Defining and Checking Cholesterol

Taking Care of the Heart Can Lead to a Long and Healthy Life

May 24, 2009 Fleur Hupston

Most people have some knowledge of cholesterol and its potential danger of heart disease or stroke. A reminder and action plan can help to lower cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a natural and necessary part of a healthy body produced by the liver and is vital for the body to function normally. The danger is consuming cholesterol through the foods we eat and becoming prone to building up excess cholesterol.

The danger of excess cholesterol is in the bloodstream as it builds up as fatty deposits in the walls of arteries. This build-up ultimately causes hardening and narrowing of the arteries and can result in a heart attack or stroke.

A coronary heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is completely blocked off. A stroke occurs when blood supply is blocked off from the brain.

Risk Factors of Developing Heart Disease

A risky situation would be to have high cholesterol combined with any one or more of the following risk factors:

Male over 45 years of age
Female over 55 years of age
Family history of early coronary heart disease
Current smoker
High blood pressure
Diabetes

Different Kinds of Cholesterol:

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is referred to as “bad” cholesterol that becomes deposited in walls of the arteries. The main culprits that cause high LDL levels are saturated fats, hydrogenated fats and trans-fatty acids. Be alert to spot these terms in product ingredients and avoid these foods.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is actually “good” cholesterol, which assists in breaking down excess LDL cholesterol in the blood. Good replacement fats should be used, such as canola oil, olive oils, avocados, safflower, sesame and sunflower seeds.

Action Plan to Keep Cholesterol Under Control

Eliminate refined, processed and sugar laden foods and replace with a Mediterranean diet with lots of olive oil, pasta, tomatoes and fish.

Take up any form of regular exercise
Drink alcohol in moderation
Reduce stress
Get a cholesterol test regularly
Avoid saturated animal fat, coconut oil, palm oil and cocoa butter

Top Five Foods to Drop Cholesterol

Oatmeal and oat bran
Walnuts and almonds
Baked mackerel, trout, tuna, sardines or salmon
Olive oil
Foods fortified with plant sterols

Natural Supplements to Help Lower Cholesterol

Policosanol: An all natural cholesterol-lowering formula with sugar can extract without the side-effects of muscle and joint aches.
Rychol: An all natural cholesterol-lowering formula with red yeast rice extract with similar capabilities as prescription lipid-lowering drugs.
Lecithin: A soya extract that has been found to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. it helps dissolve the plaque already laid down in the arteries.
Vitamin B3: Blocks the production of LDL cholesterol in the body, thus playing an important part in preventing heart disease.
Omega 3: An essential fatty acid that has excellent cholesterol-lowering properties that prevents blood platelets from clotting.

Medical treatment may be required depending on a person's risk profile which would be established after testing cholesterol levels and assessing risk factors. In all cases, everyone should make a cholesterol test part of their yearly medical checkup.

References:

Dr. Robin Tager, Cardiologist, Flora Clinic Roodepoort, South Africa

Tanja van Wie, Benefits Magazine – Article "Cholesterol Check" pg. 66

The copyright of the article Defining and Checking Cholesterol in Health Field is owned by Fleur Hupston. Permission to republish Defining and Checking Cholesterol in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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