What foods should you absolutely avoid?

Hypercholesterolemia is a phenomenon that affects many individuals, it is a blood cholesterol level that exceeds 240 mg / dl. It is a particular condition which, according to a survey of the last 10 years, has been found to be particularly increasing in men and women. To be precise, in 1998-2002 it concerned only 24% of the population, now we have reached 38%. Checking that the cholesterol level is optimal depends on the diet.

The best nutritionists recommend following a diet that includes foods of plant origin and low in fat, but we must not forget that all this must be associated with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity. The most suitable diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is able to positively affect blood cholesterol levels and therefore becomes an effective weapon to defend against hypercholesterolemia. Here are the foods recommended by the experts.

The foods that absolutely must not be missing in a diet that can be defined as healthy and balanced are vegetables, cereals and legumes, which are also defined as “friends of the heart”. As I just said, all three are essential, but it is particularly important to eat legumes at least 2 times a week, (be careful not to exceed 4 meals a week) because they help maintain adequate cholesterol levels. in the blood, thanks to the presence of vegetable fibers and sterols.

In addition, cholesterolemia is strongly influenced by the type of fats present in the diet, for example saturated fats, i.e. those of animal origin, tend to cause an increase in LDL cholesterol, while ‘On the contrary, unsaturated fats, of plant origin, can lower it and help raise the good. In particular, it is necessary to try to avoid foods such as butter, lard, lard and rather favor polyunsaturated or monounsaturated vegetable oils such as extra virgin olive oil, but also those of seeds (soya, sunflower, corn, etc.). ).

Rice oil can also be included in this category, as it contains the phytosterol gamma oryzanol. Finally, it is important to reduce fat in general, I refer to sausages, cheeses and even eggs, which contain quite high amounts of fat and, if consumed in excess, can negatively affect blood cholesterol levels . With regard to dairy products, the question is simple, indeed it is necessary to favor skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, rather than whole milk and low-fat yogurts.