Does a Low Carbohydrate Diet Good for People With High Cholesterol

low carbohydrate diet for people with high cholesterol

Does a Low Carbohydrate Diet Good for People With High Cholesterol?

Low carbohydrate diets are reported to have advantages over low-fat diets in terms of losing weight. In addition, according to the National Institutes of Health, a low-carbohydrate diet can also increase levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the long run.

So, how does a low-carb diet affect the body's cholesterol? Is this good news or the opposite? The following are the explanation.

Low-carb diets improve blood fat levels.

Basically, a low carbohydrate diet affects every part of cholesterol, both triglycerides, good cholesterol (HDL), and bad cholesterol (LDL). The hallmark of a low-carb diet lies in the decrease in triglyceride levels.

Low carbohydrate diets tend to reduce blood triglyceride levels. That's why most doctors recommend limiting carbohydrates in the diet of patients with high triglycerides. 

Triglyceride levels are also used to determine whether the patient has consistently been on a diet as recommended. Because the higher the levels of triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia), the more a person is at risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

Another good news is that a low carbohydrate diet tends to increase good cholesterol levels. Good cholesterol in the blood carries excess cholesterol to the liver to be broken down again.

Good cholesterol is also one of the references to risk factors for heart disease. The higher the level of good cholesterol in a person, the risk of heart disease will decrease. So indirectly, a low carbohydrate diet also reduces the risk of heart disease.

Meanwhile, the relationship between a low-carbohydrate diet and bad cholesterol tends to be more complicated than triglycerides and good cholesterol. This is related to the size of bad cholesterol particles, which determine the high and low risk of heart disease.

Low carbohydrate diets cause changes in the size of cholesterol particles associated with the risk of heart disease. 

The risk of heart disease can be seen from how many bad cholesterol particles enter the bloodstream. The smaller the cholesterol particles, the easier these particles will enter the blood vessels.

The good news is that a low carbohydrate diet produces larger cholesterol particles, so the risk of heart disease tends to be lower.

In addition, the size of bad cholesterol particles also influences the level of triglycerides. If low triglycerides, bad cholesterol particles may be larger and have difficulty entering the blood vessels.

So it can be concluded that a low carbohydrate diet is beneficial for people with high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood vessels.

Tips for maintaining cholesterol levels with a low carbohydrate diet

However, high and low cholesterol levels due to low carbohydrate diets tend to vary between individuals.

Because some are experiencing an increase in cholesterol levels, it can endanger health. For this reason, you need to follow a low-carbohydrate diet that is appropriate and healthy with the following tips:

1. Set carbohydrate intake.

Not that you should not consume carbohydrates at all. Fill your carbohydrate intake according to your body's condition by consuming vegetables, low carbohydrate fruits, and nuts. 

Consult a nutritionist to get the best advice for your diet.

2. Choose healthy sources of animal protein.

Healthy animal proteins include lean chicken, beef, skin, eggs, and seafood. Eating fish twice a week can help lower your cholesterol. 

Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon, tuna, and sardines are also good for heart health.

3. Avoid saturated fats from fried foods and processed foods. 

Saturated fats from fried foods and processed foods can trigger obesity and many chronic diseases. Eat good sources of fat foods such as avocados, olives, and nuts.

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