Cholesterol is a fat that is necessary for the construction of cells in our body and the production of hormones. The liver produces most of it. However, when bad cholesterol, LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) and triglycerides, increase excessively in the blood, they accumulate inside the blood vessels and form blocks, causing heart attacks and strokes. Here are the main reasons behind high cholesterol:
Trans fat and unhealthy diet: ‘Trans fat’, which is found in bakery products, cakes, chips, fried and fried dishes, and fast food, is the main villain that increases bad cholesterol. In addition, excessive consumption of red meat such as beef and pork can also increase fat.
Refined carbohydrates and sugar: Cholesterol does not come from just oily foods. When you eat too much flour, white rice, sugar, and soft drinks, your body develops insulin resistance. In this condition, the liver converts excess glucose into dangerous fats called triglycerides.
Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle: People who do not do much physical activity do not burn bad fat in the body. People who sit at the same place every day have low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL).
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Some people have high cholesterol levels no matter how carefully they follow their diet or exercise. If your parents or siblings have had high cholesterol or heart disease at a young age, the next generation is more likely to have it.
Smoking and alcohol: The chemicals produced by smoking damage the walls of blood vessels, which makes it easier for bad fat to accumulate there. Smoking also reduces the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Excessive alcohol consumption can also sharply increase the level of triglycerides in the blood.