Cholesterol is a fat-like waxy substance that is found in the blood in all cells of the body. The body needs cholesterol to produce substances that help in digestion and also help in the production of Vitamin D. It is enough to have a certain level of cholesterol for the body to perform these functions, but some of the foods may lead to an increase in the level of cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol can lead to various health issues and may also cause heart problems.

While preferring low cholesterol food may be a solution, it is also necessary to know the food that increases the level of cholesterol, in order to have them in control or to avoid. Here are some tips that will help you have a healthy diet to control high cholesterol:

1. Avoid saturated fats
Most of the foods contain saturated fat, which is mostly found in animal foods, such as butter, meat, and other dairy products, and foods that are made with them, such as biscuits and cakes. Prefer margarine made from unsaturated vegetable oils instead of butter. Primarily saturated fats in red meat and dairy products increase the cholesterol level faster than the other saturated foods. Some foods increase good cholesterol bad saturated fats are only the source of bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) Reducing the consumption of saturated fats may lower the bad cholesterol in the blood and prevent the risk of having heart problems.

2. Avoid trans fats
Trans fats are the most harmful fats. They not only increase the bad cholesterol but also lower the good cholesterol. Trans fats are normally found in red meats. Make sure you remove them from your diet in order to control high cholesterol. But the processed foods and restaurant foods contain artificial trans fats which people easily get attracted to. Artificial trans fats are the source of higher LDL cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease. Trans fats are also present in cakes, biscuits, and fried foods. If you notice a “partially hydrogenated fat” on the label, it is best to avoid such foods to have control on the cholesterol level.

3. Avoid added foods rich in sugar
Eating added sugar foods is also same as saturated and trans fat in increasing the cholesterol levels. Limit having pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, doughnuts and muffins, especially those made with saturated fats or partially hydrogenated fats. Prefer low-fat recipes when baking at home to make your desserts more cholesterol-friendly. Frequently indulging in added sugars may increase the risk of various problems, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Including these food items in your diet will prevent you from controlling high cholesterol.

4. Avoid high triglyceride foods
Excess of carbohydrates affects your triglyceride levels. Starchy vegetables like corn and peas increase the level of carbohydrates when taken in excess. These extra carbohydrates that are not used for energy are made into triglyceride. Triglyceride may trigger the LDL cholesterol. Like cholesterol, the increase in the level of triglyceride may cause heart problems. It is better to prefer low starchy foods such as mushrooms and cauliflower and to avoid sugars like fructose to have triglyceride in control. Besides the increase in triglycerides, certain foods in your diet with high saturated fats such as those found in coconut products increases bad LDL cholesterol.