Navigating Bad and Good Cholesterol in Your Diet

HDL, or good cholesterol, is often touted as a dietary staple that can support improved heart health. In theory, bad cholesterol (LDL) causes atherosclerosis and, later peripheral artery disease. but, we thought, HDL helped take LDL out of the arteries and to your liver, helping prevent the kind of plaque build-up that can lead to PAD. As such, health experts suggested eating HDL-rich foods, such as avocados, salmon and olive oil. Yet emerging research suggests that you can hurt your health if you consume too much HDL. So, how can you navigate bad and good cholesterol in your diet? Here are a few suggestions to try.

First, Lower Bad Cholesterol

You can help lower LDL levels by padding your diet with omega-3 fatty acids such as ALA, DHA and EPA. You can get your ALA from seeds, nuts and oils. But oily fish are the only natural dietary source of DHA. So, you could try adding sardines, mackerel, salmon, herring, trout, anchovies or swordfish to your diet. But if you want the DHA without raising mercury levels in your body, you can also ask your doctor about supplementing omega-3 fatty acids. Then, we can try to manage your good cholesterol intake to reach a safety zone.

Managing Good Cholesterol

According to this study from Emory University study, people with HDL levels above or below 41–60 milligrams per decilitre show increased risks for cardiovascular disease, including peripheral artery disease. As such, we suggest enjoying foods that are rich in HDl. But do so in moderation, as part of an overall healthy diet and in combination with regular exercise.

Good and Bad Cholesterol: Final Thoughts

Did you know that experiencing high cholesterol levels at any time in your life could damage your long-term health? Well, it's true: in a study from the Journal of American Cardiology, having high cholesterol, even in your teens or 20s, will increase your risk for all forms of heart disease. And that's because it begins damaging your arteries in irreversible ways, reducing your ability to prevent atherosclerosis later in life. As such, you should address high cholesterol levels immediately, and at any age.

Do you want help managing your cholesterol or protecting your arterial and vein health? The specialists at Georgia Endovascular are here to help, with preventative screenings and minimally invasive interventions. You can start your journey by contacting our vascular specialists to schedule a consultation.