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Paying for the elderly's groceries: This idea has become very popular among people and you can try it yourself!

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Paying for the elderly's groceries: This idea has become very popular among people and you can try it yourself!

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Jan , 23. 12. 2025

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The international charitable foundation Let’s Help decided to help Ukrainian pensioners through activists who across the country pay for the shopping of lonely elderly people, whether it’s in a supermarket, a small shop or at a market.

Paying for a pensioner’s shopping

Activist Olga Poliščuková posted photos of grateful elderly people on Facebook with these words:

This morning had a great start!

“We didn’t manage to photograph everyone, but we touched every one of them in the heart.

They cried and couldn’t believe that we are volunteers who are buying them the most necessary groceries and in return take nothing from them.

Some even thought we were frauds and at the checkout drew out their wallets and looked distrustfully into our eyes. “

Volunteer activists

This project also includes famous people, leading figures and community activists. Foundation representatives say that the aim of this action is to draw attention to the difficult situation of Ukrainian pensioners.

According to unofficial supermarket statistics, most shopliftings in stores are caused by older people. Given their modest pensions, they often cannot even afford the minimum purchase of food.

Action

Then volunteer Alina Stepanetsová described a typical day of this event:

“This morning the Let’s hope foundation offered us a certain sum of money so that we could help older people pay for their shopping.

I was there with my friend … We stood in the supermarket and waited for pensioners so that we could pay for their shopping.

Grandmother Lida and grandfather Vladimir came there, who had worked their whole lives in factories; she was 79 and he was 81 years old.

The great-grandmother, who was among other things a weaver, worked in a glassworks and is now 83 years old.

Grandfather Gregory, a driver, 82 years old, whose wife had been in a wheelchair for 6 years.

They all had good manners and were delighted with this unexpected opportunity. Some can now enjoy a supply of oatmeal, and some can buy salami, which they had stopped buying because it has become significantly more expensive…

The volunteers’ stories were sadder and more touching

It is important to show the authorities that we, the young and strong population, are trying to protect Ukrainians’ right to survive into a dignified old age. “

Gallery

Cholesterol and sugar: what really raises LDL and how to protect the liver

Eggs, liver and bacon are often labeled as the main culprits of high cholesterol. The reality is more complex. For most people, dietary cholesterol has only a limited effect on blood cholesterol levels. Much more important is the overall diet, the proportion of saturated and trans fatty acids, intake of added sugars, body weight, genetics and lifestyle. Below you will find a balanced overview of what the facts say – without myths and shortcuts.

What cholesterol is and why the body needs it

Cholesterol is a fatty substance essential for building cell membranes, producing hormones and vitamin D. In the blood it is carried in the form of lipoproteins. LDL ("bad") carries cholesterol to tissues, HDL ("good") takes it back to the liver. The goal is to keep LDL low and HDL in an appropriate range.

Dietary cholesterol vs. saturated fats and trans fats

In most healthy people, dietary cholesterol (e.g., from eggs) has only a small effect on LDL. A much stronger factor is saturated fats (fatty processed meats, high-fat cheeses, large amounts of butter) and trans fats (industrially hydrogenated fats), which raise LDL and can lower HDL. Eggs are also a source of nutrients (e.g., choline), so for most people they can be part of a balanced diet.

How added sugars and refined carbohydrates worsen the blood lipid profile

High intake of added sugars and refined carbohydrates (sweetened drinks, sweets, white bread) raises triglycerides and promotes the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The liver then more often releases VLDL/LDL particles and the overall lipid profile worsens. The liver is particularly harmed by excess fructose from sweetened drinks and syrups.

The role of choline and "healthy" fats

Choline (eggs, lean meat, legumes) helps form and export fat particles from the liver, thereby supporting its normal function. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds, fish) can lower LDL and some fractions of inflammatory lipids, if you also limit saturated fats and added sugars.

When eggs can be a problem

For a portion of the population with a genetic burden (e.g., familial hypercholesterolemia) or for people with very high LDL, even dietary cholesterol can play a larger role. In such cases, individual recommendations from a physician and a nutrition therapist are decisive.

Practical meal plan for healthy lipids and liver

  • Limit added sugars: sweetened drinks, confectionery, excess white-flour baked goods.
  • Prefer unsaturated fats: olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty sea fish twice a week.
  • Reduce saturated fats and avoid trans fats: processed meats, fast food, toppings made from partially hydrogenated fats.
  • Eat enough protein: fish, poultry, eggs, legumes, fermented dairy products – they support satiety and muscle maintenance.
  • Fiber: vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes – soluble fiber helps lower LDL.
  • Alcohol in moderation: excess increases triglycerides and burdens the liver.
  • Hydration and exercise: 150–300 minutes of moderate activity per week (brisk walking, cycling), strength training twice weekly.
  • Body weight: even a 5–10% weight reduction can noticeably improve triglycerides and LDL.

Key takeaway: it's not "forbidden eggs", but the overall dietary pattern

For most people, eggs or liver alone do not "cause" high cholesterol. The key is the combination of fewer saturated fats, less added sugar and more unsaturated fats, fiber and exercise. If you have high LDL, a family history or liver disease, discuss a specific eating plan with your doctor – sometimes pharmacotherapy (e.g., statins) is also necessary.

18. 12. 2025 Jan
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