It can be challenging to know what lifestyle changes to make when you have high cholesterol. But if one thing’s for sure, it’s that there are certain types of food that you should avoid at all costs. Here are 8 foods you generally shouldn’t eat if you have high cholesterol.
Red Meat
It’s a well-known fact that red meat is high in saturated fat, which can raise “bad” cholesterol levels. Therefore, as stated by Harvard Health, it’s best to avoid as many forms of red meat as possible, including pork, lamb, beef, very fatty cuts of meat, and highly processed meats.
Butter
Butter is another food high in saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol levels over time. While this may seem like a hard food to avoid, as it is used in many different recipes, you can easily switch it out for healthier alternatives such as olive oil, avocado oil, or healthier forms of margarine.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are often high in trans fat, which raises LDL cholesterol levels. As such, those with high cholesterol should avoid foods such as French fries, doughnuts, and fried chicken. Healthier forms of cooking include baking, steaming, or grilling.
Full-Fat Dairy Products
Full-fat dairy products naturally have much higher levels of saturated fat than their healthier counterparts. Because of this, it’s best to skip out on full-fat milk, cream, or cheese. Lower-fat options of the same foods make a healthier alternative and can still taste amazing.
Processed Meats
Like red meat, forms of processed meat, such as hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats, usually contain higher amounts of saturated fat and sodium. Frequently consuming these products can raise your bad cholesterol levels, so it’s best to cut them out of your diet if you already have high cholesterol.
Commercially Baked Goods
Commercially baked goods are delicious and convenient, but sadly, being healthy is not one of their strong suits. These products are commonly made with trans fats and can be high in saturated fat, making them a poor choice for anyone with high cholesterol levels.
Fast Food
Fast food can be cheap and convenient, but it’s also loaded with saturated fat, calories, and trans fat. All of these components are a recipe for disaster for anyone with high cholesterol, so it’s recommended to cut your intake as much as possible.
Egg Yolks
Eggs are good to eat as part of a balanced, nutritious diet. However, if you’re frequently consuming foods made with just the yolk, you could be putting your health at risk. Egg yolks are especially high in cholesterol, so it’s important to be mindful of your intake.