High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips
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Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body that has many important roles, such as helping your metabolism work efficiently. However, having high levels of LDL cholesterol – a type of cholesterol that’s often called the “bad” cholesterol – can raise your risk of heart disease. It is therefore imperative to keep LDL cholesterol levels under control.
Complicating this effort is the lack of symptoms that flag up LDL cholesterol levels.
However, this is not always the case.
Research suggests there is an association between a severe gum infection and elevated cholesterol levels.
A study aimed to evaluate the association between periodontitis and hyperlipidemia.
Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, refers to elevated levels of fats in the blood.
Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications.
For the study, levels of serum lipids in 45 subjects with periodontitis were measured and compared with 45 age, gender and body mass index (BMI) matched controls.
Serum lipids essentially means fatty substances found in the blood, including cholesterol.
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After analysing the data, LDL cholesterol levels were higher in the group with periodontitis.
“This study indicates that hyperlipidemia may be associated with periodontal disease,” the researchers concluded.
How to get tested for cholesterol
In most cases, high cholesterol will not produce any symptoms.
“You can only find out if you have it from a blood test,” explains the NHS.
According to the health body, your GP might suggest having a test if they think your cholesterol level could be high.
“This may be because of your age, weight or another condition you have (like high blood pressure or diabetes).”
Treatment
You can lower high cholesterol levels naturally by overhauling unhealthy aspects of your lifestyle.
One of the most important dietary interventions you can make is to reduce your saturated fat intake.
“Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol,” warns the Mayo Clinic.
As it explains, “decreasing your consumption of saturated fats can reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the ‘bad’ cholesterol.”
You should also increase your intake of soluble fibre, it suggests, because this can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream.
Soluble fibre is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.
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