As the temperature rises, so does our craving for ice cream. Although this frozen treat is delicious and refreshing, it could cause problems if you already have high cholesterol. This is because ice cream contains fat, and although fat is necessary for a healthy diet, too much of it can wreak havoc on your cholesterol levels.
More specifically, trans-fat is the biggest culprit that hides in your favorite summertime treat, and it could be sneakily sabotaging your cholesterol levels.
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But ice cream isn’t the sole culprit for raising your cholesterol. Many other popular treats are packing trans-fats, which is putting your health at risk.
Popular foods that contain trans-fats include cakes, pies, cookies, biscuits, margarine, French fries, and other fried foods like chicken, frozen foods, popcorn with additives (plain popcorn is okay), non-dairy creamers, and sandwich spreads.
Because diet plays such a big role in cholesterol levels, it’s important that you’re choosing the right foods to support healthy cholesterol levels.
Your first step is to always read the label of what you’re buying. Keep this in mind – even if a product says zero trans-fat, it could still contain 0.5 grams, which legally manufacturers do not need to list. Meaning if you eat enough of that food item, the trans-fats can start to add up quick.
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An easy rule of thumb is to avoid packaged foods. These foods tend to be highest in fats, calories, and sugar, which all work against your cholesterol and overall health.
If you stick with a balanced healthy diet, then you shouldn’t run into too many cholesterol-related issues.
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Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
