Having too much of the bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) and not enough of the good (high-density lipoprotein or HDL) can lead to a buildup of plaque in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this can lead to a build-up in the heart and brain, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke
Many people choosing a healthier lifestyle will choose salads to include in their diets.
A great start, however, many people don’t realize how much fat their salad dressing can contain.
Salad dressings can add a lot of flavor, but they’re also high in saturated fat and sugar that can skew your lipid-lowering diet.
Cream-based sauces often include milk, sour cream, mayonnaise, or cream as a base.
For example, an average serving of two tablespoons of Caesar salad dressing contains about 140 calories and 14 grams of fat.
READ MORE: High cholesterol: Foods that can ‘get rid of bad cholesterol’
Another similar mistake many people can make on a cholesterol-lowering diet is coleslaw.
In theory, carrots and cabbage are the recommended daily vegetables that will be very healthy.
Again, though, the sneakily added ingredient of large amounts of mayonnaise can wreak havoc on cholesterol levels.
Most traditional creamy coleslaw is made with high-fat ingredients and has added sugar.
Part of what makes mayonnaise so controversial in the health and nutrition world is that it’s pretty high in saturated fat, at least when you consider how small the serving of mayonnaise is.
One tablespoon of mayonnaise has about 1.6 grams of saturated fat.
While that may not sound like much, it’s a small amount.
Healthline notes: “One of the main reasons for recommending that saturated fat intake should be kept to a minimum is the fact that saturated fat consumption can increase certain heart disease risk factors. , including LDL (bad) cholesterol.”
Switching from saturated fats to unsaturated fats like vegetable oils and choosing yogurt over mayonnaise in your coleslaw can help lower cholesterol levels when consumed as part of a balanced diet.
British Heart Foundation registered dietitian Victoria Taylor advises: “Avoid salad dressings that are high in saturated fat, such as sour cream, melted butter and blue cheese.
“But even unsaturated oils are high in calories, so watch how much you use.
“When eating out, ask for salad dressing on the side so you can control the amount you put in.
“Better yet, use balsamic vinegar or lemon juice instead.”
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk
