Cholesterol levels in the body are largely influenced by how much we take in with food. Although most people do not need to avoid foods containing high concentrations of this substance at all costs, then certain products should be approached with caution even by fully healthy people.
Fried foods, fast food and industrial processed meat products
Fried foods, especially deep-fried, are high in cholesterol and should be avoided if possible. They are very caloric and contain trans fats, which are extremely harmful to health. Therefore, people who frequently reach for processed foods and fast food may have higher cholesterol, more visceral fat and fluctuations in blood sugar.
In addition to fried meat, hamburgers also contain a lot of yellow cheese. There are many types of it, which differ in their nutritional content. They usually provide some amount of protein, calcium and vitamins A and B. However, one 20-gram slice of yellow cheese also contains about 15 mg of cholesterol. That’s a lot, considering that the EFSA expert group considers it safe to consume about 300 mg per day of this substance1. In addition, yellow cheese is quite caloric, so you shouldn’t eat more than a few slices of it a day. It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of industrial processed meats you eat – sausages, salami, cold cuts, sausages and pates – as they too contain a lot of cholesterol.
Sweets and snacks
Cakes, cookies, pretzels and other such products are unhealthy because they usually contain significant amounts of trans fats and cholesterol in addition to sugar and salt. Frequent consumption of these types of foods can negatively affect overall health and lead to weight gain. Sweets are also often devoid of any valuable nutrients the body needs to thrive, such as vitamins, minerals and protein, so they provide empty calories alone.
The above-mentioned products should not be in the so-called atherosclerotic diet, which has a beneficial effect on blood fats. Supplementation with substances that favorably affect cholesterol levels can also be included in the daily routine.
Although most people can enjoy good health by eating the cholesterol-rich foods listed above from time to time, it is worth trying to limit the consumption of unhealthy foods such as fried foods, fast food, industrial processed meats, sweets and snacks.
1 Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids and cholesterol. EFSA Journal, 2010, 8, 8, 1461, doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1461