Karenluvs6
11-28-2000, 03:27 PM
Understanding Dietary Cholesterol
Despite much media attention, the role of dietary cholesterol
and its influence on your heart continues to be misunderstood.
And it's not surprising why. While marketers are hawking
"cholesterol-free" foods, individuals really need to concern
themselves more with the amount of saturated fat in their diets.
In reality, it is saturated fat that affects your blood cholesterol
level, and blood cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for
heart disease. Unfortunately, cholesterol levels are complicated
by what have been labeled "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the formal term for "bad
cholesterol", or the white, waxy substance that clogs the
arteries. High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand,
are known as "good cholesterol" and actually does clean the
arteries.
We each have a certain level of LDL and HDL in our blood, and
it is the levels of each combined with the ratio between the
two that ultimately determines our risk for heart disease.
Experts have set the following guidelines: Total cholesterol
exceeding 239 is considered high risk, along with LDL readings
above 159 and HDL readings below 35. Desirable levels are less
than 200 total, with LDL readings below 130 and HDL above 60.
If tests indicate that you need to lower your cholesterol
count, diet is the first and most obvious step. You can lower
your LDL levels by cutting the saturated fat in your diet.
Limit your intake of butter, whole milk, cheese, ice cream,
red meat, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, hydrogenated
soybean and cottonseed oils, and substitute with unsaturated
fats, such as corn oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower oil,
olive oil and canola oil.
In addition, you can raise your HDL levels with regular aerobic
exercise, which also tackles several other heart disease risk
factors, including obesity and high blood pressure. Experts
recommend performing aerobic exercise, such as dancing, brisk
walking, running, swimming, cycling or in-line skating, for 30
minutes three to four times a week.
When formal exercise is impossible to fit in, try grabbing some
friends and go dancing. Or be a kid again, and use toys such as
a Hula-Hoop. Remember, even 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise
a day can mean a big difference in your overall health!
------------------------------------------------------------
I found this info to be pretty interesting...A lot of ppl are unaware of the truth about cholesterol.
Despite much media attention, the role of dietary cholesterol
and its influence on your heart continues to be misunderstood.
And it's not surprising why. While marketers are hawking
"cholesterol-free" foods, individuals really need to concern
themselves more with the amount of saturated fat in their diets.
In reality, it is saturated fat that affects your blood cholesterol
level, and blood cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for
heart disease. Unfortunately, cholesterol levels are complicated
by what have been labeled "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the formal term for "bad
cholesterol", or the white, waxy substance that clogs the
arteries. High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand,
are known as "good cholesterol" and actually does clean the
arteries.
We each have a certain level of LDL and HDL in our blood, and
it is the levels of each combined with the ratio between the
two that ultimately determines our risk for heart disease.
Experts have set the following guidelines: Total cholesterol
exceeding 239 is considered high risk, along with LDL readings
above 159 and HDL readings below 35. Desirable levels are less
than 200 total, with LDL readings below 130 and HDL above 60.
If tests indicate that you need to lower your cholesterol
count, diet is the first and most obvious step. You can lower
your LDL levels by cutting the saturated fat in your diet.
Limit your intake of butter, whole milk, cheese, ice cream,
red meat, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, hydrogenated
soybean and cottonseed oils, and substitute with unsaturated
fats, such as corn oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower oil,
olive oil and canola oil.
In addition, you can raise your HDL levels with regular aerobic
exercise, which also tackles several other heart disease risk
factors, including obesity and high blood pressure. Experts
recommend performing aerobic exercise, such as dancing, brisk
walking, running, swimming, cycling or in-line skating, for 30
minutes three to four times a week.
When formal exercise is impossible to fit in, try grabbing some
friends and go dancing. Or be a kid again, and use toys such as
a Hula-Hoop. Remember, even 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise
a day can mean a big difference in your overall health!
------------------------------------------------------------
I found this info to be pretty interesting...A lot of ppl are unaware of the truth about cholesterol.