Foods high in saturated and trans fats are major contributors of high cholesterol apart from lack of exercise and obesity
High cholesterol, or hyperlipidaemia, is mostly caused by a combination of lifestyle fact which include genetic predispositions and underlying health conditions. According to doctors, unhealthy diets - especially foods high in saturated and trans fats—are major contributors. Apart from that, lack of exercise and obesity also increase the risk.
A few more factors that cause cholesterol - a waxy substance that’s similar to fat—to rise faster than others include:
High consumption of coffee
Coffee is packed with caffeine - associated with rapid spikes in blood pressure. However, coffee can increase your cholesterol levels as well. According to studies, there is a strong link between drinking four cups of coffee daily and increased total cholesterol and LDL, or bad cholesterol.
To minimise the risk of high cholesterol from coffee, consider limiting drinks containing espresso.
High levels of stress
High stress levels—byproducts of modern lifestyles—are also major reasons why you may have increased cholesterol. Psychological stress raises the risk of having high LDL and total cholesterol levels due to the hormone cortisol, which spikes during times of stress. To reduce the risk due to stress, you can try stress management techniques like daily workouts and breathing exercises.
Smoking cigarettes
If you smoke, you may be prone to high cholesterol levels due to nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco products like cigarettes. Doctors say nicotine lowers the amount of good or HDL cholesterol in your blood, which otherwise helps remove LDL cholesterol.
The best way to reduce the risk of smoking-induced high cholesterol is to avoid or quit smoking completely.
Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, it is natural for blood cholesterol to increase by at least 30-40 per cent. It happens because cholesterol is essential for healthy fetal growth and development. Studies say high cholesterol levels during pregnancy are related to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, placental lactogen, and insulin resistance.
However, doctors say it is also possible for cholesterol to increase too much during pregnancy, in a condition known as gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia.
You can manage the condition with the help of a few dietary changes and lipid-lowering drugs.
Extreme weight loss
A major potential cause of high cholesterol levels can be rapid and extreme weight loss. Studies say when trying to lose weight, you may be following a very low-calorie diet, which can spike your LDL cholesterol temporarily before dropping to normal levels. It happens due to changes in metabolism and can be dangerous in the long run.
