High levels of bad cholesterol can be influenced by the food we consume. If the levels are not controlled, bad cholesterol will be harmful to the health of the body. Therefore, it is important for you to recognize and limit the intake of foods that contain bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a component of fat in the blood that the body needs to help produce new cells and hormones. In general, there are 2 types of cholesterol, namely bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) and good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL).
LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol because when levels are too high, this cholesterol can lead to the formation of plaques that clog the walls of blood vessels (atherosclerosis). This can then increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Meanwhile, high levels of HDL or good cholesterol are actually good for health because they can help reduce bad cholesterol levels.
Various Foods High in Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol is produced naturally in the liver, but can also be obtained from a variety of foods. Bad cholesterol levels in food can vary, some are high and some are low.
Here are some kinds of foods that are synonymous with bad cholesterol:
1. Fried
Various fried foods, such as potatoes and fried chicken, may be one of the favorite foods of almost all people.
However, you have to be careful when eating these foods, because fried foods tend to be high in calories and contain lots of saturated fat and trans fat, which can increase bad cholesterol in the blood.
Fried foods are also usually less healthy because their nutritional value has been reduced. This is because the high temperature in the frying process can reduce the amount of nutrients in the food.
To be healthier, you need to limit the amount of fried foods consumed. In addition, to add nutritional value to food, you should choose a healthy type of oil for frying, such as olive oil, coconut oil, or soybean oil.
You can also choose to process food by sautéing, grilling, boiling, or steaming, so that the nutritional value is still good.
2. Fast food
Just like fried food, the habit of eating fast food, such as pizza, hamburger, and hot dogIt can also increase bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels.
The occasional consumption of fast food may still be safe. However, if it is too often or too much, quite the opposite. This unhealthy diet can increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and even cancer.
3. Rib steak
Rib steak including foods that have a lot of cholesterol. In 1 serving of rib eye steak contains about 11 grams of fat, and most of this type of fat is saturated fat and bad cholesterol.
If you want to maintain cholesterol levels, you should limit the consumption of rib eye steak. Instead, you can choose a steak with other cuts of meat that are lower in fat, such as sirloin.
4. Lobster
Lobster is a type of seafood (seafood) which contains a lot of cholesterol. In every 100 grams of lobster meat contained about 145 milligrams of cholesterol. This amount has reached about 70% of the recommended daily limit for cholesterol intake.
The content of bad cholesterol can be even higher, if the lobster is served with mayonnaise sauce or with other fried foods.
5. Offal
Offal is rich in protein and vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A and iron, but these foods also contain high levels of bad cholesterol.
Therefore, offal is generally not recommended for consumption by people who suffer from high cholesterol. In addition, offal also contain lots of purines which can increase uric acid.
Several types of offal or organs in animals that contain high cholesterol include the heart, intestines, liver, and brain. Therefore, you should limit or avoid the consumption of offal if you want to control bad cholesterol levels.
In addition to the foods above, there are also several other high-bad cholesterol foods that need to be limited, namely dairy products that are high in fat, such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream.
Those are various types of foods that are identical to bad cholesterol and need to be limited in the amount of intake. If you already suffer from high cholesterol, it's a good idea to completely avoid these types of foods.
In addition to limiting or avoiding foods that contain a lot of bad cholesterol, you also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to keep the amount of cholesterol in balance, for example by maintaining an ideal body weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
You also need to eat nutritious foods that are high in fiber, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and limit your consumption of fatty foods, including processed foods and canned meats, to prevent high cholesterol.
If you still have questions about the types of foods that contain a lot of bad cholesterol or need advice and tips related to improving your diet, you can consult a nutritionist to get recommendations for the right diet, according to your health condition.
