Being told we have dangerously high cholesterol may motivate us to rid our diet of as much fat as possible. It’s natural to worry about our lifestyle when it can have such a drastic impact on our future heart health, but some fats are essential for our health and we actually need small amounts of cholesterol for our bodily processes.
Know what to rule out
Our cholesterol is usually classified as LDL (‘bad’) and HDL (‘good’) and the things we eat and our activity levels can both change these. Doctors can give us an exact number that establishes whether we have high cholesterol or not. If tests show our cholesterol is high, then we’re at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, angina, strokes, vision problems and heart attacks. Even if our cholesterol is at a healthy level, or we’re unsure of the figures as we haven’t been tested, it’s still good for our wellness to eat in a way that reduces bad fats. These can raise LDL levels and are usually found in baked goods, butter, fatty cuts of meat, crisps, chocolates and junk food like burgers.
What to add to our diet
There is such a thing as healthy fats and once we know where to find them we can make sure they’re eaten regularly. These include omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, like salmon and tuna. As well as being good for our cholesterol, eaten in the right amounts they can affect our overall wellness, including our concentration, bones and mental wellness. They’re also found in plant oils, nuts, seeds and soya. Getting active protects us from heart problems later in life and giving up bad habits like smoking may also help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Avoiding stress can also prevent our metabolisms from processing triglycerides more slowly, which are fats that may block our arteries if they stay in our bloodstream for too long.
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