Short Answer: Grits are bad for high cholesterol. Because they have little fiber and a lot of carbohydrates, and they are a refined grain.
High cholesterol is a condition that affects your blood vessels and heart.
In high cholesterol, your body produces too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol, which can stick to the walls of your arteries and form plaques.
This can lead to various health problems, such as angina, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
One of the key factors in managing high cholesterol is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood cholesterol levels, which can impact your high cholesterol symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage high cholesterol, you should consume fiber-rich foods like oats, beans, and fruits, and avoid saturated fat-rich foods like butter, cheese, and fatty meats.
Now, grits are a type of porridge made from coarsely ground dried corn or hominy.
People usually eat them for breakfast or as a side dish with other foods.
Grits are bad for high cholesterol because they contain little fiber and a lot of carbohydrates.
They can raise your blood sugar and triglycerides, which are another type of fat in your blood.
High triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
One cup of cooked grits can give you 24 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of protein, 0.5 grams of fat, and 1.7 grams of fiber.
This is about 8% of your daily carbohydrate needs, 4% of your daily protein needs, 1% of your daily fat needs, and 7% of your daily fiber needs.
Carbohydrates can increase your blood sugar and triglycerides, which can worsen your high cholesterol.
Fiber can lower your blood cholesterol and triglycerides, but grits have very little fiber.
Furthermore, grits are a refined grain and refined grains are bad for high cholesterol.
Because, they have been processed to remove the bran and germ, which contain most of the fiber and nutrients.
Refined grains can also cause inflammation, which can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
That’s why I suggest you limit your grits intake to avoid raising your blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
Stick to half a cup of cooked grits or less per day to minimize the negative effects.
Also, you shouldn’t eat grits if you have diabetes or prediabetes to prevent high blood sugar.
Because, they have a high glycemic index, which means they can spike your blood sugar quickly.
You can buy fresh or dried corn or hominy in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose whole grain corn or hominy, which have more fiber and nutrients than refined corn or hominy.
Because, they can help lower your blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
You can store them in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing high cholesterol effectively.
I always recommend my high cholesterol patients to follow a high cholesterol-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.