Olive Oil and Good Cholesterol |
|
What about olive oil for good and bad cholesterol?
Olive oil is an excellent choice because it helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) but doesn’t lower good cholesterol (HDL).
![]() Here’s how it works.
There are two types of cholesterol. The first is HDL(high density lipoprotein) the good cholesterol because it helps clear your arteries. Then there’s LDL (low density lipoprotein) the bad cholesterol because it clogs your arteries. Saturated fats like those found in meat and dairy products increase your bad cholesterol and decrease your good cholesterol.
Polyunsaturated fats found in vegetable oils such as corn or soy lower your bad cholesterol, but they also lower your good cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats found in fish and olive oil don’t lower the good cholesterol, but do lower the bad cholesterol. Perfect combination! Our bodies need fat, but we can choose healthy fats by eating foods like fish, olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Finally, I can't call this page finished without addressing hydrogenated oil and trans-fats. Too much saturated fat and cholesterol is not healthy, but at least they’'re natural and our bodies need them. Hydrogenated oils are full of unnatural trans-fats and in my opinion are the ones that are the most important and tricky to avoid. Please follow this link to my page about hydrogenated oil and trans-fats. You can’t afford not to educate yourself about this health hazard. |
|