Adults over the age of 50 are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of high cholesterol. However, the condition doesn’t exclude younger people either. According to the CDC, up to 7% of children and teens have elevated cholesterol. We compiled a list of frozen foods to avoid or restrict if you want to keep cholesterol at bay.
Frozen Pizza
Ultra-processed foods, such as frozen pizza, threaten many people’s health. Pepperoni and cheese are two of the most common toppings on frozen pizzas. This makes frozen pizza even more harmful because it contains a large amount of trans fat in the form of processed meat. An alternative is to make fresh pizza with healthy ingredients.
Frozen Dinners
If you’re looking for a low-cholesterol option, you might want to steer clear of frozen meals branded “light” or “lean.” Many frozen dinners branded in this way may be lower in calories but still have harmful sodium and saturated fats. Additionally, the nutrient level is sometimes so low that it can barely be counted as a meal.
Puff Pastry
A substantial amount of lard is often used to make puff pastry. Saturated and trans fats are abundant in lard and shortening, leading to a rise in LDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol (HDL cholesterol). The butter in puff pastry dough is sandwiched between layers of thin pastry dough, which is then baked. Hence, it should be avoided if you have high cholesterol.
Frozen Red Meat
Eating red meat can increase blood cholesterol levels, as they contain a lot of saturated fat. Saturated fats are abundant in ground meats such as hamburgers, ribs, chops, and roasts of all kinds. This is even more true in frozen meat because of the freezing process. The worst thing you can do for your cholesterol is consume frozen, processed red meat.
