Cholesterol is a lipid typical of animal organisms; therefore, we could think that a plant-based diet keeps us away from hypercholesterolemia. Nevertheless, if you follow a vegan diet you can also have high cholesterol and we will tell you why.
Vegan foods that raise blood cholesterol
The cholesterol What we eat has very little influence on its levels in the body and, on the contrary, certain nutrients that can also be present in foods of plant origin, can raise this compound in the blood.
In this sense, it is known that sugarsthe refined flours and the Trans fat may be responsible for an increase in cholesterol in our body. So all the foods that contain them, even if they are low in cholesterol, can increase the lipid levels in our body.
In this way, some foods of plant origin but of poor nutritional quality, such as buns, cookies, vegan ice creams, cakes, chips, sugary soft drinks or even alcoholic beverages, can be the cause of high cholesterol in vegans.
So, to protect the body from hypercholesterolemia, it is recommended avoid foods of poor nutritional quality above all, minimizing ultra-processed foods, It is advisable to prioritize the intake of fresh, natural or minimally processed foods, which are the ones that can offer the highest proportions of fiber, phytosterols and healthy fats.
Avoid fried foodswhich can generate trans fats, is also useful if we carry a vegan diet and we want to prevent the elevation of blood cholesterol.
In Vitónica | How to control cholesterol effectively through diet
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