Is Salmon Good for High Cholesterol? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Salmon is good for high cholesterol. Because it has omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which can lower your LDL and triglycerides, raise your HDL, and prevent inflammation and blood clots.

High cholesterol is a condition that affects your blood vessels.

In high cholesterol, your body has too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.

This can lead to various health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

One of the key factors in managing high cholesterol is diet.

What you consume can affect your cholesterol levels, which can impact your heart health and risk of complications.

To effectively manage high cholesterol, you should consume unsaturated fat rich foods like olive oil, nuts, and avocados and avoid saturated fat and trans fat rich foods like butter, cheese, and pastries.

Now, salmon is a type of fatty fish that is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

People usually eat salmon baked, grilled, or smoked.

Salmon is good for high cholesterol because it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol.

Omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce inflammation and prevent blood clots.

Salmon is good for both types of high cholesterol: high LDL and high triglycerides.

A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of cooked salmon can give you about 2.3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, which is about 100% of your daily needs.

It can also provide you with 22 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat, and several vitamins and minerals.

Omega-3 fatty acids can lower your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

They can also raise your HDL cholesterol, which can protect your blood vessels from damage and inflammation.

Furthermore, salmon is a lean protein source and protein is good for high cholesterol.

Because, protein can help you feel full and prevent overeating, which can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your cholesterol.

You can eat two to three servings of salmon per week safely.

More than that can cause mercury exposure, which can harm your nervous system and kidneys.

Also, you shouldn’t eat salmon if you have a fish allergy to prevent an allergic reaction.

Because, salmon can trigger symptoms like hives, swelling, and breathing difficulties.

You can buy fresh salmon in your local market or can order it from online.

Always choose wild-caught salmon over farmed salmon.

Because, wild-caught salmon has less contaminants and more nutrients than farmed salmon.

You can store fresh salmon in the refrigerator for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months.

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 heart-healthy diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.

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About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

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