Eating well in order to lower your cholesterol doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many delicious and healthy choices out there, whether you’re trying to avoid animal products, trying to lose weight, or simply trying to eat healthier. But 15 Worst Foods for Cholesterol is a list that will definitely help you eat better, stay healthier, and even shed those pounds.
Here Are Fifteen Worst Foods for Cholesterol:
- French Fries
There is no denying that French fries are delicious. Unfortunately, while these fried treats are arguably one of the most satisfying foods out there, they are also one of the biggest threats to your heart. French fries are packed with unhealthy saturated fat, and, as you might expect because of their name, they are fried in copious amounts of oil and, therefore, have a high amount of trans fats.
- Red Meat
Red meat is high in saturated fat. The fat in red meat decreases the bile flow, which can lead to gallstones.
- Butter And Margarine
Butter and margarine contain trans-fats, which, like saturated fat, can reduce bile flow and cause gallstones.
- Bacon
Bacon is high in saturated fat and sodium.
- Cheese
Cheese is high in saturated fat and sodium.
- Ice Cream
Ice cream is high in saturated fat.
- Buttered Popcorn
Popcorn is popped in butter, which contains saturated fat.
- Cheese Puffs
Cheese puffs are fried in butter, which contains saturated fat.
- Granola Bars
Granola bars are fried in butter, which contains saturated fat.
- Chocolate
Chocolate is high in saturated fat.
- Cream Cheese
There are not many foods that can cause more confusion about cholesterol than cream cheese. First off, by “cream cheese,” most people typically mean “soft cheese,” which is spreadable. Soft cheese is delicious on crackers, in dips, and in recipes. But hard cheese is not the same thing. Hard cheeses are aged and are not as creamy as soft cheeses. Not all hard cheeses are “bad” for you, but hard cheeses that are high in fat and cholesterol are.
- Egg Yolks
Egg yolks contain choline, a B-vitamin that helps the body metabolize fat. More cholesterol in the bloodstream means it’s easier for the heart to pump blood so eating yolks may lower cholesterol. But egg yolks are also rich in saturated fats, which can raise your LDL cholesterol levels.
- Mac & Cheese
Don’t be fooled; macaroni and cheese aren’t one of the best foods for cholesterol. It’s one of the worst. Although it is not the worst food you can eat, Mac & Cheese is one of the worst foods you can eat for cholesterol. It’s packed with saturated fat, which raises blood cholesterol levels, as well as sodium and calories.
- Hamburgers
Eating a hamburger once a week will not hurt your cholesterol levels, but eating hamburgers often will probably raise them. Any food that is rich in saturated fat could cause your cholesterol levels to spike. Some foods contain more saturated fat than others, so check the Nutrition Facts label when shopping for foods.
- Fried Chicken
Chicken is one of the most popular foods, yet it is also one of the most controversial. Chicken is the main ingredient in many favourite diets, but people still worry that eating it will cause high cholesterol.
Having high cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. But it’s not just what you eat that influences your cholesterol levels. Some of the most common cholesterol-lowering foods also happen to be some of the worst foods for cholesterol.