What foods should be avoided with high cholesterol?

Aug 30, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, individuals with high cholesterol should avoid consuming animal offal, fried foods, fatty meats, crab roe, and high-sugar pastries. They should also avoid self-medicating with drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide tablets, prednisone tablets, compound reserpine tablets, ethinylestradiol cyproterone acetate tablets, and cyclosporine soft capsules. People with high cholesterol should maintain a daily diet that is low in fat and sugar and high in fiber.

Generally, individuals with high cholesterol should avoid eating animal offal, fried foods, fatty meats, crab roe, and high-sugar pastries. They should also avoid taking certain medications on their own, including hydrochlorothiazide tablets, prednisone tablets, compound reserpine tablets, ethinylestradiol cyproterone acetate tablets, and cyclosporine soft capsules. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Animal Offal: Such as pork liver, pig brain, chicken liver, duck intestines, etc., contains extremely high levels of cholesterol. Consuming these foods directly raises cholesterol levels in the body, worsening lipid abnormalities and making cholesterol control more difficult.

2. Fried Foods: Such as fried chicken, French fries, youtiao (Chinese fried dough sticks), fried meatballs, etc., contain large amounts of trans fatty acids and saturated fats. These promote the production of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, exacerbating cholesterol metabolism disorders.

3. Fatty Meats: Such as pork belly, fatty beef, fatty lamb, lard, etc., are high in saturated fat. Long-term consumption increases the liver's production of cholesterol, leading to elevated total cholesterol levels in the blood and worsening the condition.

4. Crab Roe: Crab roe contains very high levels of cholesterol. Individuals with high cholesterol who consume it may experience a rapid increase in blood cholesterol levels in the short term, increasing the burden on the cardiovascular system.

5. High-Sugar Pastries: Such as cream cakes, doughnuts, puff pastries, etc., not only have high sugar content but often include large amounts of added butter or lard. These ingredients can not only be converted into fat and stored in the body, but also interfere with cholesterol metabolism, indirectly raising cholesterol levels.

II. Medications

1. Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets: A diuretic commonly used to lower blood pressure. Long-term use may affect fat metabolism, leading to increased levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, which is unfavorable for cholesterol control. Lipid levels should be monitored under a doctor's guidance.

2. Prednisone Tablets: A glucocorticoid medication. Long-term use promotes the liver's synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides, worsening lipid abnormalities. Strict adherence to medical advice and regular lipid monitoring are necessary.

3. Compound Reserpine Tablets: A combination antihypertensive medication containing reserpine, hydrochlorothiazide, and other components. The hydrochlorothiazide component may elevate cholesterol levels. Patients with high cholesterol should inform their doctor before use and have the medication risks evaluated.

4. Ethinylestradiol Cyproterone Acetate Tablets: An oral contraceptive containing estrogen and progestin. Some components may affect lipid metabolism, causing mild increases in total cholesterol and triglycerides. Individuals with high cholesterol should choose appropriate contraceptive methods under a doctor's guidance.

5. Cyclosporine Soft Capsules: An immunosuppressant commonly used after organ transplantation or for treating autoimmune diseases. Long-term use may lead to elevated blood lipid levels, including increased cholesterol. Regular lipid monitoring is necessary during treatment, and lipid-lowering interventions may be required when necessary.

Individuals with high cholesterol should maintain a diet low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, consume more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and high-quality protein, and develop regular exercise habits to control body weight.