What makes HDL good and other kinds of cholesterol harmful?
HDLs are stable and don’t stick to the walls of our arteries. They help prevent heart disease by getting rid of bad cholesterol. LDLs can break apart and stick to the walls of the arteries. They can cause hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and coronary artery disease. Such problems can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Which foods have cholesterol? Only animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) contain cholesterol. Note: Foods that don’t contain cholesterol aren’t necessarily better for you. For example, salmon is far more nutritious than cholesterol-free cookies or chips. So only animal products can affect my cholesterol? No. Saturated fats such as coconut oil and vegetable shortening raise LDL. Sugar and other simple carbs can have a negative effect on cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fatty acid). What are trans fats? Trans fatty acids, or trans fats, are present in small amounts in foods such as butter but are most abundant in hydrogenated shortenings. Many processe
