foods that harm cholesterol levels
Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, apples, pears, barley and prunes. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream.
1. Whole Eggs. Eggs are a controversial food in relation to high cholesterol. Some small studies have found that eating egg yolks can raise cholesterol levels. However, there have been a few very large studies that have shown that eating egg yolks can lower high cholesterol by raising your good cholesterol.
Many factors can affect the cholesterol levels in your blood. You can control some factors, but not others. Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. Some foods have fats that raise your cholesterol level. For example, saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. Saturated fat is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods.
In particular, saturated fat (found mostly in animal products) and trans fat (in many processed foods) raise blood levels of LDL (âbadâ) cholesterolâthough recent research suggests that some types of saturated fat, as in chocolate and coconut oil, do this less than others.