Hormonal

Higher habitual and lunch-specific carbohydrate quality index (CQI) is significantly associated with a reduced odds of low HDL cholesterol, but shows no significant association with metabolic syndrome or other MetS components.

Focus on the quality of carbohydrates you eat, particularly at lunch and throughout your habitual diet, to support healthy HDL cholesterol levels. This involves choosing foods with higher fiber, lower glycemic index, and fewer solid sugars. However, do not assume that high carbohydrate quality alone will prevent metabolic syndrome; you must also manage other factors like blood pressure, blood sugar, and waist circumference through comprehensive lifestyle changes.