In today’s society, it is now common for men and woman to have high-cholesterol. This is based on the numerous fast food restaurants on every corner, busy lifestyle and poor eating habits. Cholesterol can be found in the fats or commonly known as lipids in your blood and it is good for the body as it helps to continue building healthy cells. When the cholesterol in your blood becomes increased, the waxy substance begins blocking regular blood flow, which can result in heart disease or a heart attack.

Often times, high-cholesterol can be preventable and even treatable, but it can also be inherited. No matter what the cause may be, it is important to know which foods need to be avoided so that the risk of heart disease is lessened tremendously.

Here is a list of the top 15 high-cholesterol foods to avoid:

1. Butter – Added to almost anything, butter can add an unnecessary spike in cholesterol. With just one stick totaling 243 milligrams and 30 milligrams per tablespoon, it is best to avoid increased amounts of butter to any food.

2. Caviar – This classical spread is common among Northern and Eastern Europe and has shown an increase in the United States of America. Many do not know that caviar is loaded with cholesterol as each 100 grams contains 588 milligrams, equaling out to be just about 94 milligrams per tablespoon.

3. Cheese – The levels of cholesterol will vary depending on the manufacturer. Port de Salut contains the most cholesterol with 123 milligrams per 100 gram serving and other cheeses that contain high cholesterol levels include: Fontina, Gouda, Cream Cheese, Gruyere and Cheddar.

4. Cheeseburger – On average, McDonald’s Big Mac contains 85 milligrams of cholesterol and Wendy’s Classic Double With Everything has 175 milligrams of cholesterol. Next time, consider ordering a plain burger to help reduce the cholesterol and fat intake.

5. Chicken – It is all about the preparation when it comes to figuring out the fat and cholesterol contents in chicken. If chicken is fried with the skin still attached, then a person is basically consuming a cup of ice cream and a hamburger. Try baking the chicken to reduce its fat content, plus skip the dark meat as it contains more fat than white meat.

6. Coconut oil – This may be a debatable food as coconut oil does not actually contain cholesterol; however, it is very high in saturated fats, which in turn affects the liver. It sends signals to the liver to start producing unnecessary cholesterol, which can harm the body.

7. Egg Yolk – One of the most eaten foods with the highest cholesterol is most definitely eggs, although all the cholesterol is solely found in the egg yolk. Per 100 gram serving, it contains 1234 milligrams of cholesterol. A whole egg has more cholesterol as it contains 212 milligrams, while a single egg yolk has 210 milligrams.

8. Fast food breakfasts – It is best to avoid breakfast sandwiches that consist of ham, egg, cheese and a biscuit as it contains roughly 172 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 gram serving. Per biscuit, a person can consume 246 milligrams and if an egg and sausage biscuit is the breakfast item, then be prepared to consume 261 milligrams of cholesterol.

9. Fish oil – Although fish oil is good for the heart, packaged fish contains a high amount of cholesterol. Packed sardines average about 142 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 grams.

10. Ice cream – This frozen treat is popular among many, but it contains more cholesterol than a hamburger, plus more cholesterol than 10 glazed doughnuts. Experts advise replacing ice cream with fresh fruit to provide necessary nutrients and to reduce cholesterol intake.

11. Liver – The cholesterol within any animal is most often produced by the liver. It roughly contains 564 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 grams.

12. Muffins – The amount of fat and cholesterol per muffin can be greatly reduced when the additional toppings are taken off, but who likes a plain muffin? When a muffin contains extra ingredients such as chocolate chips, blueberries or a nice buttery spread, a person is consuming up to 8 grams of fat per muffin.

13. Shellfish – Be aware of the cholesterol levels in oysters, clams and mussels as there are some oyster manufacturers who market their product at 105 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 gram serving.

14. Shrimp – A delightful treat at any special occasion is shrimp; however, shrimp contains about 195 milligrams of cholesterol. Even a single large shrimp provides 11 milligrams, while just a single ounce of shrimp has 55 milligrams.

15. Steak – Although steak can be considered as an all-time American favorite, it still provides about 22 percent of a person’s daily cholesterol intake. That’s even with the fat well-trimmed off and cooked in olive oil. Try substituting steak with leaner cuts of meat.

Author Bio : Randy is a content developer working for a retail group where he writes about specialty home products like – classic etagere, retro wall clock, artificial ferns and lot more.

Stress can play a powerful role when it comes to an individual’s mind and body, but more importantly, their overall health. It has been known that stress is one of the leading causes for obesity, high blood pressure and even heart attacks. Stress can be best described as nervousness or anxiety. It is a sensation that makes an individual’s chest feel like it is closing in, tightening with each and every breath.

To avoid health problems that are caused by stress, it is best to partake in activities that allow stress levels to decrease such as physical exercise or reading a book.

Here are 10 of the most common health problems caused by stress:

1. Alcoholism can lead to deadly consequences such as liver failure or a heart attack. In regards to stress, many individuals choose to seek out unfit solutions to solve their stressful situations like drinking alcohol or consuming illegal drugs. There are dire affects to these solutions and it is best to seek professional help.

2. Arthritis – This can be a condition that comes with old age; however, arthritis can be quickened with unusual amounts of stress. Stress seems to attack the most vital body parts and organs because they are the most overworked, so stress can potentially lead to a crippling lifestyle. Be sure to regularly exercise to actively move your joints and take multivitamins.

3. Cold and sinus infections – Stress can lead to a weakened immune system. Many people can testify to this fact as when stressful events arise, cold and sinus infections pop out of no where. This happens due to the fact that your body is trying to respond to different stimuli all at once because the stress is sending false signals to the brain about different areas that are in need of attention thus leaving areas that need attention unprotected. Fight off a cold or sinus infection in its early stages by taking relief medications such as cough syrup or decongestion medication.

4. Diarrhea – Although it may be embarrassing to discuss, diarrhea is a natural cause due to stress. This happens because of an increase in the metabolism and gastrointestinal motility. Be careful of what foods are being eaten as this could lead to less bathroom trips.

5. Fiber myalgia is a definite concern as it really does affect a person’s everyday routine. Stress can make one believe that their entire body is achy or hurting when it really isn’t. If this behavior goes on for a period of time, the body readjusts itself into believing that different areas need constant attention, which will result in fiber myalgia. The best way to avoid this is by scheduling regular doctor visits to gather professional and knowledgeable information on how to respond to body messages appropriately.

6. Headaches and migraines – Constant reminders of unwanted stress are headaches and migraines. When overwhelming tasks consume a person, this can most definitely lead to headaches or migraines as there is constant thinking taking place within the brain. When the brain becomes overworked due to stress, it can result in radical pain and lead a person disabled from the outside world. Common pain relieve medication can help subdue the pain, but if the pain is too much, then it is advised to seek medical attention.

7. Heart disease – The human heart is designed to take on many responsibilities, yet when those responsibilities are combined with stress, it could lead to deadly consequences. Heart disease is the number one health problem among men and women and most will agree that stress had apart of it. Take active steps now to avoid this deadly disease by eating right, exercising and discussing your feelings to a friend, doctor or family member on a regular basis.

8. Hyperventilation – Stress can cause unwanted panic attacks, which usually result in hyperventilation. Many individuals who suffer from this health problem adjust their lives according to their hyperventilation symptoms as even small tasks can lead to a panic attack. It is best to get to the root of why hyperventilation or panic attacks are happening in the first place and this can be done by speaking with a therapist or through a self-intervention.

9. Indigestion –This is an uneasy feeling within the stomach that can cause heartburn. Indigestion can deeply affect the inner lining of your throat as stomach acids rise up to escape; however, there are many over the counter medications that can help with indigestion.

10. Nausea is definitely a strong health problem that cannot be easily ignored. Stress causes abnormal amounts of anxiety and this could lead to stomach pain, which ultimately ends in an upset feeling in the stomach’s core. Careful breathing and drinking plenty of water can help subdue nausea.

Author Bio : Randy is a content developer working for a retail group where he writes about specialty home products like – silk plants, bedside table lamps, artificial ferns and lot more.