5 Foods to Avoid If You Have High Cholesterol

4. Coconut oil and coconut cream

While coconut oil is considered healthy, it contains saturated fats in the form of lauric acid which may end up adding to your total cholesterol levels. So, it is best to limit your food consumption. It is often recommended to consume less than 24 grams of saturated fats daily. You must also avoid processed cooking oils such as canola oil or corn oil as they may contain trans-fats.

5. Ice cream: A scoop of ice-cream is probably not the best dessert for people with high cholesterol. Manufacturers may often use full fat milk and cream and in some cases, replace these expensive dairy products with low quality hydrogenated vegetables oils that can raise your bad cholesterol levels. Moreover, excess added sugar from aerated drinks, bakery products and packaged juices can also lead to weight gain, inflammation and high triglycerides and all of them have a negative impact on your cholesterol levels.

The American Heart Association recommends that all individuals above the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels checked every year and monitor them regularly