Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
Uncle Li is 65 years old and was a construction engineer before he retired. Recently, he has always felt unwell, dizzy from time to time, chest tightness and shortness of breath. At his son's strong request, Uncle Li finally agreed to go to the hospital for a comprehensive physical examination.
On the day he got the physical examination report, Uncle Li's face became ugly. "The total cholesterol is 6.8mmol/L, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is 4.2mmol/L, both of which are exceeded." The doctor said solemnly, "Mr. Li, your blood lipid level is already at high risk, and you must control your diet and strengthen exercise. "
Uncle Li looked dazed: "I usually eat very regularly, an egg in the morning, a small bowl of rice with some vegetables at noon, and ...... at night."
"Wait," interrupted the doctor, "you said you eat eggs in the morning?" Is it a whole egg or just the egg whites?"
"Of course it's a whole egg, otherwise it's a waste." Uncle Li replied as a matter of course.
The doctor shook his head: "Mr. Li, you can't do this. People with high cholesterol are better off not eating egg yolks, which are high in cholesterol. "
Uncle Li was suddenly unhappy: "Doctor, I've heard the saying that egg yolks can't be eaten, but I've always thought it's a rumor." I've been eating eggs every day since I was a child, and now I'm 65 years old, don't I live a good life?"
The doctor smiled and explained: "Mr. Li, you are right, the controversy over egg yolk has indeed been going on for a long time. However, the latest research shows that moderate consumption of eggs does not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for normal people. However, for people who already suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, it is still recommended to limit the intake of eggs, especially egg yolks. "
Uncle Li nodded thoughtfully, and suddenly asked, "Then apart from egg yolks, is there any food that we people with high cholesterol can't eat?"
The doctor took out a table, pointed to the contents and said, "In addition to egg yolk, the following types of foods should also be paid special attention to:
1. High-fat meats: such as pork belly, pork ribs, chicken skin, etc. These foods are high in saturated fatty acids, which can raise blood cholesterol levels.
2. Animal offal: such as pork liver, chicken heart, duck liver, etc. The cholesterol content in organ meats is very high and should be avoided as much as possible.
3. Trans fats: Mainly found in artificially processed foods, such as biscuits, cakes, potato chips and other snacks. Long-term consumption increases bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and decreases good cholesterol (HDL) levels.
4. High-sugar foods: Too much sugar can be converted into fat, which can affect blood lipid levels. "
After hearing this, Uncle Li couldn't help but sigh: "So, the things I usually like to eat are basically untouchable?"
The doctor comforted: "Don't be too pessimistic, the key is to eat a balanced diet and control it moderately." For example, you can eat more foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, olive oil, etc. These foods help lower cholesterol levels. In addition, eating more vegetables and fruits and increasing the intake of dietary fiber can also help control blood lipids. "
Uncle Li didn't seem to understand, but he still carefully took down the doctor's advice. After returning home, he told his wife, Aunt Zhang, about the situation.
After listening to this, Aunt Zhang immediately said that she would rearrange the family's diet plan. She took Uncle Li to check the information on the Internet together, wanting to learn more about healthy eating.
While browsing, they found an interesting phenomenon: different studies seemed to have divergent views on certain foods. For example, some studies believe that coffee helps lower cholesterol, while others take the opposite view.
This made Uncle Li even more confused: "Which one should I believe?" Why is scientific research so confusing nowadays?"
Aunt Zhang comforted: "Lao Li, this shows that science is constantly evolving. We must look at the problem from a dialectical point of view, and we cannot generalize. The most important thing is to follow the doctor's advice according to your own situation. "
Uncle Li nodded, and suddenly remembered something: "By the way, I remember that Uncle Wang next door also has high cholesterol, but he never seems to be taboo, and he still eats it every day."
Aunt Zhang frowned and said, "That's not good, if high cholesterol is not controlled in time, the consequences will be very serious." I've heard of a real-life example......"
Aunt Zhang began to tell a story she had heard from a friend: a middle-aged man in his early 50s, surnamed Zhao, was a small business owner. Boss Zhao usually has a lot of work pressure, a lot of entertainment, and an irregular diet. He also knew that his cholesterol was high, but he always felt that it was not a big deal, and he should eat and drink.
One day, Boss Zhao suddenly felt severe chest pain and was rushed to the hospital. After examination, doctors diagnosed him as having an acute myocardial infarction and requiring immediate surgery. Although the operation was successful, Boss Zhao's quality of life was greatly affected, and he had to quit his job to concentrate on recuperation.
After hearing this story, Uncle Li broke out in a cold sweat: "This is also terrible!" Looks like I'm really getting serious. "
From that day on, Uncle Li began to seriously adjust his eating habits. Instead of eating whole eggs for breakfast, only egg whites are eaten; Lunch increases the proportion of vegetables and reduces the amount of rice; Dinner is mainly light, with occasional fish.
In addition to eating, Uncle Li also developed the habit of taking a walk every day. At first, he could only walk for ten minutes before he was out of breath, but after a month of perseverance, he was able to walk easily for an hour.
While changing his lifestyle, Uncle Li did not forget to have regular check-ups. Three months later, he went to the hospital again to have his blood lipids checked.
"Congratulations, Mr. Li," the doctor said with a smile, "your total cholesterol has dropped to 5.2 mmol/L, and your LDL cholesterol has also dropped to 3.4 mmol/L." Although it is not quite up to the mark, it has come a long way. "
When Uncle Li heard this, a relieved smile appeared on his face. He feels deeply that a healthy lifestyle can indeed bring about positive change.
However, Uncle Li also understands that controlling cholesterol is a long-term process, and there can be no slackness. He decided to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle and share his experience with those around him to make more people aware of the dangers of high cholesterol.
In the following days, Uncle Li became a "health expert" in the community. He often shares his experiences with his neighbors and organizes a "healthy eating exchange group" where everyone exchanges healthy recipes and supervises each other.
One day, Uncle Li saw someone in the group post a message: "I heard that eating bird's nest can lower cholesterol, is it true?"
Uncle Li immediately replied: "I have also heard of this statement, but there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support it. Instead of spending a fortune on bird's nest, spend your money on fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember, no single food can magically solve all health problems, the key is to maintain a balanced diet and good lifestyle habits. "
This reply was unanimously approved by the group. Everyone said that through Uncle Li's sharing, they have a deeper understanding of high cholesterol and pay more attention to their healthy diet.
Looking back on the changes in the past few months, Uncle Li has a lot of emotion. Not only did he improve his health, but he also affected those around him. He deeply understands that health is not only a personal matter, but also a social responsibility. Through their actions and sharing, everyone can contribute to the creation of a healthier society.
Uncle Li's story tells us that in the face of health problems, we should not let it go, nor should we blindly believe in various "home remedies". The right thing to do is to follow your doctor's advice, eat a balanced diet, keep exercising, and maintain an optimistic attitude. Only in this way can we truly take control of our health and enjoy a good life.