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The winter season is synonymous with binge-eating and over-indulging because the body, which is usually at rest, craves calorie-rich foods to stay warm as the body temperature drops. All of these delectable food and beverage indulgences, particularly during the holiday season, can raise your cholesterol levels, warns Dr Rohini Patil, MBBS, nutritionist and CEO of Nutracy Lifestyle.
According to the expert, cholesterol, a fatty substance, is present in the blood. “When consumed in excess, it can clog arteries, resulting in serious health problems.” “It can lead to heart attacks and strokes if left untreated,” she says.
Winter foods to avoid if you want to keep your cholesterol under control.
She also lists some foods to avoid during this time; continue reading.
1. Beverages with added sugar: Ice cream and other sweet treats are included. According to the expert, sugar is added to ice cream and baked goods such as cakes, pastries, and cookies. “Baked goods are high in saturated fat. The standard dough recipes are high in total fat, with a large proportion of that being saturated. Added sugars raise triglyceride levels while decreasing HDL (the good cholesterol) levels in the body. These sugary treats, like soft drinks and canned juices, have been linked to weight gain,” says Dr Rohini, who warns that they can raise your body’s cholesterol levels.
She adds that cookies, cakes, and pastries are frequently made with large amounts of butter and shortening, making them high in cholesterol. However, one does not have to give up dessert entirely. “Instead of butter, use applesauce or bananas when baking.” Try low-fat frozen yoghurt with berries for dessert.”
2. Avoid red meat. “Lamb, mutton, and pork have the highest levels of cholesterol and saturated fats of any meat product.” This can be dangerous if the person already has high cholesterol, and it can be fatal if they have heart disease,” warns the expert. She recommends healthier alternatives such as fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, and roasted or boiled chicken.
3. Fried foods: In the winter, deep-fried snacks such as pakoras, fries, potato chips, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings are popular. Fried foods, on the other hand, are “high in calories and dangerous even though they taste good.”
“They contain more calories and have a higher energy density than non-fried foods.” If you like the crunch of fried food, use an air fryer and toss your food in olive oil. Alternatively, bake potato wedges and chicken until golden brown at a high temperature,” the doctor suggested.
She concluded by stating that even “healthy” foods can contain high levels of bad cholesterol. “Many of these foods are appropriate for consumption by those with healthy HDL levels” (good cholesterol). If you want to lower your LDL (bad cholesterol), you can include foods high in water, fibre, and HDL. Additionally, exercise lowers bad cholesterol, too.”
Source:IE
