Why Is Low-Density Protein Elevated, and What Should I Do?

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a crucial lipoprotein particle in the body responsible for transporting cholesterol to cells. The level of LDL is not fixed and can increase or decrease due to various factors. When individuals undergo tests and discover that their LDL levels are elevated, it is essential to promptly identify the underlying reasons and address them accordingly. So, what are the reasons for high LDL levels, and how should they be managed?

Causes of Elevated LDL

The reasons for elevated LDL levels are closely related to daily dietary habits and lifestyle. Typically, the following factors can contribute to increased LDL levels:

1. Unhealthy Diet: Saturated fats and trans fats are the primary causes of elevated LDL in the body. Animal products such as beef, pork, full-fat milk, and egg yolks are rich sources of saturated fats, while processed and fried foods contain high concentrations of trans fats. Consuming these foods can increase cholesterol levels in the blood, leading to elevated LDL.
2. Lack of Exercise and Obesity: Sedentary lifestyles and obesity can lead to an excess of calories in the body. When the body receives more calories than it needs, it stores the excess as fat, contributing to elevated triglyceride levels.
3. High Stress and Negative Mood: Many people tend to consume excessive fatty foods, alcohol, and tobacco to cope with stress, which can all contribute to elevated LDL levels.
4. Genetic Factors: Genes play a crucial role in determining the rate of LDL production and processing in the blood.

Management of Elevated LDL

Consuming foods containing lactic acid bacteria can help lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Here are some recommendations:

1. Moderate carbohydrate intake, especially for those who are overweight or obese. Avoid pure sugar and sugary foods.
2. Consume foods that provide high-quality protein while low in saturated fats and cholesterol, such as fish (particularly marine fish), soybeans and soy products, lean poultry, and lean meat.
3. Limit the intake of animal livers and other internal organs, and strictly restrict the consumption of animal brains, crab roe, and fish roe.
4. Use vegetable oils for cooking and minimize the intake of animal fats.
5. Increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to ensure adequate dietary fiber, vitamins, and mineral intake. Foods rich in niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B6 are especially beneficial.
6. There are many foods that have been found to lower blood lipids:
• Garlic: It can increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood, which is beneficial for preventing atherosclerosis.
• Eggplant: Its breakdown products in the intestine can bind to excess cholesterol and help eliminate it from the body.
• Mushrooms and wood ear: They can reduce blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Studies have shown that their cholesterol-lowering effect is 10 times stronger than lipid-lowering drugs.
• Onions and seaweed: Onions can reduce lipid deposits in arteries, while the iodine and magnesium in seaweed also play a role in preventing lipid deposits.
• Soybeans: Eating 115 grams of soybeans daily can reduce blood cholesterol by 20%, especially LDL, which is closely associated with atherosclerosis.
• Tea: Tea can lower blood lipids. Residents in tea-producing areas have significantly lower blood cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease incidence rates compared to other regions.
• Fish: It contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for lowering blood cholesterol. The lower incidence of coronary heart disease among fishermen compared to inland residents is evidence of this.
• Vegetable oils: They contain essential unsaturated fats that can lower blood cholesterol. Sesame oil, corn oil, and peanut oil are particularly good choices.
• Other foods such as hawthorn, celery, winter melon, coarse oatmeal, apples, etc., also have varying degrees of lipid-lowering effects.
• A morning cup of oatmeal is a heart-friendly breakfast. The main compound in oats that helps break down cholesterol is called "beta-glucan," a soluble fiber that interferes with the production and absorption of cholesterol. Studies have found that eating two-thirds of a cup of dry oatmeal daily can reduce cholesterol by 16%.