Control that Cholesterol!

When last did you have your blood cholesterol checked? Some 4.8 million Indian suffer from high blood cholesterol, which is the best-known and possibly best-understood risk factor for heart disease.

Cholesterol causes a build up of fatty deposits on your artery walls, which may block off blood supply to the heart.

High blood cholesterol is linked to diet, so much that the heart foundation recommends a change in diet to control blood cholesterol levels.

Some foods, such as prawns or eggs, are naturally high in cholesterol. This cholesterol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Obviously, if you suffer from high blood cholesterol you should cut back on, or avoid these foods altogether.

The body also produces cholesterol. A certain amount is essential for normal bodily function. However, certain foods-primarily saturated fats- cause the body to produce more cholesterol than usual. Saturated fats are usually of animal origin, although there are some vegetable sources such as coconut and palm oil, which are high in saturated fats.

Many foods may appear relatively harmless have very high levels of saturated fat. Hamburgers, sausage rolls, pastries and biscuits are usually rich in saturated fats and should be avoided by high cholesterol patients.

Some foods can also actively lower blood cholesterol levels. Soluble fibre is one, and polyunsaturated oil is another. Polyunsaturated oils are all of vegetable origin, but not all vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturates. You should look out for products, which say:
“High in polyunsaturates,” like Floro.

If you do have a cholesterol problem, the answer is fairly obvious. Replace saturated fats - which help produce more cholesterol – with polyunsaturated fats, which actively help reduce cholesterol, and you, are taking the first step towards better health.