The risks of high cholesterol

Sometimes the foods you love don't love you back because they are high in saturated fats and they are the main cause of high cholesterol in your blood, which can be a threat to your health. The two main types of fat found in food are saturated and unsaturated. Most foods have a mix of both. Saturated fat is particularly responsible for high cholesterol. Over time, high cholesterol can clog your arteries and then you're at risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Saturated fat is found mostly in foods that come from animals: fatty cuts of meat from beef, pork and lamb, butter or cheese. Plants such as cocoa butter, palm oil and coconut oil are also high in saturated fat. For high cholesterol levels to drop, you need to reduce unhealthy food from your menu. Therefore, in dealing with high cholesterol, you should watch what you eat and how much you eat! Some foods, such as liver, are higher in saturated fats than others, but that's no reason to avoid them altogether. Trim visible fat before you cook meats. Take off poultry skin before eating. To help remove fat, bake, steam, roast, broil, stew, or boil instead of frying. You also need to keep in mind that there's no cholesterol in plant foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains. High cholesterol will no longer be a problem if you choose a permanent vegetarian diet. It's important to stay in shape as you guard against high cholesterol. Experts recommend 30 minutes or more of physical activity such as jogging, walking, gardening, climbing stairs or playing sports most days of the week. These activities can be done in 10-minute intervals during different parts of the day. They improve the blood circulation and they are efficient against high cholesterol. If you're over 20, you need to get to a doctor to have your cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Older people are more likely to have high cholesterol and they should get tested more frequently. Patients with high cholesterol levels should stop taking medication that affects cholesterol absorption.