An “ultra bad” form of LDL cholesterol was discovered, which can be bad news for people already at risk for heart disease. LDL already has the label of being the “bad” cholesterol; it promotes heart problems and can ruin cardiovascular health. This new LDL called MGmin-LDL is actually more likely to stick to the arteries, speeding up the process of causing a heart attack or stroke. The most disturbing possible cause of MGmin-LDL is from too much sugar in the diet; which means trouble since sugar is psychologically addictive.
To better understand cholesterol, you need to understand where it comes from and where it’s found in the foods you eat. One of the biggest factors on cholesterol levels in your blood stream isn’t the amount of fat you eat, but the mix of fats in your diet. Saturated and trans fats are bad for you, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are better for you.
Here’s how to spot the four key fats:
- Monounsaturated fats (good) — Canola, peanut and olive oils all have high concentrations of monounsaturated fats.
- Polyunsaturated fats (good) — Sunflower, corn, soybean and flaxseed oils all have high levels of this fat.
- Saturated fats (bad)—Meat, poultry with skin and whole-milk dairy products all contain saturated fats. In packaged foods they’re easy to spot, since the amount is right on the nutrition label.
- Trans fats (bad)—These often-artificial fats are now included on the nutrition label as well, and some cities like New York have banned their use in restaurants.
Ideally, you want to increase foods with “good” fats in substitution for foods with “bad” fats. Even a moderate amount of alcohol can help you in your endeavor to lower cholesterol, as a moderate amount of alcohol increases the transport rates of HDL (good cholesterol), raising the blood concentrations. There’s even a list of good fats to eat if trying to lower your cholesterol. One of the best preventatives, aside from diet and exercise, is regular check-ups with your doctor; she will be able to spot the problem before it can become an issue.
