Dr. Claudas, in addition to being an experienced cardiologist, has also trained professionally at the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University, and has published dozens of scientific articles throughout her career.
To maintain the health of your heart and brain, she shares a crucial piece of advice: keep an eye on your cholesterol levels.
A good understanding of cholesterol, especially those foods that can cause high cholesterol, is a step towards overall health.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol builds up in the arteries and forms plaques that block blood flow to the brain.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol absorbs LDL and brings it to the liver for processing.
The optimal level varies from person to person, so be sure to consult your doctor first.
As a cardiologist with high cholesterol, Dr. Claudas always tries to use diet as medicine first.
Here are the four most likely foods to cause high cholesterol, as well as the foods Dr. Claudas eats to keep your heart healthy:
1.Red meat
Yes, those include burgers, ribs, steaks, and pork chops.
If you don't want to wean red meat completely, focus on small amounts of lean meat.
By "small portions" Dr. Claudas, he meant servings of up to 84 grams, and red meat was eaten at most once a week.
Keep in mind that poultry also contains saturated fat, so avoiding red meat doesn't necessarily mean you should eat more chicken.
As for meat substitutes, Dr. Claudas is generally skeptical of engineered foods.
What to eat
Think fish and shellfish.
Shrimp can be high in cholesterol, but as long as you don't apply butter, it will provide you with plenty of protein while not affecting blood cholesterol.
Some other delicious lean protein options are white-fleshed fish such as tilapia, halibut, cod, and sea bass.
2.Anything fried
Fried foods often increase the calorie content because saturated or trans fats and cholesterol are absorbed by the food in the process.
What to eatWhen you're craving something crunchy, bake potatoes, kale, or broccoli to a crisp.
Alternatively, you can invest in an air fryer, which uses much less fat.
3.Processed meats
The World Health Organization has classified processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, and salami as carcinogenic.
Processed meats are also rich in sodium and saturated fats.
What to eatFake bacon is unlikely to satisfy your lettuce tomato sandwich cravings.
Reduce the amount of these products and make them a treat for special occasions.
4.Baked goods
Mass-produced biscuits, cakes, and pastries are often high in calories, low in nutrients, and contain high amounts of fat (especially saturated fats such as butter and shortening) and sugar. These are the main culprits of high cholesterol.
What to eatBake at home and control the amount and type of fat and sugar used.
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