9 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About High Cholesterol

[littlemissmartypants]

9 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About High Cholesterol

When it comes to lowering your cholesterol levels, you’ll need to pay attention to more than just your diet.
By Kelly Kennedy, RD
Medically Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD

?width=546

Choosing healthy unsaturated fats, like olive or avocado oils, can help lower cholesterol. Alamy; iStock.com

https://www.everydayhealth.com/high-cholesterol/living-with/diet-facts-about-high-cholesterol/

Recently diagnosed with high cholesterol? Then you should know that some foods can help lower cholesterol and others may be off the table. A registered dietitian can be an invaluable resource, especially when it comes to managing your diet and high cholesterol.

Here, dietitians share their insights on what they want you to know if you — or someone you love — has high cholesterol.

1. Dietary and Blood Cholesterol Aren't the Same
We use the same word for the cholesterol in foods as for the cholesterol that gets measured at the doctor’s office in our blood tests — but there are important differences between the two. “The most recent research shows that eating foods that contain cholesterol doesn’t directly affect the amount of cholesterol in the blood of most people,” says Lisa Dierks, RDN, dietitian and nutrition program manager for the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Instead, it’s more important to limit saturated fats, which are found in animal products like meat and full-fat dairy, and trans fats, also known as partially hydrogenated oils and found in many baked and fried foods. Saturated and trans fats are dietary fats that have a bigger impact on blood cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol, notes the American Heart Association (AHA).

2. Not All Blood Cholesterol Is Bad
Being diagnosed with high cholesterol can be alarming, and the three numbers you're given for your cholesterol levels can also be confusing. Keep in mind, however, that not all cholesterol is bad. The three numbers that you may see are “good” HDL (high-density lipoprotein), “bad” LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and total cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps to improve heart health (meaning a higher number is better for you) a high level of LDL cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. To raise your protective HDL cholesterol levels, focus on including foods such as legumes, fruit, whole grains, fatty fish, and olive oil in your diet.

3. Eggs Aren't Evil, and Neither Are Shellfish
Eggs have gotten an undeserved bad rap. While it’s true that a large egg yolk contains 186 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol, it’s been shown that dietary cholesterol doesn’t affect blood cholesterol levels in most people. “People think if they avoid eggs, it solves everything. In reality, dietary cholesterol isn’t the contributor,” says Judith Wylie-Rosett, RDN, doctor of education, professor of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and spokesperson for the AHA.

The same goes for shellfish. Shrimp and other shellfish are naturally high in cholesterol, but this doesn’t directly lead to high cholesterol levels in your blood. Eggs and shellfish are both considered lean sources of protein and can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.

Snip...

More at the link.

[in2herbs]

1. You could go to the default of "everything in moderation" but I have some the diet of some

people and I can't believe they're still alive.