What Causes High Blood Cholesterol?
A variety of things can affect the cholesterol levels in your blood. Some of these things you can control and others you cannot. You can control: • What you eat. Certain foods have types of fat that raise your cholesterol level. • Saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. • Trans fatty acids (trans fats) are made when vegetable oil is hydrogenated to harden it. Trans fatty acids also raise cholesterol levels. • Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, for example, egg yolks, meat, and cheese. • Your weight. Being overweight tends to increase your LDL level, lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, and increase your total cholesterol level. • Your activity. Lack of regular exercise can lead to weight gain, which could raise your LDL cholesterol level. Regular exercise can help you lose weight and lower your LDL level. It can also help you raise your HDL level. You cannot control: • Heredity
