Foods to Avoid for High Cholesterol & High Blood Pressure
High cholesterol and high blood pressure are two problems many people have that can indicate an increased risk of heart disease. Controlling cholesterol intake and blood pressure through proper dieting is an important part of maintaining heart health. To lower cholesterol and blood pressure, certain problem foods should be avoided.
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Organ Meats
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Red meats in general tend to be high in cholesterol. The fattier the meat, the more likely it is to contain higher amounts of cholesterol. Cholesterol itself is derived from animal products, so eating plant-derived products will avoid cholesterol. Foods high in fat tend to be bad for blood pressure, so avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fats will also promote lower blood pressure.
Dairy
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Dairy products are another common source of high cholesterol foods. High-fat dairy like whole milk, cheeses, and creams contain a lot of cholesterol. In general, foods with more saturated fats will lead to higher cholesterol while foods with more unsaturated fats are better. Butter is especially high in cholesterol; olive oil can be a good alternative to butter, since it contains no cholesterol.
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Poultry and Eggs
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Poultry tends to be lower in cholesterol than red meats, but the small organs of birds are high in cholesterol. Frying, a common way to prepare chicken, will cause food to be higher in cholesterol. Eggs are another food are very high in cholesterol but almost all of the cholesterol is contained in the yolk. Eating just the whites will eliminate much of the cholesterol.
Salty Foods
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Blood pressure tends to increase as you consume more salt. Avoiding salty foods like chips, crackers and other salted snacks should help lower your blood pressure. Other foods that tend to have high amounts of salt are certain candies, ketchup, french fries, canned foods and other processed foods. If nothing else, you should avoid adding extra salt to food with a salt shaker.
Sweets
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Foods that are high in sugars tend to have concentrated calories that can be consumed quickly. When sugars are consumed they provide the body with energy very quickly, but if that energy is not used, it is stored as fat. Consuming sweets can lead to fat accumulation, which can lead to higher blood pressure and cholesterol. According to the Mayo Clinic, consuming alcohol can also raise blood pressure, and alcohol contains a lot of calories, which can lead to weight gain.
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