Main reasons for high blood cholesterol
Unhealthy diet:
Saturated fat: Fats found in red meat (mutton, beef), butter, cheese, and milk increase the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
Trans fat: Trans fat found in bakery products, fried foods, and processed foods plays a major role in increasing cholesterol.
Lack of exercise: People who do not exercise enough have low levels of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and high levels of bad cholesterol. Exercise helps balance this level.
Obesity: People who are obese tend to have high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and reduces the level of good cholesterol.
Age and gender: The risk of high cholesterol increases with age. Cholesterol levels are more likely to increase in women after menopause.
Genetics: If your parents or relatives in your family have high cholesterol, you are more likely to have it genetically.
Other medical conditions: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease can cause high cholesterol.
