14 Foods To Avoid With High Cholesterol

Unfortunately, not all foods are good for your heart health. To avoid high cholesterol levels and heart disease, avoid these foods-

1. Fried Food

   One of the most common foods that have high cholesterol is fried food. This includes food that is cooked in oil or a coating.

   Examples include french fries, chicken nuggets, and doughnuts. While these foods may taste great, they are not good for your health^[1].

   Fried food can increase your bad cholesterol levels and cause heart problems in the long run. If you want to eat fried food, try to make it at home using healthier oils or coatings.

2. Processed Meats

   Eating processed meats can increase your risk of developing high cholesterol. This is because processed meats contain artery-clogging fats and chemicals.

   If you are at risk for high cholesterol, it’s important to avoid these foods. Instead, eat lean sources of protein such as poultry, fish, and beans.

   They also contain nitrates, which can increase your risk^[2] of heart disease. If you can’t abstain from processed meat altogether, try to limit yourself to less-processed versions.

3. Sweets

   Foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates are bad for your cholesterol. This includes sweets like cake, ice cream, pies, and candy.

   It’s also important to avoid processed foods, which are full of sugar. These include boxed foods, restaurant food, and some types of bread.

   Not only is sugar bad for your heart, but it can also raise your blood sugar levels and cause weight gain. To make sure you’re eating healthily, try to stick to foods that are low in sugar.

   A study^[3] says to avoid sugary food and switch to a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources to avoid cardiovascular diseases.

4. Fish

   If you have high cholesterol, you should avoid fish that are high in mercury like tuna, swordfish, and king mackerel.

   These fish contain methylmercury which can increase the risk of heart disease, as per research^[4].

   You can also reduce your exposure to mercury by eating foods from the plant kingdom, such as fruits and vegetables.

   Other foods that contain high levels of mercury include cold cuts, canned goods, and some types of cheese.

5. Soda

   Many people believe that drinking soda is a good way to lower their cholesterol. However, this is not always the case.

   Drinking soda can increase your chances of having high cholesterol. Soda is made with high-calorie sugar and artificial ingredients^[5] that can damage your liver and heart.

   Replace drinking soda with water and juice, as they both are healthier.

6. Dairy Products

   Dairy products are high in cholesterol as they contain large amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat can increase the level of cholesterol in your blood and lead to heart disease.

   If you have high cholesterol, it’s best to avoid dairy products entirely such as milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc, or try to consume them in moderation^[6].

7. Bacon

   There are a lot of foods that have high cholesterol levels, but bacon is one of the worst. Bacon is made from pork and contains a lot of saturated fat.

   Research^[7] has proven that saturated fat could increase your cholesterol levels and make it difficult to manage your heart health.

   It’s also important to remember that bacon can contain other dangerous ingredients, such as nitrates and sugar.

   So it’s best to avoid^[8] bacon altogether if you want to stay healthy and reduce your risk of heart disease.

8. Eggs

   Eggs are a great source of protein, but they also contain cholesterol and cholesterol-rich nutrients like choline.

   If you have high cholesterol, it’s important to avoid eating eggs because they will increase^[9] your risk of heart disease.

9. Grain Products

   If you have high cholesterol, it’s important to avoid foods that are high in grain. These foods include bread, pasta, cereals, pastries, and even some types of meat.

   Grains can raise your cholesterol levels significantly because they contain a lot of sugar and saturated fat.

10. Frozen Dinner

    Frozen dinners are a popular option for people with high cholesterol. They are generally low in fat and calories, which can help to lower blood pressure.

    However, frozen dinners often contain unhealthy ingredients^[10] like saturated fat and cholesterol.

    If you choose to eat a frozen dinner, make sure to read the ingredients carefully and choose one that is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol.

11. Butter

    Butter is a food that should be avoided if you have high cholesterol as it contains cholesterol, so it can increase your risk for heart disease.

    Additionally, butter is high in calories and fat, which can also contribute^[11] to weight gain and heart disease.

    If you’re concerned about your cholesterol level, consider replacing some of your butter with another type of cooking oil or using less of it overall.

12. Dry Fruits

    Dry fruits such as raisins, figs, and apricots are high in cholesterol. They contain a lot of sugar and can increase your blood cholesterol levels if you eat a lot of them.

    Study shows^[12] that if you have high cholesterol, it’s best to avoid these dried fruits and instead eat foods that are low in cholesterol, like leafy greens and whole grains.

13. Lard And Shortening

    Lard and shortening are two forms of saturated fat that can raise your cholesterol levels. They’re also two of the most common types of food that people eat.

    If you have high cholesterol, it’s important to avoid these foods. Lard and shortening are bad for the heart as well as they may cause^[13] weight gain as they are high in calories.

14. Oils

    One way to reduce your risk of heart disease is to avoid oil with high saturated fats like coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil.

    If you have high cholesterol, try to limit^[14] your intake of these oils or switch to healthier oils like olive oil or canola oil.