Most people know that high level of blood cholesterol can lead to blocked arteries. If an artery that supplies blood to your heart becomes blocked, a heart attack may occur. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke could occur. Still, confusion abounds over the role of diet in effecting cholesterol.
Although often portrayed as a dietary evil, cholesterol is essential to life. The body needs it to make sex hormones, bile, vitamin D, cell membranes and nerve sheaths. These and other functions fall to serum cholesterol, a waxy, fat like compound, termed a “lupid”, which circulates in the blood stream. The liver manufactures about a gram each day, which is all the body requires.
Dietary cholesterol found only in animal products. The body does not need this cholesterol, but anyone other than a strict vegetarian who excludes all animal products will consume varying amounts of it. Many factors exercise, genetics, gender and other components of the diet influence how the human body processes dietary cholesterol; some people can consume large amounts but have normal blood levels, while others eat very little but have high blood cholesterol. Diet appears to account for about 20% of the cholesterol in the body, with the remaining 80% produced by the liver.
Foods that may raise cholesterol
Foods that may lower cholesterol
Although often portrayed as a dietary evil, cholesterol is essential to life. The body needs it to make sex hormones, bile, vitamin D, cell membranes and nerve sheaths. These and other functions fall to serum cholesterol, a waxy, fat like compound, termed a “lupid”, which circulates in the blood stream. The liver manufactures about a gram each day, which is all the body requires.
Dietary cholesterol found only in animal products. The body does not need this cholesterol, but anyone other than a strict vegetarian who excludes all animal products will consume varying amounts of it. Many factors exercise, genetics, gender and other components of the diet influence how the human body processes dietary cholesterol; some people can consume large amounts but have normal blood levels, while others eat very little but have high blood cholesterol. Diet appears to account for about 20% of the cholesterol in the body, with the remaining 80% produced by the liver.
Foods that may raise cholesterol
- Hard margarine and vegetable shortening, which are high in saturated fats and trans fatty acids.
- Cookies, cakes, pastries and chocolates, especially those made with saturated tropical oils or partially hydro-genated oils.
- Full-fat dairy products, such as cream, cheese and butter all are high in saturated fats.
- Fatty meats and meat products, such as marbled beef, pork and lamb chops, hamburgers, bacon, frankfurters, salamis, and other cold cuts.
Foods that may lower cholesterol
- Whole-wheat, pumpernickel, rye, and multigrain breads and rolls.
- Oatmeal and breakfast cereals that contain oat or rice bran, as well as tofu and other soya products.
- Nonhydrogenated soft margarine, Olive oil and canola oil, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed and soy bean oils.
- Vegetables such as sweet corn, onions, garlic lima beans, kidney beans and other legumes.
- Fruits such as orange, apples, pears, bananas, and such dried fruits as apricots, figs and prunes.
- Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans; seeds such as sesame and sunflower seeds.
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