, cakes, biscuits, coconut oil and palm oil. Foods that contain unsaturated fats are good for cholesterol and can actually help lower cholesterol levels. These include oily fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. Trans fats can also raise cholesterol levels. These are often found in animal products or foods containing hydrogenated vegetable oils.