Hypercholesterolemia, or high blood cholesterol, is a risk factor for heart disease. Your risk for heart disease increases when your blood levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, go up, or HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, goes down. Eating foods that contain cholesterol or unhealthy fats may increase your blood cholesterol levels. Consult your doctor or nutritionist about which foods in your diet can contribute to hypercholesterolemia.
Processed Meat
Eating processed meat, such as bacon, hot dogs, bologna, salami, ham and liverwurst, can increase your risk of hypercholesterolemia. Processed meat contains cholesterol and saturated fat, an unhealthy fat associated with risk for coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is characterized by the buildup of plaque, made of cholesterol and fatty deposits, that clog your arteries and block the flow of oxygenated blood to your heart. Research by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health, published in "Circulation" in 2010, found that consumption of processed meats is associated with higher incidence of coronary heart disease.
Processed Foods With Trans Fats
Eating processed foods and fast foods that contain trans fats may increase your blood cholesterol levels. Manufacturers produce trans fat, also called hydrogenated vegetable oil, to extend the shelf life of processed foods such as margarine, potato chips, breads, crackers, cakes, cookies and microwave popcorn. Fast food restaurants use trans fats to fry foods such as doughnuts, french fries and onion rings. Eating these foods may increase your risk of heart disease. Research by scientists at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, The Netherlands and published in "Lancet" in 2001 found that a high intake of trans fatty acids contributes to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Egg Yolks
Egg yolks contain high concentrations of cholesterol and may increase blood cholesterol levels. Research published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2001 found that dietary cholesterol from eggs raises the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol levels, adversely affecting the cholesterol profile. The scientists suggest people should limit cholesterol intake by reducing consumption of eggs.
Dairy
Whole milk and dairy products, such as butter and cheese, contain cholesterol and saturated fat and may increase your blood cholesterol levels. Research by scientists at the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia and published in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2005 compared the effect of dairy fat from butter and cheese on LDL cholesterol levels. The scientists found that eating 40 g of dairy fat from butter, but not cheese, daily for 4 weeks significantly increases total and LDL cholesterol levels. Read the food labels of dairy products to determine the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat.
References
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; Cholesterol Fact Sheet; 2009
- The Cleveland Clinic; Cholesterol; 2010
- The Cleveland Clinic; Coronary Artery Disease - Overview; 2010
- "Circulation"; Red and Processed Meat Consumption ...; R. Micha et al.; June 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Trans Fats 101; November 2010
- "Lancet"; Association Between Trans Fatty Acid Intake ...; C. M. Oomen et al.; March 2001
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