Study says cholestrol rate highest in Tamil Nadu

The prevalence of dyslipidaemia is high in India, which calls for urgent lifestyle intervention strategies to prevent and manage this important cardiovascular risk factor. 

Moderations holds the key. You don’t have to give up eating anything completely. An effective change you can make is to replace products high in saturated fats like butter with lower fat alternatives like low fat table spreads. Low fat table spreads are good for health, but, make sure that when selecting a table spread, choose the one that has 0% Cholesterol and 0 g trans-fat on the label. For non-vegetarian diet, lean meat like fish is a great option,” says M Sowmya Binu, senior nutritionist, Motherhood Birthing Centre. 

Dr G. Sengottuvelu, senior consultant interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, explains that cholesterol by itself is not bad. “Familial Dyslipidaemia as the name implies is hereditary and family conditions must be screened to understand the intervention. However, one must understand there is good, bad and even ugly cholesterol. Transfat is another major factor. It is present in bakery products to extend their shelf life,” he says. 

Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Head and Chief Diabetologist, MV Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, pointing to the link between lipid levels and obesity among children, says, “High triglyceride and low HDL (Good Cholesterol) levels among children are a big concern. This leads to insulin resistance.”