Eating healthily is very important for overall health, but it becomes even more important when you have been diagnosed with long-term health conditions such as high cholesterol. If you don’t keep your cholesterol levels in check it can result in other health complications such as heart disease. Listed below are the 5 foods to avoid when you have high cholesterol.

Fried Foods
Deep-fried foods such as cheese sticks, fries, and deep-fried meats are not good for you and are at the top of the list of the 5 foods to avoid when you have high cholesterol. These foods contain a high amount of trans fats that can increase your risk of heart disease. Frying food causes it to lose water and makes it calorie-dense. Hence, consuming too much fried food can result in obesity. If you need to fry food opt for healthy oils such as sunflower or olive oil over butter and lard. However, do not heat the oils past their smoke point.

Full-fat Dairy Products
Full-fat dairy products such as ice cream, whole mile, full-fat yogurt. and cheese are rich in saturated fat and should be avoided when you have high cholesterol. You can choose low-fat dairy items or those made with 2 percent milk and skimmed milk.

Meat
If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, it is important to keep track of the amount of cholesterol you get from the food you eat. Meat contains unhealthy saturated fats that can increase your bad cholesterol levels especially meats that have visible fat or skin. Therefore, meat is another of the 5 foods to avoid when you have high cholesterol. If you want to eat meat try to trim the fat of steaks and chops, opt for lean cuts of meat and choose skinless turkey and chicken.

Food Rich in Trans Fats
Ingredients of packaged food, such as mayonnaise, frozen dinners, cookies, and crackers, contain hydrogenated oil. This is used to increase their shelf life but is rich in trans fats and can boost your cholesterol level. Always check the list of ingredients and nutrition information of packaged foods before you buy them.

Foods with Excess Salt or Sugar
This includes canned soups cured meats, candy, cakes and soda. High amounts of salt and sugar are again usually found in packaged foods. Sugar and salt are usually used in high amounts as preservatives or to boost the taste. Hence, the key to managing your cholesterol levels is to eat fresh, healthy and home-cooked food as much as possible.

When planning your diet keep these 5 foods to avoid when you have high cholesterol in mind. Eating healthy nutritious food can help you to keep your cholesterol levels in check. Also, engage in physical activities and go for regular checkups.