Hypercholesterolaemia

• Also known as high cholesterol, this is a condition where a person has high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol in their blood. LDL’s can cause buildup of plaque in blood vessels, which narrow arteries and can weaken the heart as it has to work harder to circulate blood. Blood clots can also form around plaque, increasing risk of strokes.
• The most effective diet for managing hypercholesterolaemia is low in saturated fats, which contain more LDLs, and high in fruit and vegetables, which contain phytochemicals.
• This helps manage the amount of cholesterol in the blood because phytochemicals have a structure similar to cholesterol and may be absorbed instead of it. This lowers the amount of LDL is in the blood. Some foods are fortified with plants stenols and sterols, which may reduce the risk of heart disease in some people. These aren’t recommended for consumption by children, pregnant women or the elderly.