‘Healthy’ Cooking Oil Can Rocket Bad Cholesterol Levels and Dementia Risk
With nearly half of all UK adults believed to be living with high cholesterol levels, health experts have warned that one ‘healthy’ oil could be causing more harm than good.
The condition has long been associated with heart and circulatory diseases, but recent research has suggested it can also rocket dementia risk by 30 percent. The updated Lancet Commission study on dementia prevention has identified high LDL cholesterol as a new risk factor for developing the neurodegenerative disease.
It also suggests that reducing this ‘bad’ cholesterol can help to delay or prevent the onset of dementia, as nearly 50 percent of cases across the world can be warded off, reports the Alzheimer’s Society. Increased exercise and healthier eating habits can help to lower cholesterol levels, but it can be difficult to know which silent killer foods to watch out for.
Nutritionist James Vickers, from Vitality, has branded coconut oil as the “worst” food for increasing cholesterol, despite its previous ‘healthy’ reputation. Existing research has hailed the oil as a good source of antioxidants, which provide anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and brain-protective effects, writes Healthline.
However, it contains more than 80 per cent saturated fat, which is known to raise cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol ‘sticks’ to the blood vessel walls, causing obstructions, which increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. (Read more from “‘Healthy’ Cooking Oil Can Rocket Bad Cholesterol Levels and Dementia Risk” HERE)
