Cholesterol: how low to go?
“Many types of cancer and other chronic diseases are now known to be connected with lower cholesterol and there is evidence that people with low cholesterol are at greater risk of suicide. However, we don’t know if most of these conditions are lowering cholesterol or if lower cholesterol is causing the conditions. What we need is some large trials to resolve the uncertainty.”
Being overweight does not necessarily indicate high cholesterol. Storing fat on hips need have no adverse affect on the heart but the risk is pushed up dramatically for those with fat stored in “pigeon” chests. Aspirin and oily fish do not reduce cholesterol but may decrease the likelihood of a blood clot in the coronary artery. Alcohol, not more than three glasses of wine a day, probably protects the heart. Saturated fats, which may contribute to a high cholesterol level, are ones which solidify at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats (sunflower oil for example) are less harmful and mono-unsaturated fats (such as olive oil) are the least harmful. But “high in polyunsaturates” does not mean there is no saturated fat and an American report last week suggested that when polyunsaturated fats are converted into hard margarine they may raise cholesterol levels. The British Heart Foundation says that the following foods ought to be avoided if your cholesterol count is more than seven and you have other risk factors: butter, margarine, lard, cream, cheese, (except Edam, cottage cheese and fromage frais), lamb, pork, beef, meat pies, poultry skin, cakes, biscuits, desserts and confectionery, coffee except filter (tea is OK), coconut or palm oil. Foods which help to lower cholesterol by dispersing fat: oily fish such as herrings and sardines, all fruit and vegetables, soluble fibre such as peas, beans, lentils and oats.
Dr Mary Seed, a lipidologist at the Charing Cross Hospital, London, says, “If you have a history of cardiovascular disease it would be important to know your cholesterol level but otherwise it would not be the first thing you would need to know. Exercise is likely to bring your cholesterol level because it almost certainly affects your lipid metabolism. We should eat more foods with Vitamin C and E in them because they prevent cholesterol being oxidised and damaging the arterial wall.” Saturated fats, it is believed, slow down the rate at which cholesterol is removed from the blood stream by the liver. Besides saturated fats, coffee is also now considered to raise blood cholesterol. This has nothing to do with caffeine but probably the fats which occur naturally in coffee beans. The only exception to this is filter coffee because, it is believed, the white filter paper absorbs fat.