High Cholesterol Foods: Learn which ones are healthier for the heart
You’ve probably heard the buzz about the good and bad cholesterol, and the negative effect of bad cholesterol can have on the health of the heart. Some foods with high cholesterol content now being considered good, while others are bad, trying to determine what foods high in cholesterol are actually beneficial to the health of your heart can be confusing!
Figuring out the Difference Between the Two
Scientifically, we will see the difference in how your body processes the good cholesterol against bad cholesterol:
- Good cholesterol or HDL. Types of cholesterol do some sort of process of “recycling” in the overall excess cholesterol, takes the excess back to the liver for excretion. This can help remove cholesterol attached to the blood vessels.
- Bad cholesterol or LDL. Your body stores of this type of cholesterol on artery walls. Such deposits narrow ducts and eventually block blood flow to vital organs of the body, including the heart. Foods containing saturated fats and trans are generally high in LDL.
Where to Find Good Cholesterol
Now that you know how they differ, it is time to take a look at the foods you really have good cholesterol so you can eat them and avoid those that do not. To make the identification process food easier, take note of the main components of good cholesterol:
- Monounsaturated fats or MUFAs. These fats are the main component of good cholesterol and are found mainly in fruits, nuts, and wheat.
- Polyunsaturated fats or PUFAs. These fats are also significantly present in the good cholesterol foods and products typically found in corn, sunflower plant, and fish oils. Specifically, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for increasing HDL to LDL relationship.
These foods are excellent sources of MUFA, PUFA, and omega-3 fatty acids and are effective in providing the body with healthy cholesterol heart:
- Avocado. Avocado used to get a bad rap about being too rich in cholesterol. However, that was before people knew that it’s actually a great source of HDL cholesterol that effectively combats bad cholesterol.
- Olive oil. Olive oil and oil from peanuts and canola also have great levels of heart-healthy cholesterol. You can get wonderful results when you use them for cooking.
- Almonds. While other nuts also have some traces of good cholesterol, almonds perhaps have the most. Replacing unhealthy snacks, such as chips, with a handful of unsalted almonds, raw can make a difference in your heart health.
- Shrimp. This is another food that gets a bad rap, and although it has a certain amount of LDL, HDL has enough to fight against its negative effects because of the fish oils of natural origin. Salmon and tuna are also major sources of residential HDL sea.
- Eggs. Not only they have good cholesterol eggs, but also have a lot of other nutritional properties. This is certainly one of those foods to maintain a stock of home.
What Else Can Healthy High Cholesterol Foods Do For The Body?
You might be pleasantly surprised to know that the food items previously listed can also aid in helping you maintain:
- Peak mental performance
- Increased energy and stamina
- Excellent health
After reading this, you’ll probably be relieved to know that not all of those high cholesterol foods you’ve been eating are actually bad for you! In fact, some of them, like the ones listed above, are extremely good for you – in moderation, of course.
But most importantly, they protect your heart from being exposed to heart disease by fighting the negative effects of bad cholesterol. Now that you know these facts, which once again can enjoy foods high in cholesterol – as long as they contain the beneficial type of cholesterol (HDL).
Please comment on the article “ High Cholesterol Foods ”. Thanks
