High cholesterol is a major factor in heart issues but you can actually control it with your diet. Experts say balancing good and bad cholesterol is the key to healthy arteries. Here is a look at nine surprising everyday foods that might be messing with your levels without you even realizing it.
Sneaky Trans Fats In Packaged Snacks
You might love microwave popcorn and cereal bars but these treats often hide man made trans fats that can really raise your bad cholesterol. It is totally fine to enjoy them sometimes but trying to balance them out with nuts and high fiber foods is a much better move for your body.
Sugary Sodas And Sweetened Drinks
Drinking regular soda and sweet energy drinks dumps a ton of added sugar into your system which makes your liver produce way more bad cholesterol. Just swapping out that one daily sugary drink can actually do wonders for your heart health and keep your triglyceride levels in check.
White Bread Rice And Pasta
Refined carbs like white bread and regular pasta are stripped of their natural fiber so they act just like pure sugar inside your blood. Switching over to whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal is a super easy way to help push that bad cholesterol right out of your system.
Processed And Fatty Cuts Of Meat
We all enjoy a good burger or sausage but eating too much red and processed meat is a major offender when it comes to spiking your cholesterol. Even white meat can have an impact if you eat a lot of it so mixing in some plant based proteins during the week is a great idea.
Deep Fried Foods And Snacks
Frying foods at really high temperatures creates dangerous trans fats while wiping out the healthy fats your body actually needs. Whether it is fried chicken or donuts these foods are basically a double threat so keeping them as an occasional treat is definitely the way to go.
Sweetened Cold Breakfast Cereals
Pouring a bowl of cold cereal might seem like a fast morning fix but most of them are packed with refined carbs and added sugars. You will get much better results by choosing unsweetened oatmeal and adding your own fresh fruit because all that whole grain fiber really protects your heart.
Coconut Oil In Your Kitchen
A lot of people think coconut oil is a superfood but experts actually warn against using it for cooking because it is mostly saturated fat. It can quickly raise your bad cholesterol levels so you might want to reach for other healthier cooking oils when you are making dinner.
Your Favorite Drive Thru Fast Food
Hitting the drive thru is super convenient but people who eat fast food regularly often see a huge jump in their total cholesterol levels. These meals usually pack in tons of saturated fats and zero fiber which is the exact opposite of what your arteries need to stay clear.
Bottled Salad Dressings And Sauces
You might think you are making a healthy choice by eating a salad but store bought dressings are secretly loaded with huge amounts of added sugar. Making your own simple dressing at home is super easy and it saves you from eating all those hidden sugars found in ketchup and pasta sauces too.
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