Then there are trans fats, which raise “bad” cholesterol levels, which are made when unsaturated fats (such as vegetables oils) are heated to high temperatures during food processing.
“Trans fats are sometimes present in pastries, cakes, biscuits, crackers, fried foods, takeaways and hard margarines,” said Heart UK.
“Look out for the words ‘partially hydrogenated fat’ on the label as they contain trans fats and avoid these as much as possible.”
The NHS added that high-fibre foods can help to lower your cholesterol, which includes:
- Wholemeal bread, bran and wholegrain cereals
- Fruit and vegetables
- Potatoes with their skins on
- Oats and barley
- Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils
- Nuts and seeds.
