Trans Fats“Hydrogenated or trans fat is nothing more than a fat man has invented. The food industry added to margarines, pastries, fried, cooked … to make the product more rich, juicy, palatable, appetizing and that better preserved, “explains Elena Munasan. This artificial fat in the body behaves like a saturated fat.

The expert gives us a very graphic example. “Why is bread so soft, so appealing and does not dry in two days, as you would normal bread? Bread in theory should have no more than water, flour and salt, however, processed breads, such as mold, contains trans fat in its composition to be retained better and more attractive to the eye and palate. ” Hence the importance of monitoring the composition of processed foods, what type of fats they contain. Obviously, trans fats must disappear from the diet of a person with high cholesterol.

The main friends of cholesterol are fried snacks and bakery products. “In the first case, the product of hydrogenated fats bind to an excess of salt, which raises the blood pressure in the second, the trans are supplemented with simple carbohydrates or sugars,” says the dietitian-nutritionist. “I always recommend that you do not have these products at home. You have to eat them when life is imposed as in social situations or compromise,” but have daily access to them is very damaging. They are occasionally consumed foods. ”

A further recommendation: vegetable oils (seeds and olive) oil no cholesterol, but alter their composition as they cook. Therefore, generally prohibits fried diets to control cholesterol. However, when frying is better than olive oil because the monounsaturated fats are more resistant to chemical change that produces the cooking and food because they absorb less. The corn and sunflower oils are easily oxidized in the heat, and although this phenomenon can be counteracted by antioxidants, the ideal is to moderate the most use.

Tips to lower cholesterol
To prevent heart disease, the first step is to maintain a balanced diet: the food pyramid can be a good example to arrange the quantities and types of foods to consume. We recommend eating 50% carbohydrates (cereals, bread, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, vegetables), 20% protein (meat, fish, eggs) and 30% fat. Where will rue hypercholesterolemia, we offer the recommendations of the dietitian-nutritionist Elena Muras:

“Reducing the maximum saturated fat consumed, but also salt, rising tension. Foods high in salt are, for example, snacks, olives (which themselves are very healthy, but sold very salty ) and cheeses. ”
“Reducing consumption of simple carbohydrates or sugars.” Normally associated with the pastries come, doubling their risk for the high fat content.
“Increasing intake of fiber, which captures the cholesterol. It is as if acting as litter into the intestine, cholesterol and preventing dragging the bloodstream to absorb it. You have to eat many legumes, vegetables, nuts and whole wheat bread, but the lifetime of the bakery. ”
Antioxidants: It is essential to eat foods rich in antioxidants, “because when oxidized LDL, picks the perfect way to anchor to the blood vessels.”