A cardiologist has disclosed the foods he would never consume, emphasizing that butter is nearly pure saturated fat. Eating foods high in fat can elevate cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks. Dr. Mohammad Alo, known as "America's Cardiologist" on TikTok with nearly 270,000 followers, regularly offers heart health advice.
Foods That Raise Cholesterol
In a recent video, Dr. Alo stated: "As a cardiologist, here are some foods I would absolutely never eat." He explained that certain foods raise LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, also known as "bad cholesterol," which can clog arteries and lead to heart attacks, strokes, dementia, peripheral artery disease, and kidney disease. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or "good cholesterol," helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Dr. Alo highlighted butter as the top food to avoid, calling it "almost a pure saturated fat." He warned that consuming butter raises LDL and clogs arteries. Other saturated fats in the same category include cheese, bacon, lard, ghee, coconut oil, tallow, fat on steaks, and chicken skin. All these saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol and contribute to heart disease.
Saturated Fat Sources
The NHS recommends men consume no more than 30g of saturated fat per day, and women no more than 20g. Foods containing saturated fat include butter, ghee, suet, lard, coconut oil, palm oil, cakes, biscuits, fatty cuts of meat, sausages, bacon, cured meats like salami and chorizo, cheese, pastries such as pies and croissants, cream, crème fraîche, sour cream, ice cream, coconut milk, coconut cream, milkshakes, chocolate, and chocolate spreads.
How to Lower Cholesterol
The NHS advises reducing fatty foods, particularly those with saturated fat, and increasing consumption of oily fish like mackerel and salmon, olive oil, rapeseed oil, brown rice, wholegrain bread, wholewheat pasta, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Exercise is also beneficial, with a recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Smoking cessation and limiting alcohol intake to no more than 14 units per week, spread over several days with drink-free days, are additional measures.
