How to prevent cholesterol spikes during the holidays?

The holiday season is a time when many people gather with family and enjoy traditional dishes. However, eating too much food high in saturated fat and sugar can lead to high cholesterol.

Increased cholesterol will lead to the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Therefore, in addition to enjoying Tet, it is important to control blood cholesterol levels, especially for people with a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, the elderly, lipid disorders or high cholesterol test results, according to the health website Medical News Today (UK).

A plate of food with lots of vegetables, fruits and protein-rich meats

To prevent cholesterol from spiking during the Tet holiday, people can apply the following methods:

Choose the right food

Many Tet dishes are high in fat and sugar, such as banh chung, banh tet or trotters. To limit cholesterol, people should only eat these dishes in moderation, and replace them with green vegetables such as bok choy, sweet cabbage, broccoli, spinach or fruits such as oranges, avocados, pears. These are foods rich in fiber. Fiber helps regulate cholesterol levels in the blood.

Portion control

Instead of piling up your plate with fatty and starchy foods, you should eat moderately. This moderate amount of food helps digestion and avoids overeating. Be proactive in choosing your food instead of eating uncontrollably, for example, each meal should consist of 50% starch and fat, the remaining 50% protein and vegetables.

Limit alcohol and sugary drinks

Beverages such as alcohol, beer, and soft drinks can contribute to increased levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood. Instead, people should replace them with unsweetened natural juices, lemonade, or green tea.

Stay active

Even though it is the holidays, everyone should still maintain their exercise routine. We may not need to go to the gym, but we should maintain light exercises such as walking, jogging or yoga. These exercises help burn calories and maintain stable cholesterol levels.

For those who need to monitor their cholesterol levels, experts recommend getting their cholesterol checked before and after the holidays. The tests can help doctors monitor blood cholesterol levels and take timely preventive measures, according to Medical News Today.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lam-the-nao-de-ngan-ngua-cholesterol-tang-vot-trong-ky-nghi-tet-185250117131652644.htm