Watching your cholesterol doesn’t have to go out of the window now that summer’s here. AXA Health associate nutritionist, Raj Kundhi gives her tips for summer foods that are delicious and healthy too.
Summer time is party time in the UK as we all flock outdoors to enjoy alfresco living, making the most of the warmer weather and lighter evenings.
But picnics, barbecues, outdoor concerts and sporting events can all come laden with lots of unhealthy food and drink temptations too, including fatty meats, creamy salad dressings and calorie-laden puddings, clotted cream and ice creams.
Unless you are careful, your usual healthy eating habits may fall by the wayside and send your blood cholesterol soaring.
The facts
- It is estimated that close to half of adults in the UK currently have cholesterol higher than the levels currently recommended by the government (that’s a total blood cholesterol level of less than 5mmol/L).[1]
- High cholesterol is one of the known risk factors for developing heart disease and a risk factor for strokes, so you need to keep it under control.[2]
- Experts recommend eating less saturated fat which is found in fatty meats like sausages and mince, as well as cutting out processed foods like cakes and biscuits and replacing them with fruit and vegetables.
But don’t despair. You can eat delicious seasonal foods, which can lower rather increase your blood cholesterol.