If you are dealing with high cholesterol, there are two breakfast favourites you need to watch out for. In fact, you should consider cutting them out of your diet immediately. Health experts have identified these processed meats as some of the worst offenders when it comes to raising levels of LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol.

According to health experts, sausages and bacon are two of the “worst” offenders when it comes to raising cholesterol, Express.co.uk reported. That is because these processed meats are packed with saturated fat, which is one of the main contributors to high levels of LDL cholesterol, the type that clogs your arteries and increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

While cholesterol is not all bad, your body actually needs some of it to function properly. But the trouble starts when the amount of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in your bloodstream gets too high. This type of cholesterol is often dubbed “bad” because it can build up inside your blood vessels, harden over time, and eventually form blockages.

And what is one of the biggest contributors to this blockage? Your diet. Eating foods rich in saturated fat can push those LDL levels higher, which is why some everyday favourites are now on the cholesterol watch list.

Saturated Fat

According to UK guidelines, men should aim for no more than 30 grams of saturated fat per day, while women should cap it at 20 grams. But one pork sausage alone can contain up to 10 grams of saturated fat. Add two rashers of bacon to that plate, and you are likely already tipping over your recommended limit before mid-morning.

Processed meats like bacon, sausages, and salami are particularly high in saturated fats. A single serving of these can provide a quarter (or more) of your daily allowance. That is without counting the butter on your toast or the full-fat milk in your tea.

It is Not Just the Meat

Bacon and sausages may be bad, but they are not the only ones stirring trouble. Writing for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), senior dietitian Tracy Parker says these are the other cholesterol-boosting foods:

• Butter, lard, and ghee
• Coconut and palm oil
• Full-fat dairy products
• Cakes, biscuits, and pastries
• Chocolate

These items are high in saturated fats and sneak their way into our meals more often than we think. A few chocolate biscuits here, some buttered toast there.

A Smarter Start to the Day

What should you eat for breakfast if you are trying to keep your cholesterol in check? Go for fibre-rich foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Porridge oats, wholegrain toast, eggs (in moderation), nuts, and plenty of fruits are good choices. Avocado on toast might be trending for a reason.

Of course, it is not just about ditching certain foods. The NHS recommends a holistic approach to lowering cholesterol: eating less fatty food, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and cutting back on alcohol. All of which can help get those cholesterol numbers back in the safe zone.

Rethink the Fry-Up

That full English might be tradition, but it is also a cholesterol bomb for many people. Sausages and bacon might look and smell delicious on your plate, but their saturated fat content can quietly nudge your heart health in the wrong direction. If you are already dealing with high cholesterol, it might be time to give your breakfast a heart-friendly makeover. It does not mean giving up flavour, just shifting it. Swap the greasy meats for grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and beans. Try a veggie sausage if you are craving the texture, or go continental with yoghurt and fruit.

Social media platforms have taught us a lot about health, but sometimes, it has also tricked us into believing things which may not be in the best interest of us. Now, we are hearing more and more about the trend of using Himalayan salt and replacing the table salt, which we would commonly use. For some, using this salt in beverage helps them lose weight. While for others, the variants like Celtic salts and seat salts are mineral-rich alternatives. However, doctors say otherwise.

What Is The Reality of Pink Salt, Sea Salt And Celtic Salt?

Celtic Salt is unrefined and non-processed salt without harsh chemicals or anti-caking agents. It naturally contains a wide array of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron, in addition to sodium chloride.

While sea salt has the same mineral compounds, it is more dry in nature and has more variation in texture, from ultra-fine grains to large, and even flaky crystals.

Pink salt or Himalayan salt is a type of rock salt, which is mined from Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, and is known for its distinctive pink hue from trace minerals like iron and potassium. It is natural, unrefined, and is known for the mineral-rich component that it is.

However when doctors are asked whether such unrefined, raw, and mineral-rich salt should be substituted for the regular table salt, their answer is "No".

Dr Shipra Gulati, consultant physician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that any form of rock salt, while rich in mineral, is associated with thyroid problems. Why? Because these salts lack iodine, which is present in common salt. Absence of iodine leads to thyroid problems, notes the World Health Organization (WHO). This is why the government of many countries have iodised the salt so thyroid issues could be prevented. When one substitutes any other salt with regular iodised salt, then the risk to thyroid, brain damage and mental retardation increases.

What About Blood Pressure?

Dr Gulati also cites examples of where people replace rock salt with regular table salt stating hypertension reasons. However, she says, "the component of sodium chloride is same in both the salts". Thus, replacing the salt will not be fruitful.

What About The Minerals?

Health guidelines by American Heart Association suggests the upper limit is 2,300 mg, which is roughly 1 teaspoon a day. Experts point out that in order to actually utilise the minerals present in other salts, one must consume more than the recommended levels of salt, as consuming just 1 teaspoon a day will not make any difference in terms of the minerals. However, if more than this amount is consumed, it could trigger high blood pressure, as sodium chloride are almost same for all the salts.

Dr Susan Cheng and Dr Evan Levine, two cardiologists, reported by Today.com noted that using too much "fancy" salts could be more detrimental to your health.

Dr Cheng says that coarser texture from rock salt, Celtic salt or sea salt and their larger crystal could make it simple to unknowingly overuse them. "The satisfying crunch makes you feel like you're using a little bit, but really you're adding a lot of extra sodium."

Dr Levine suggests: "Don't fall for the salt hype". Dr Levine also bursts health myths on TikTok and says that many people consume the alternatives for being "less processes". However, "it is sodium chloride, just like your regular salt. The so-called benefits are negligible. You are still eating salt."

While more and more IV hydration spas are coming up in the US, a new study published on October 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine found that IV hydration industry operates with almost no regulation and little medical evidence to support its supposed health benefits.

The co-author of the study Dr Peter Lurie, who is the president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest told the NBC News that these businesses are operating "almost completely without evidence. As a result there is a real danger to consumers".

In the US, out of the 50 states, or 32 have some kind of rule or policy related to IV hydration services, however, only four states: Alabama, North Carolina, South Caroline and Vermont have a comprehensive oversight. These hydration spas offer pricey vitamin infusions that promise energy, detox or immune support. Apart from the lack of evidence to sustain its claim on the benefits IV hydration supposedly offers, it is also an expensive process. According to the American Med Spa Association, this industry has exploded into a $15 billion wellness industry.

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Is it really worth it?

Here is what the doctors say about IV hydration:

Dr Shrey Kumar Srivastav, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Sharda Hospital told Health and Me that while there is no standard frequency for IV therapy in healthy individuals, "frequent or routine use can cause vitamin toxicity or electrolyte imbalances."

Dr Prashant Sinha, Head of Emergency and Internal Medicine at PSRI Hospital, Delhi, said that for a healthy person with no diagnosed deficiency, there is generally no medical reason to receive IV supplements regularly. "Getting them too frequently can lead to nutrient overload or dependency, where the body becomes less efficient at natural nutrient absorption," he pointed out.

Both the doctors also debunk the claim that IV supplements are better than the vitamins one consumes through food. "Supplements taken orally or through food are typically safer, more sustainable, and sufficient for most people," explained Dr Srivastava.

Also Read: If You're Alone At Home And Experience A Heart Attack, Here's How You Survive: According To Doctor

Dr Sinha also clarified that IV supplements are in most cases not better than supplements consumed through food or medicines. "Whole foods provide not only individual nutrients but also fiber, antioxidants, and enzymes that support overall health. Oral supplements, when taken as prescribed and for medically confirmed deficiencies, are also effective for most people and pose far fewer risks than IV therapy," he points out.

Dr Srivastava further added that IV supplements are not superior to food or oral supplements for general wellness or weight loss. "The growing trend of using IV injections for cosmetic or slimming purposes is risky, unregulated, and can be fatal."

Lurie also said, "This is a medical system that exists largely outside of conventional medicine. We are also worried that there will be adverse effects related to this."

Alex Thiersch, the CEO of the American Med Spa Association said that many of the owners of these businesses do not realize that they are practicing medicine, however he notes, "If you are putting a needle in someone's vein, that's 100% medical practice."

Ever since Donald Trump's administration has taken over with RFK Jr as the Health Minister, the war over ultra processed food has been declared. Now, California will phase out certain ultra processed meals over the next decade under a first-in-the-nation law signed Wednesday by Gov Gavin Newsom.

What Will This Law Do?

The first and foremost job of this law is to define what ultra processed foods are. The law seeks to define it as 'super-tasty products typically full of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats'. The law would require the state's Department of Public Health to adopt rules by mid-2028 defining 'ultra processed foods of concern' and 'restricted school foods'.

When Will The Schools Start Fading Out Foods?

The legislation requires the school to start phasing out these foods by July 2029, and districts will be barred from selling them for breakfast or lunch by July 2035. Vendors will also be banned from providing the 'foods of concern' to schools by 2032.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom and state lawmakers also signed the measure at a middle school in Los Angeles.

“California has never waited for Washington or anyone else to lead on kids’ health, we’ve been out front for years, removing harmful additives and improving school nutrition,” Newsom said in a statement. "This first-in-the-nation law builds on that work to make sure every California student has access to healthy, delicious meals that help them thrive.”

Newsom had issued an executive order earlier this year that required the Department of Public Health to provide recommendations by April on limiting harms from ultra processed foods. The Democratic governor also signed a law in 2023 that banned certain synthetic food dyes from school meals.

War Against Ultra Processed Foods

Legislatures from across the country have introduced some 100 bills or even more in the recent months to ban or require the labelling of chemicals that make up the ultra processed foods. These labeling include artificial dyes and controversial additives.

Why Is This Worrying?

Americans get more than half of their calories from ultra processed foods. This has been linked to many health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases. However, it has still not been studied much to prove that foods directly impact these chronic health issues.

How To Define Ultra Processed Foods?

Defining “ultra processed foods” has always been a bit complicated. The most widely used system, the Nova classification developed by Brazilian researchers, sorts foods into four categories based on how much they’re processed.

In general, ultra processed foods are those that contain industrial ingredients you’d never find in a home kitchen—think additives, flavor enhancers, and preservatives. However, the line isn’t always clear. Some highly processed foods, like tofu, certain whole-grain breads, or infant formulas, can still be nutritious. Researchers continue to debate whether it’s the processing itself or the combination of sugar, fat, and salt that drives negative health outcomes.

To settle the confusion, U.S. health officials have recently begun working on a federal definition of ultra processed foods, noting that current descriptions might not fully capture which foods pose real health concerns.