All these factors that come together more easily due to the coronavirus pandemic bring along an increase in high cholesterol risk.
Eating high-calorie and fatty diets, lack of vitamins and a sedentary lifestyle… All these factors that come together more easily due to the coronavirus pandemic bring along an increase in high cholesterol risk. Acıbadem International Hospital Cardiology Specialist Dr. Aslihan Eran Ergöknil“You can spend this difficult period by keeping your cholesterol level at a healthy level by choosing healthy snacks by paying attention to your diet,” he says while he recommends exercising at home or outdoors by paying attention to social distance rules in order to silence the approaching danger bells.
Cholesterol is defined as a fat-like substance that performs vital functions for the human body. Most of our cholesterol need, which plays a role in the building of cell walls and hormones, is produced by our body and the rest is obtained from food. However, Cardiology Specialist, who stated that a high-calorie and fatty diet, vitamin deficiency and too little exercise increase the cholesterol level in the blood. Aslıhan Eran Ergöknil, “HDL, known as good cholesterol among people, helps prevent cardiovascular diseases by preventing the accumulation of bad cholesterol LDL around the heart. Therefore, it is very important to keep blood cholesterol levels at normal values in order to protect cardiovascular health, ”he says.
Responsible: Diet, obesity and inadequate exercise
Listing the factors responsible for the increase of cholesterol in the blood as "diet, obesity and inadequate exercise", Dr. Aslıhan Eran Ergöknil summarizes the symptoms of high cholesterol as follows:
"Yellow colored oil glands, especially in the face area, feeling of fatigue and fatigue, skin spots and pallor, chest pain, dizziness, bruising in some parts of the body, late healing wounds and shortness of breath indicate high cholesterol."
Medicine is used in cholesterol treatment. High cholesterol can lead to life-threatening conditions such as stroke or heart attack, especially in patients at risk for cardiovascular diseases, such as smokers, diabetics, overweight people or people with a family history. Therefore, it is necessary to take cholesterol-lowering drugs in consultation with your doctor. However, he pointed out that instead of taking cholesterol-lowering drugs for a long time, including more physical activity in our lifestyle and a healthy diet will provide a permanent solution. Aslıhan Eran Ergöknil, “Regular exercise increases the HDL value, which we know as good cholesterol, and lowers the bad cholesterol LDL value. Regular exercise also has a positive effect on blood pressure and strengthens the heart ”. Although brisk walking, cycling, swimming, dancing and bumpy nature walks stand out as cholesterol-free exercises, it is not always possible to perform such activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic process. Underlining that we moved away from active life and entered a still period during this period, Cardiology Specialist Dr. Aslıhan Eran Ergöknil said, “We observe that our patients also cause an increase in cholesterol levels. However, we can do daily activities outdoors and prevent many diseases by avoiding collective organizations in our homes and by following social distance rules ”.
Consume these foods
Unhealthy diet as well as a sedentary lifestyle means high cholesterol. While pointing out the importance of changing eating habits, “Taking 100 milligrams of cholesterol through diet increases the level of cholesterol in the blood by approximately 2 mg / dl. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that a balanced diet is an important factor in lowering LDL levels, ”he says. Cholesterol-enemy foods are listed as follows:
- Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains and legumes,
- Raw onion, leek and garlic, which contain vitamin, zinc and sulfur-containing components,
- Various fruits and vegetables, especially pear and apple, containing fibers that help break down cholesterol in the large intestine,
- Ginger containing gingerols that convert cholesterol into bile acid,
- Vegetable oils such as hazelnut, olive oil, flaxseed, walnut and wheat germ oil,
- Soy products containing sterols that lower cholesterol, such as tofu,
- Fatty fish such as herring, mackerel or salmon containing high quality omega-3 wet acids, which support the cardiovascular system,
- Mineral water and unsweetened teas.
Attention to high cholesterol!
Acıbadem International Hospital Cardiology Specialist Dr. Aslıhan Eran Ergöknil puts an end to his words, and the foods that are high cholesterol and especially should be avoided are “Processed foods with high fat content such as lamb, beef and pork, salami and sausage, shellfish, full-fat cheese, butter, full-fat milk. and dairy products with high fat content such as cream, pastries, convenience foods, candy and sugary drinks ”.
Be the first to comment