In the mainland, the haze of dyslipidemia has enveloped about 35.6% of the adult population, which is equivalent to one in three adults falling on the blood lipid track.
Converted into concrete numbers, that's a huge group of nearly 400 million people who are fighting against the invisible enemy of dyslipidemia. Some may blame pork intake for the rise in cholesterol, but in reality, this is only a one-sided view.
The level of cholesterol is not completely determined by a certain food, but is closely related to our eating habits, lifestyle and other factors.
The causes of dyslipidemia are complex, and we need to understand and deal with them from a more comprehensive and scientific perspective. Today I will tell you how to control hyperlipidemia in daily life, and who are the real "cholesterol" customers?
01
How high is a high blood lipid?
Blood lipids mainly include total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among them, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are the main factors in assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In general, when total cholesterol exceeds 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or LDL cholesterol exceeds 130 mg/dL, it is considered to be high.
When blood lipid levels are elevated, it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other diseases. Therefore, it is important to maintain healthy blood lipid levels.
02
What is the relationship between pork and cholesterol?
While pork does contain cholesterol, that doesn't mean it directly causes cholesterol to rise. In fact, the increase in cholesterol is closely related to the type and intake of pork.
Fatty pork is high in fat, and excessive consumption may indeed lead to a rise in cholesterol levels. For the elderly, their digestive function is gradually weakened and their activity is correspondingly reduced, so they are more susceptible to the high fat content of fatty pork. Lean meat, on the other hand, has a relatively low cholesterol content, and moderate consumption has less impact on cholesterol levels.
It is important to note that cholesterol is not only found in pork, it is also widely found in the cells and tissues of other animals, especially in higher amounts in offal.
Therefore, for people who already have high cholesterol, it is a more sensible choice to choose lean meat with simple cooking methods and less oil.
Of course, we should also pay attention to the appropriate amount when eating pork, especially the intake of fatty pork needs to be controlled. Older people, as a special group, should be more cautious in their diet to ensure that cholesterol levels remain within a healthy range.
03
The big "cholesterol" was found out, the pork was off the list, and I didn't want to increase my blood lipids, so I tried to eat as little as possible
There are some foods in our daily diet that are the "big players" of cholesterol, and excessive intake may have adverse health effects. Next, we'll dive into these five foods and remind you to try to avoid too much.
Animal bone broth
Such as pork bone broth and chicken broth. While these soups are considered nourishing by many, they can actually be the "invisible killer" of cholesterol.
The calcium in bones is mainly in the form of carbonates, which are difficult for the body to absorb effectively. Therefore, drinking bone broth is not effective in supplementing calcium.
On the contrary, bone broth has a high fat content, and long-term high intake may increase cholesterol intake, which may cause obesity, high uric acid, high blood lipids and other problems, and even accelerate the process of atherosclerosis.
Dairy products
Such as cream, butter and ice cream, which contain more cholesterol. Although milk itself is not a high-cholesterol food, these dairy products are high in saturated fatty acids, which can encourage the liver to make more cholesterol, which in turn increases the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Long-term high intake of these foods may increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Organ meats
For example, liver, lungs, heart, etc. are also foods with high cholesterol content. These foods may contain between 200 mg and 400 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams, and the cholesterol content of pork liver can even be as high as 1017 mg.
For people with a history of hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and at high risk, it is necessary to reduce the intake of animal offal.
Animal brains
100 grams of pig brain contains about 2,571 mg of cholesterol, while cow brain contains 2,447 mg. Therefore, we should pay attention to eating less animal brain in our daily diet, especially those who are high in cholesterol should pay attention to avoiding intake.
Foods rich in saturated fatty acids
Foods such as lard, beef, butter, etc., are high in saturated fatty acids. Long-term high intake of these saturated fatty acids may lead to elevated levels of "bad" cholesterol in the body, which can threaten cardiovascular health.
Therefore, when choosing food, we should try to choose foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, etc., to maintain cardiovascular health.
04
What are the symptoms of cholesterol when cholesterol is elevated?
In the early stages of elevated cholesterol, some people may experience skin abnormalities. Due to the deposition of cholesterol under the skin, yellow or orange patches may appear on the skin, a phenomenon known as "xanthelasma". These plaques are not only unsightly, but also an outward sign of elevated cholesterol levels inside the body.
In addition to skin abnormalities, elevated cholesterol can also affect the eyes. A grayish-white ring may appear around the cornea, medically known as a "corneal ring". This phenomenon is usually the result of cholesterol deposition in the eyes and is a warning sign of abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the body.
In addition, high cholesterol may affect cardiovascular health. Cholesterol is deposited in the lining of blood vessels, gradually forming plaques that narrow blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, if symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, and dizziness are frequently experienced, cholesterol levels should be checked in time.
Elevated cholesterol may also affect the function of the nervous system. Cholesterol is an important component of nerve cell membranes, and when cholesterol is too high, the conduction function of nerve cells may be affected, resulting in problems such as memory loss and sluggishness.