Managing Cholesterol - 1
First I want to address just some bare bones basic causes of high cholesterol before I get into the actual details of food and cholesterol. Besides food you may need to make these changes too. (There is information on how to read read your lab reports at the American Heart association web site if you need that.)
- Being overweight can make your LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) level go up and the HDL (the "good" cholesterol) go down, which is exactly the opposite of what you want. People who are overweight generally tend to have higher blood cholesterol levels than people at a desirable weight. Even losing a small amount of weight can be helpful.
- Increased physical activity helps to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL levels. Be physically active consistently. Get moving for weight loss and for heart health!
- Heredity: genes can definitely influence how the liver makes and handles cholesterol. So it's even more important to watch what you eat if you are genetically inclined to have high cholesterol. A “What’s the use of trying?” attitude can be a death sentence. Be proactive with your health!
- I know you can't control age and gender but they are still factors. Blood cholesterol levels in both men and women begin to go up at about age 20. Before menopause, women have levels that are lower than men of the same age. But generally after menopause, a woman’s LDL cholesterol level goes up - and so does her risk for heart disease. It's even more important to take care of ourselves as we get older.
- Lastly if you smoke - QUIT! It's a known contributor to high cholesterol and heart disease.
Tomorrow I will continue on with this weight related issue of cholesterol.
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Posted by: Barry | Aug 18, 2008 7:14:10 PM
The link between cholesterol and heart disease is tenuous at best.
Please inform yourself before you continue to perpetuate bad science.
Read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes.
Also, read "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Anthony Colpo.
Look at the mortality rates for various demographic groups with naturally high cholesterol.
This crap is a scam, pushed by drug companies to sell statins that the vast majority of people do NOT need and should NOT take.
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Aug 19, 2008 4:30:44 PM
Hi Barry, you bring up some interesting points. Until I have time to read the books you suggested I am inclined to view the solution to heart disease as generally more about healthy eating with nutrient dense whole foods and a healthy lifestyle. An excess or elimination of any food group can contribute to disease. My nutrition background, education, and my 25 years experience dealing with hundreds of unhealthy people suggests to me that excessive amounts of fat, the quality of fat (saturated and trans), and refined foods that the average American consumes, contributes to being overweight and numerous problems with health.
I do believe however that cholesterol medicines should be used only as a last resort, after a person has honestly tried to alter his/her unhealthy lifestyle and food choices. Unfortunately most people don’t have all the needed information and skills they need to be successful, which is why I do what I do. I am a certified Nutrition Consultant and have my own private practice.
