The foods that you eat can affect your risk of developing many health problems, including cardiovascular disease. Although many people do not associate a high-carbohydrate diet with increased cholesterol levels, consuming too many refined carbohydrates can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, possibly due to the effect of carbohydrates on lipid levels.
Refined Carbohydrates and Cardiovascular Disease
Eating too many refined carbohydrates increases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems, such as coronary heart disease. Refined carbohydrates cause a more rapid increase in your blood glucose levels, resulting in a higher glycemic index. A study published in a 2010 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" examined the risk of coronary heart disease in Italian men and women based on the glycemic index of their diet. Women who had a higher glycemic index diet were more likely to have coronary heart disease, suggesting that refined carbohydrates can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems, though the same effect was not observed in men.
Refined Carbohydrates and Triglycerides
One of the ways in which refined carbohydrates can impact your risk of cardiovascular disease and your cholesterol levels is through its effects on triglycerides. When you consume refined carbohydrates, your blood glucose levels rise. Whatever glucose your body does not immediately use as fuel gets turned into triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of lipid that the body uses to store excess calories for later use.
Triglycerides and Cholesterol
If your triglyceride levels go up, you may also experience an increase in cholesterol levels. Triglycerides are stored in a complex of proteins and lipids known as very-low density lipoprotein, or VLDL, molecules. When your VLDL levels increase, the number of LDL or "bad" cholesterol molecules in your blood also goes up. This means that consuming a large amount of refined carbohydrates can increase your cholesterol levels due to an increase in triglycerides.
Considerations
If you are trying to lower your cholesterol levels, reducing the amount of refined carbohydrates you eat can be helpful. Instead, focus on "healthier" carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Reducing your refined carbohydrate intake alone will not cause a significant drop in your cholesterol levels, however. To further decrease the cholesterol in your blood, eat a diet that is low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist if you are concerned about high cholesterol levels.
