If you have high cholesterol levels you need a diet rich in certain foods and supplements to bring it back within the normal range. Learn about these foods and supplements and how to keep your cholesterol within the normal range.
Your cheeks are too chubby, your waistline is too thick and now your doctor is telling you that your blood has too much fat in it. What is a person to do?
When cholesterol levels are too high, your blood has too much mushy, yellow fat substance in it. When the excess builds up on your artery walls, they restrict blood flow, which can lead to angina, a heart attack or stroke. This is not good. Even laymen know that. You don’t have to be a doctor to realize that cholesterol levels have to be within the normal range or you are at a high risk for a variety of health problems.
Cholesterol isn’t all bad. Your body produces it naturally. Cholesterol helps build new cells, insulates nerves and produces hormones. The only time that problems arise is when you have too much of the bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol terms can be confusing. We hear terms such as HDL and LDL cholesterol. It’s hard to tell what’s good and what isn’t. This article will give you a hand understanding all about cholesterol.
Most foods contain dietary cholesterol. One egg has 275 milligrams while an apple has none. Daily intake of cholesterol should be limited to 300 milligrams.
Serum cholesterol is found in the blood and is what your doctor reads when he performs a cholesterol test. The recommended reading is 200.
Types of Cholesterol
HDL
HDL cholesterol is a subdivision of serum cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol that scours your arteries; the higher your HDL cholesterol levels, the better.
LDL
The LDL cholesterol found in your blood is a cousin to the HDL cholesterol, but it is a bad cousin. It clogs arteries and makes us susceptible to angina, heart attack and stroke.
Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
Weight Loss
If you are overweight, you body produces more cholesterol than if you were at the recommended weight for your height and age. Researchers have found that excess weight is a significant contributing factor to high cholesterol levels. Every 2.2 pounds of excess weight you carry puts your cholesterol level up by 2 points.
If you are overweight or obese, it’s time to start loosing weight, but be sure to do it in a healthy way. Your diet should consist of two thirds cereals, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. One third should come from meat and dairy products, which are high in fat and calories.