5 types of food that must absolutely be avoided with high cholesterol

Generally speaking, there is no such saying as "five foods that people with high cholesterol must never eat." However, it is not recommended to consume foods such as beef brain, fried dough sticks (youtiao), cream pastries, duck liver, and butter. The specific reasons are analyzed as follows:

1. Beef Brain

Beef brain contains extremely high levels of cholesterol, with cholesterol content per 100 grams far exceeding the daily recommended intake for humans. Consuming beef brain can directly cause a sharp increase in blood cholesterol levels in individuals with high cholesterol, exacerbate lipid deposition on blood vessel walls, increase the risk of atherosclerosis, and therefore, it is not recommended.

2. Fried Dough Sticks (Youtiao)

Fried dough sticks absorb large amounts of oil during preparation, and the oil used is often plant oil that has been repeatedly heated, which may produce trans fatty acids. Trans fatty acids lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the blood, worsening cholesterol metabolism disorders and being detrimental to disease control. Therefore, consumption should be avoided as much as possible.

3. Cream Pastries

Cream pastries contain large amounts of butter and cream, which are rich in saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids promote the liver's synthesis of more cholesterol, while trans fatty acids disrupt cholesterol balance. Together, these effects lead to elevated blood cholesterol levels and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, they are not recommended.

4. Duck Liver

Duck liver, similar to beef brain, is a high-cholesterol food and also contains a certain amount of fat. When individuals with high cholesterol consume duck liver, they not only ingest large amounts of cholesterol but also increase their metabolic burden due to fat intake, further affecting cholesterol excretion and leading to cholesterol accumulation in the blood, which is detrimental to disease recovery. Therefore, consumption should be avoided as much as possible.

5. Butter

Butter mainly consists of saturated fatty acids. Excessive butter intake by individuals with high cholesterol stimulates the liver to synthesize more low-density lipoprotein, leading to elevated levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, accelerating the process of blood vessel hardening, and potentially inducing complications such as coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction. Therefore, butter should be avoided.

In addition, individuals with high cholesterol should also avoid eating foods such as fish roe and fatty meat. At the same time, in daily life, attention should be paid to eating more whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, maintaining moderate exercise, and promoting cholesterol metabolism.