What causes high cholesterol?
High blood cholesterol is caused by a number of factors which include:
Poor diet: Consuming saturated fat found in the following food items can raise your cholesterol levels:
dairy products such as, butter, cream, ghee, regular-fat milk and cheese,fatty cuts of beef, pork and lamb, processed meats like salami, sausages and the skin on chickencommercially baked cookies and crackers, cream-filled candiesObesity: A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher puts you at an increased risk of high cholesterol.Large waist size: The risk of high cholesterol level increases if you are a man with a waist circumference of at least 40 inches or a woman with a waist circumference of at least 35 inches.Sedentary lifestyle: Leading a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cholesterol formation. Exercising regularly, on the other hand, keeps LDL or the harmful cholesterol in check.Smoking: Smoking reduces HDL or the good cholesterol. It injures and even damages the inner lining of the arteries, making it easier for cholesterol and other fats to stick to the blood vessels. This can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension and stroke.Diabetes: Diabetes increases the LDL cholesterol and decreases the HDL cholesterol in the body.It damages the arteries and increases the risk of a heart attack.