What is Cholesterol?
Before we go into how to reduce your cholesterol, let's take a look at what exactly cholesterol is.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced by the liver and its job is to:-
? produce bile acids to help with the digestion of fat
? build and repair cells and
? produce estrogens and testosterone hormones
Therefore cholesterol is an important function of the body, but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Cholesterol Symptoms
It is surprising to learn that there are virtually no symptoms to diagnose if you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol is normally identified by a blood test.
However, if you are having health issues such as coronary disease, vascular disease or stroke, then this could be the end result of high cholesterol levels in your body.
Symptoms of:
Coronary Disease
? Angina
? Chest pains
? Nausea
? Shortness of breath
Vascular Disease
? A tightening sensation in the lower extremities
? Ulcers or open sores on the lower extremities
Stroke
? loss of balance and dizziness
? slurring of speech and difficulty in understanding
? numbing sensation of the face, arm or leg
? this can be a sudden event with little or no warning
People who are overweight and do no exercise at all tend to be the ones with higher cholesterol levels.
Therefore, it is recommended that you have a cholesterol blood test every three years if you are overweight and every 5 years if you are a normal healthy weight.
How to Lower Cholesterol
If your blood test shows that your cholesterol levels are too high, then you should take immediate measures to help lower your cholesterol. Your doctor will advise you on the best course of action, but initially it is the norm for you to follow a low cholesterol diet.
A low cholesterol diet is normally a diet which is low in saturated fat and will include eating:-
? skinless poultry
? lean meats
? fish and shellfish
? low fat dairy products
? fruit
? vegetables
? whole grain foods
Cook your food by either
? grilling
? baking
? steaming
? boiling
? poaching
? microwave
Do not fry your food in lard or oil.
Your doctor also might prescribe you with a cholesterol lowering medication if he/she feels that the low cholesterol diet will not be enough.
Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.lower-your-cholesterol.info website where you can find further information and resources on lowering your cholesterol.
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..I am going to share with you possibly the most... Read More
It's really hard to believe that something could be worse... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
The nutritional support in critically ill patients can be explained... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Why does disease begin in the digestive tract? Your digestive... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More
Remember the old adage, you are what you eat? The... Read More
Today, more than ever, consumers over the age of 50... Read More
Chances are you may have had a food product that... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to:... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
I know that the headline is a oldie, but it... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
The most dreaded word in many dieter's vocabulary is 'fat'.... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
What is the best protein powder to buy? I get... Read More
You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More
Some people say to themselves, junk food is not that... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Whenever possible, we should try to get our antioxidants and... Read More
Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more... Read More
Coq10 is also known as Coenzyme Q10.This co q10 is... Read More
What is nutrition? We hear so many reports today on... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
The story of creation begins with water. Water is an... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
White-spotted or yellow splotched teeth may reveal more than needed... Read More
It is always amazing to me when I find a... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
In parts 1-6 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality!Not a... Read More
Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized nutritional thinking around the world with... Read More
Nutrition |