Avocados And Cholesterol Control
They are green, creamy, and provide several important nutrients. But how do avocados affect cholesterol?
According to the California Avocado Commission, lawyers actually help the body absorb other nutrients from food. They also contain high levels of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are especially good for the heart. And when it comes to cholesterol, lawyers can help you lower your numbers.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy fatty substance that is found in every cell in your body. Your body needs cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest food. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in egg yolks, meat, cheese, and other animal products.
If there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in your blood and form plaque. The plaque sticks to the walls of the arteries. This buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis. It can lead to coronary artery disease, which is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.
What are HDL, LDL, and VLDL?
HDL, LDL, and VLDL are lipoproteins. They are a combination of fats (lipids) and proteins. In order to circulate in the blood, the lipids must be attached to the proteins. Different types of lipoproteins have different uses.
- HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. It is sometimes called “good cholesterol” because it carries cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver. The liver then removes the cholesterol from the body.
- LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. It is sometimes called “bad cholesterol” because high LDL levels can cause plaque buildup in the arteries.
- VLDL stands for “very low-density lipoprotein. Some people also refer to VLDL as “bad cholesterol” because it contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. However, VLDL and LDL are different in that VLDL primarily carries triglycerides and LDL primarily carries cholesterol.
What are the causes of high cholesterol?
The most common cause of high cholesterol levels is an unhealthy lifestyle. It can be caused by
- Unhealthy eating habits, such as eating a lot of bad fats. A type of saturated fat, which is found in meat, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, fried foods, and processed foods. Another type is trans fats, which are found in some fried and processed foods. Eating these fats can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol.
- Being sedentary and not getting enough exercise. This will lower HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Smoking, which lowers HDL cholesterol, is more common, especially in women. It also increases LDL cholesterol.
Genetics can also contribute to high cholesterol levels. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of hypercholesterolemia. Other diseases and certain medications can also cause high cholesterol.
What are the health risks of high cholesterol levels?
When large amounts of plaque are deposited in the arteries, certain areas of the plaque may rupture (open). This can cause a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot is large enough, it can significantly or completely block blood flow to the coronary arteries.
If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is slowed or blocked, angina (chest pain) or a heart attack can occur.
Plaque can also build up in other arteries of the body, such as those that carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain and extremities. This can lead to problems such as carotid artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
How Cholesterol Works
Cholesterol is an important part of the body. It is produced in the liver but is also found in the animal products we eat and drink.
High cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of events such as heart attacks and strokes.
People who are told they have high cholesterol are generally more careful about their diet and choose foods that do not further increase their risk. Fortunately, lawyers are not prohibited from doing so.
Just because a food is high in fat does not mean it is high in cholesterol.
Animal products that are high in cholesterol also contain high levels of saturated fat. Saturated fats and trans fats, found primarily in processed and fast foods, increase bad cholesterol. However, not all fats are saturated. The unsaturated fat in avocados is considered a healthy fat. And there is no cholesterol at all in avocados.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats can help lower blood cholesterol levels, making avocados a heart-healthy food. However, the cholesterol benefits of avocados don’t stop there.
According to a study published by the American Heart Association, eating one avocado a day can help lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.
Other benefits of avocados
Reducing cholesterol is not the only potential benefit of adding avocados to your diet. Another study found that eating avocados at breakfast was associated with increased satiety in overweight adults in the following hours. Researchers also believe that lawyers may play a positive role in lowering blood sugar levels.
In addition to its good fat and cholesterol-lowering effects, avocados contain vitamin C, which promotes tissue growth and repair, vitamin K, which promotes blood health, folic acid, which promotes cell and tissue function, vitamin B-6, which promotes immune function, and fiber.
How to increase your avocado intake
Incorporating avocado into your diet doesn’t have to be difficult. The taste and texture may be an acquired taste for some people, but this fruit is versatile.
Make fresh guacamole and serve it with whole-grain crackers and raw vegetables. It can also be used to garnish salads or paired with fish, as in this recipe. Finally, if you simply like the taste of avocados, cut one in half, add some black pepper, and sauté it with the skin on a spoon.
How can I lower my cholesterol?
You can lower your cholesterol by making healthy lifestyle changes, both physically and mentally. These include a heart-healthy diet, weight control, and regular exercise.
If lifestyle changes do not lower your cholesterol sufficiently, you may need to take medications. There are several different types of cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins. If you are taking cholesterol-lowering medications, you must continue to make lifestyle changes.
Some people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) may be offered a treatment called apheresis lipoprotein. In this treatment, a filtering machine is used to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. The machine then returns the rest of the blood to the person.