Here are the foods to avoid if you have high cholesterol: the complete list

Cholesterol is a lipid molecule that is produced by all organisms of animal origin but in humans it is mainly produced by the liver which then transports it to the blood or the brain, also used for the production of bile. The cholesterol in our blood is not free at all, as it is not water soluble but rather bound to lipoproteins, which are divided into HDL, LDL and VLDL, i.e. lipoproteins of high density, low density and very low density.

But what is LDL cholesterol? It is the major cardiovascular risk factor since its role is to transport cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body through the various arteries but if they are oxidized, the proteins could give rise to a plaque of atheroma or be responsible for arteriosclerosis, more precisely for this pathology which can cause thrombosis.

HDL lipoproteins, on the other hand, work in a completely different way and are actually responsible for carrying cholesterol molecules back from the arteries back to our liver. Cholesterol represents a vital molecule for humans since it is the basis for the formation of many hormones and vitamin D. In addition, we speak of the main precursor of bile acids which is therefore also involved in the formation and repair of all cell membranes and it follows, therefore, that too high levels of LDL cholesterol can represent a real alarm signal.

How do you know you have high cholesterol? In itself, this pathology does not cause any symptoms in the patient, with the exception of cases of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in which it is perceived from an early age, but there are still signals that trigger the alarm such as the deposits of cholesterol in the tendons and in the cornea as well as fatty plaques on the inside of the knees and elbows. The causes of hypercholesterolemia can be dietary and among the different foods to limit or even absolutely avoid are:

-Simple sugars;
–Pasta, rice, cereals and bread;
–Too much coffee;
– Milk and yoghurt, especially if they are whole;
-All fats of animal origin such as butter, lard and cream;
– Offal or entrails of animals such as liver, kidneys and brains;
– Fat cold cuts;
–All alcoholic beverages;
–Any type of cheese;
–Dark vegetable oils such as palm oil.

Unfortunately, this list of foods to avoid also includes fruits which, containing a high percentage of carbohydrates and fructose, contribute negatively to our already high cholesterol levels. It is therefore advisable to be careful not to take any: pears, apples, grapes, cherries, dates and dried figs.