lly packaged foods, commercially fried food such as french fries, and other processed foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.
Why are trans fats used?
They are used by manufacturers to reduce cost as well as to extend storage life of products. In addition, it is used to improve flavor, shape, and texture.
Here are examples of foods high in cholesterol that should be avoided:
Coconut oil and palm oils, hydrogenated oils and margarines, shortening, and lard
High refined sugar foods should also be avoided as they too are responsible for keeping the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol high.
- Foods High in Cholesterol -
Diets for High Cholesterol
1. Include the following in your diet, which are considered cholesterol-lowering foods: olive oil, garlic, dried beans, grapefruit, cold-water fish, carrots, bananas, and apples.
2. Consume plenty of fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Experts state that water-soluble fiber, which is found in barley, beans, brown rice, oats, glucomannan, and fruits are very important in reducing serum cholesterol. The best foods that lower cholesterol are oat bran and brown rice bran. However, in moderation, brown rice and whole grain cereals are also good.
3. Juices, especially fresh carrot, celery, and beet juice is recommended. In fact, carrot juice helps to flush out fat from the bile in the liver. As such, this helps to lower cholesterol.
4. Consume more monounsaturated fats found in canola, olive and peanut oils, which may help lower high cholesterol levels and raise good cholesterol levels (HDLs) when used in place of saturated and trans fats. Pure virgin olive oil is recommended. However, a moderate intake of all types of fat is best.
5. Polyunsaturated fats, which are found in corn, soybean, safflower, and cottonseed oils as well as cold water fish may also help lower high cholesterol levels and raise good cholesterol levels (HDLs) when used in place of saturated and trans fats. Again, a moderate intake of all types of fat is best.
6. Reduce or try to eliminate coffee consumption because large amounts of coffee may elevate cholesterol levels.
7. Avoid heated fats, alcohol, cakes, candy, carbonated drinks, tea, gravies, nondairy creamers, pies, processed or refined foods, refined carbohydrates, tobacco, and white bread.
In summary, avoid and/or reduce foods high in cholesterol and consume diets rich of unprocessed foods such as whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, the body needs some fats, but it must be the right kinds of fat such as those discussed above to help lower cholesterol levels.
- Foods High in Cholesterol -
About Prescription Medications
In addition to avoiding foods high in cholesterol, many doctors prescribe cholesterol lowering medications known as statins to help lower LDL levels in the body.
However, it's important to note the following about cholesterol lowering statins:
These drugs have demonstrated that they decrease or even deplete the levels of COQ10. Statin drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed by the liver to manufacture cholesterol. As such, statins reduce cholesterol production by inhibiting this enzyme. However, this same enzyme is also involved in the production of COQ10. In other words, these statin drugs inhibit the enzyme that's involved in the production of both cholesterol and COQ10.
Therefore, the danger in this COQ10 and statins connection is that recent studies suggests that such COQ10 deficiency can cause cognitive, muscular, cardiovascular, and other problems. Conversely, researchers have found that CoQ10 supplementation can combat these worrisome concerns.
Is there an alternative to cholesterol lowering medications?
Actually, there are some very well studied
natural supplements that have shown to have excellent results in lowering cholesterol levels.
Although they are not a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise, they can be a very powerful component in promoting you're overall heart health goals.
- Foods High in Cholesterol -
Natural Supplements to Fight Cholesterol
Policosanol 