High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips
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Cholesterol is made mainly in the liver, but it’s also found in animal foods. It’s important to cut down on foods which contain saturated and trans-fat and for this reason, your seemingly healthy mashed potato meal could be significantly raising your cholesterol levels. How?
Potatoes themselves are heart-healthy with health experts recommending them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
How they are prepared however can impact their health status quo.
Mashed potatoes are the one type which can be unwittingly raising a person’s cholesterol levels.
This is due to their often-high butter, sour cream and milk content impacting not only cholesterol, but heart health too.
Nutrient consultant Marisa Moore warns that mashed potatoes could be significantly raising cholesterol levels.
“Most mashed potatoes, especially at restaurants, include hefty portions of butter, cream, whole milk, sour cream, and/or cream cheese,” she said.
“Turning a perfectly healthy potato into a saturated fat bomb.”
To enjoy potatoes in a healthier fashion, Marisa has a suggestion.
Mashed potatoes ingredients can increase the foods saturated and trans fat content.
Trans fats raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol and also lower your HDL (good) cholesterol.
High LDL along with low HDL levels can cause cholesterol to build up in the arteries (blood vessels).
This increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.
For healthier options, experts recommend using healthy ingredients rather than the full cream or bacon topping options.
Try drizzling baked potatoes with monounsaturated fats such as olive, sesame, and rapeseed oil, or add healthier toppings such as avocados.
Try to avoid creamy, cheesy sauces, fatty meats such as bacon and instead, choose lower-fat milk and sour cream options.
Other foods unwittingly raising your cholesterol levels include:
- Fatty cuts of meat
- Full fat dairy products (such as milk, cream, cheese and yoghurt)
- Deep fried fast foods
- Processed foods (such as biscuits and pastries)
- Takeaway foods (such as hamburgers and pizza)
- Coconut oil
- Butter.
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