Can people with hyperlipidemia eat beef?

Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
Updated on June 29, 2025
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People with hyperlipidemia can consume beef in moderation, but not in excess. This is because beef contains a relatively high amount of saturated fatty acids. Fatty acids can be divided into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids can lead to increased cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood, subsequently causing the narrowing of arterial lumens, forming arteriosclerosis, and increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Therefore, due to the high content of saturated fatty acids in beef, its consumption should be limited and not excessive.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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The harms of hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia mainly causes damage to the blood vessels throughout the body, easily leading to arteriosclerosis. In severe cases, plaques may form. This then affects the heart, potentially impacting the coronary arteries, leading to acute coronary syndrome or an acute myocardial infarction. It can also affect the cerebral vessels, possibly causing an acute cerebral infarction. When it affects the lower limb vessels, particularly in combination with diabetes, it can lead to diabetic lower limb vascular changes resulting in vascular occlusion and diabetic foot. Therefore, it is important to treat hyperlipidemia promptly.

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Written by Luo Han Ying
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What is the standard for hyperlipidemia?

A lipid panel typically includes five tests: triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). If triglycerides are greater than 1.69 mmol/L, total cholesterol is greater than 5.2 mmol/L, HDL is lower than 0.78 mmol/L, LDL is higher than 0.78 mmol/L, and VLDL is higher than 3.64 mmol/L, these conditions can collectively be diagnosed as hyperlipidemia. Each component of the lipid panel can vary, and different elevations require different medications. For example, the drugs used to lower triglycerides are completely different from those used to lower cholesterol.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
46sec home-news-image

Can people with hyperlipidemia eat beef?

People with hyperlipidemia can consume beef in moderation, but not in excess. This is because beef contains a relatively high amount of saturated fatty acids. Fatty acids can be divided into saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids can lead to increased cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood, subsequently causing the narrowing of arterial lumens, forming arteriosclerosis, and increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Therefore, due to the high content of saturated fatty acids in beef, its consumption should be limited and not excessive.

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home-news-image
Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Indicators of hyperlipidemia

In fact, there are several commonly used lipid indicators. One is total cholesterol, the second is triglycerides, the third is high-density lipoprotein, and the fourth is low-density lipoprotein. The definition of hyperlipidemia, in fact clinically, is primarily characterized by elevated cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels. Some patients predominantly have elevated triglycerides. Therefore, these indicators need to be controlled in clinical practice. For example, total cholesterol, for diabetic patients, is generally required to be controlled below 4.5 mmol/L. For low-density lipoproteins, in people without coronary heart disease, it should be controlled below 2.6 mmol/L; for those with coronary heart disease as a high-risk factor, it should be controlled below 1.8 mmol/L.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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What is good to eat for hyperlipidemia usually?

Patients with hypertension need to routinely use lipid-regulating drugs under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, dietary adjustments are necessary. It is advisable to minimize consumption of foods high in cholesterol, such as fatty meats, offal, and fried foods. Instead, patients should eat foods rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, along with foods that are lower in calories and cholesterol, such as soy products, oatmeal, yogurt, sea cucumber, lean beef, lean pork, lean lamb, carrots, onions, cabbage, radishes, and hawthorn.