Mr. Lao Chen is 62 years old this year. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. Since then, he has been controlling his diet, exercising regularly, but for some reason, his lipid levels have not decreased every time they were rechecked. As a result, the doctor prescribed lipid-lowering medication for him to take regularly.
After taking the medication for a while, a friend shared an article with him, saying that the lower the cholesterol, the higher the risk of cancer.
Mr. Lao Chen thought about the medication he was taking, which aimed to lower cholesterol levels to achieve lipid reduction, which made him even more puzzled. Does too low cholesterol really lead to cancer? What’s going on with that?
1. Does lower cholesterol levels really increase the risk of cancer?
Actually, this statement originated from a research result of Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University. At that time, through the analysis of the relationship between lipid and blood glucose levels of 137,800 subjects and the risk of developing cancer, it was found that the higher the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, the higher the risk of cancer.
According to the research data, the group with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels less than 1.8 mmol/L had a 48% increased risk of cancer compared to the group with levels over 3.4 mmol/L, with diabetic patients with unstable blood sugar control having the highest increase in cancer risk.
The study believes that excessively low levels of low-density lipoproteins indicate low protein and fat intake in the body, unbalanced nutrient intake, further manifested as malnutrition, weakened immunity, and emaciation. Such individuals are more prone to tumors, which are mainly related to digestive diseases, with common cancers being esophageal, gastric, and liver cancers.
In fact, the standards for low-density lipoprotein levels vary among different body types. For example, for those who are already very obese, a slightly lower level of low-density lipoprotein is actually better, at least reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
If you are very thin and have very low levels of low-density lipoproteins, it indicates a lack of nutrition, which can increase the risk of esophageal and gastric cancer instead.
2. Why do some people have high blood lipids despite eating a light diet?
Some internet users, after discovering high blood lipids, switched to a light diet every day to improve their lipid levels by avoiding greasy, spicy, and strong-tasting foods. However, even with such a tasteless diet, their blood lipids did not decrease. Doctors explained that many people have misconceptions about a light diet. From a medical perspective, a light diet generally means less oil, sugar, and salt in cooking, with less heavy flavors.
Furthermore, some individuals, although they do not eat fried and fatty foods much, consume a large amount of staple foods, which are refined carbohydrates like rice, flour, and steamed buns, increasing the risk of high blood lipids.
In reality, a light diet does not mean giving up meat, but it emphasizes diversified food intake, balanced nutrition, recommending choosing lean meat for meat consumption, eating more legumes and high-protein foods like beans and eggs daily, paying attention to the combination of coarse and fine staple foods, and reducing the consumption of highly stimulating foods. It is also best to choose cooking methods like steaming and boiling.
Cholesterol, apart from dietary intake, is also largely synthesized by the body. Roughly 80% of cholesterol in the body comes from internal synthesis, with only 20% obtained from food.
Moreover, in order to maintain normal cholesterol levels, if the dietary cholesterol intake is reduced, the body has to produce more cholesterol to compensate, leading to increased cholesterol synthesis.
Especially after levels of bad cholesterol increase, continual stimulation of the vascular endothelium increases the risk of plaque formation, which, once dislodged, can cause serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases like clots, possibly resulting in local brain tissue ischemia, hypoxia, and necrosis.
3. These 4 types of foods make cholesterol levels soar, and it’s best to avoid them as much as possible
In reality, the body has mechanisms to regulate blood lipids, and under normal circumstances, blood lipids do not skyrocket. However, persistently consuming excessive cholesterol-rich foods, coupled with inadequate metabolism, can lead to abnormal blood lipid levels.
Many seemingly harmless and highly nutritious foods in daily life can unknowingly increase cholesterol levels when overconsumed. These foods, like alcohol, are often overlooked as “high-cholesterol ingredients”:
1. Long-cooked Soup
Among the favorite soups of Cantonese cuisine, long-cooked nutritious soups, after hours of simmering, are often mistaken for nutritional treasures. However, the nutritional value of the soup does not increase with extended cooking time, as the nutrients in the soup ingredients remain constant. Moreover, such soups often contain large amounts of fat, purines, and cholesterol, and it is not advisable to consume them regularly.
2. Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Shellfish
In fact, shellfish are perhaps the most easily overlooked high-purine foods, with some shellfish having purine contents of up to 413.5mg/100g, even surpassing pig liver. Shellfish like abalone, razor clams, and squid have cholesterol levels not much different from animal offal.
3. Animal Liver
Animal liver is also a common source of high cholesterol. Among them, pig liver has the highest cholesterol content, followed by chicken, duck, and beef liver. It is advisable to consume it occasionally, at most 2-3 times a month, as frequent consumption can increase the risk of abnormal cholesterol levels.
4. Animal Brains
Many people enjoy adding animal brains to hot pot dishes, believing it helps nourish the brain. In reality, animal brains have very high cholesterol content. For individuals with conditions like impaired kidney function, high blood lipids, and cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary to limit cholesterol, fat, and protein intake. It is best to eat less of these foods, as it may exacerbate the conditions.
4. Here are 3 tips to keep your blood lipids within a reasonable range
Many patients often say that their high blood lipids are hard to reduce. Besides a healthy diet, good lifestyle habits are crucial for effectively lowering blood lipids.
1. Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol Consumption
Both smoking and secondhand smoke can damage blood vessels, increase blood pressure, and lead to abnormal blood lipids. Excessive alcohol intake can also cause liver metabolism abnormalities, resulting in excessive fat accumulation and raising blood lipid levels.
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week
Experts suggest that exercise helps improve cardiovascular function. It is recommended to engage in physical activity at least 3 times a week, with each session lasting at least 30 minutes. Depending on individual physical conditions, activities like jogging, walking, and cycling can be chosen.
3. Maintain Good Sleep
Many people these days enjoy staying up late. Prolonged sleep deprivation, while seemingly harmless, already impacts the endocrine and lipid metabolism functions within the body. Over time, this can increase the risks of various cardiovascular health issues. It is recommended to go to bed before 11 pm.
Therefore, to effectively lower blood lipids in daily life, in addition to avoiding high-cholesterol diets and risky behaviors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, having a regular lifestyle routine is crucial. Furthermore, consistent physical exercise and maintaining ideal body weight also aid in stabilizing blood lipids.
References:
[1] “Despite a Light Diet, Why was High Blood Lipids Detected?” China Medical Forum Today’s Circulation. Nov 20, 2022.
[2] “How Could Someone with a ‘Light Diet’ Have High Blood Lipids?” Life Times. Nov 10, 2022.
[3] “These 3 Types of Foods are ‘Cholesterol Kings,’ Avoid the First One Completely!” China Sci-Tech Popul. Apr 9, 2024.
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