Five Worst Foods for Cholesterol

Be sure to avoid the below, or simply eat in moderation, to keep dangerous cholesterol from rising and stay low.

1. Butter: One of the highest sources of cholesterol in the land, it can contain as much as 30 mg of cholesterol per tablespoon. This is true for butters both with and without salt. With many healthy alternatives, this is one choice that is easy to avoid.

2. Ice Cream: Due to their high content of cream, sugar, and other additives, ice cream can be extremely bad for both health and cholesterol. Many popular brands and flavors can contain half a day’s saturated fat and a third of the day’s fat and cholesterol in a half cup, or about half a scoop, of serving. On this site, simply click your favorite flavor of popular ice cream to read the nutrition facts label.

3. Breakfast Meats: These include bacon, sausage – both link and patty, ham, and other meats. They are extremely high in calories, fat, cholesterol, and phosphates. Simply click Nutrition Facts on this leading breakfast restaurant to get astounding numbers.

4. Shortening: Full of calories and trans fat, this substance is found in pie crusts and fried food. Also dangerous for cholesterol is the high contents of partially hydrogenated fats. All of the above have been shown to be bad for those looking to lower bad cholesterol and raise the good.

5. Super Burgers: Containing just about all of the above, these burgers are made with fatty, preserved meat, cooked in butter and, when loaded with extras like bacon and cheese, are awful for cholesterol. They are also high in saturated fats, calories, and, of course, cholesterol. On this site, the worst burgers from drive-thru to specialty are discussed.

Five Best foods for Cholesterol

Now that you know what to avoid, you can actually eat more of other foods to lower cholesterol. A handful of some of the below foods have been shown to make a big impact on your cholesterol levels and are far preferable to chewing grainy supplements.

6. Fatty Fish: Don’t think fish fry when you hear that. These fish actually include oily ones such as salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and trout, preferably baked, poached, and cooked without butter or oils. They are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol.

7. Oat Bran: A study published in “The Journal of the American Medical Association” showed that adults who ate a large bowl of oat bran on a daily basis significantly lowered their blood cholesterol levels. They even found that lowering one percent in cholesterol levels could reduce heart disease mortality by about two percent. Three grams of soluble fiber per day is the norm for those looking to lower it.

8. Walnuts: The FDA recognized the cholesterol-lowering properties of walnuts in March 2004. This is due to the high amounts of omega-3-fatty acids, particularly alpha linoleic acid and phytosterols. Other nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios have similar properties.

9. Alcohol?: Before you run off to the liquor store, only in moderate levels is alcohol considered to help with HDL cholesterol levels. The medical profession recommends a drink a day for women and two for men, but only for those who already drink. Others with past or present drinking problems, liver disease, and other health issues are not advised to drink.

10. Plant Sterols/Stanols: Found in certain fruits, vegetables, and legumes, these nutrients have a profound effect on LDL cholesterol. They work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine without lowering HDL cholesterol. Foods high in plant sterols/stanols include sesame seeds, olive oil, and even commercial products like Benecol and Smart Balance spreads.

Bonus for Cholesterol

Check out the below resource from a leading site to aid in your fight with cholesterol.

Cholesterol Health Check: This free tool from WebMD will help you get a professional personalized cholesterol health assessment. This is accomplished in only a few minutes by answering a few simple questions. Multiple choice questions ask about history, lifestyle, etc.

Before you make serious changes to your diet after reading the ten best and worst foods for cholesterol, be sure to consult your physician.