A type of food that makes your cholesterol soar, many people don’t know (it’s not eggs)

As living standards improve, our dining tables become more and more abundant, but this is accompanied by an increase in cholesterol levels.

In a report released in 2020, Nature magazine pointed out that China has become one of the countries with the highest cholesterol levels in the world.

So the question is, what impact will high cholesterol have on the human body?

First of all, we need to know that cholesterol is not a bad thing. It is an important component of cell membranes and is involved in the synthesis of hormones and vitamin D in the body.

Zeqiao original copyright contact

However, more cholesterol is not necessarily better. Too much cholesterol will form plaques in blood vessels, causing blood vessels to become blocked and narrowed, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases .

On the contrary, too low cholesterol levels can weaken cell membrane stability, increase the fragility of blood vessel walls, and even affect hormone balance and immunity, increasing the risk of cerebral hemorrhage and cancer.

The three major causes of cholesterol

To control cholesterol, we must first understand the factors that affect its level. In addition to genetic factors, there are three acquired factors:

1. Metabolic disease factors : such as hypothyroidism, liver disease , etc., may affect the synthesis or metabolism of cholesterol.

2. Bad lifestyle habits : Habits such as smoking will increase the level of bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

Zeqiao original copyright contact

3. Bad eating habits : Excessive intake of foods containing saturated fat and trans fat , such as cream, fried foods, etc., will significantly increase the cholesterol level in the blood.

In our daily diet, there are several foods that will make cholesterol soar . We'd better eat less or avoid them:

• Egg yolks : goose egg yolks, chicken egg yolks, duck egg yolks, etc., although rich in nutrients, the cholesterol content is very high.

• Animal offal : such as liver, kidney, etc., have very high cholesterol content.

• Animal brains : such as pig brains, cow brains, sheep brains, etc., have extremely high cholesterol content.

• Dairy products : such as cream and butter, contain more saturated fat.

• Fried foods : such as fried chicken, French fries, etc., are likely to produce trans fatty acids during the production process.

Cholesterol's "nemesis": four types of food to help

So, how can we regulate cholesterol levels through diet? The following are four types of food, known as the "killer" of cholesterol:

1. Foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids : such as beans, nuts, vegetable oils and fish oils. The unsaturated fatty acids in these foods can help regulate the activity of "bad cholesterol" and keep cholesterol levels stable.

2. High dietary fiber foods : such as apples, corn, oats, etc. Dietary fiber can not only reduce cholesterol synthesis, but also promote cholesterol excretion, thereby regulating cholesterol levels in the body.

3. Foods high in plant sterols : such as purple rice, peanuts, coix seeds, etc. Plant sterols can inhibit cholesterol absorption and reduce cholesterol levels. Studies have found that consuming 2 to 3 grams of plant sterols per day can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14%.

4. Red yeast rice food : Red yeast rice is a traditional Chinese medicine that has the effect of removing blood stasis, promoting blood circulation, and also has a positive effect on lowering cholesterol. However, it should be noted that other molds may be mixed into red yeast rice during the fermentation process, so it must be purchased through formal channels.