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.
car service from Midway Anna ..For those of us that understand nutrition and it's importance... Read More
Looking for an easy and natural way increase your vitality... Read More
Just what is the "New Biology of Health?" And who's... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
Nature works mostly on the principle of thing and no... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
One of the most common questions I am asked is... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
Many people use sugar as medicine. Sugar tends to change... Read More
Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively "stuck" with their... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
bmw rental chicago Verona ..Salt was used long before recorded history began. One of... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More
Some say they don't or can't buy organic foods due... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Liquid vitamin mineralThe liquid vitamin mineral dietary supplement is a... Read More
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and... Read More
New studies bring to our attention that high levels of... Read More
Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
For most people, the concept of capsulized food? usually conjures... Read More
Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More
After WLS we must concentrate on eating nutrient rich food.... Read More
Wow! Is it just me or? Wait! Let me start... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
What if you could actually slow your rate of aging,... Read More
I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More
Millions of people around the UK consume dairy products on... Read More
Healthy eating is important for everyone, from babies to the... Read More
This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
Nutrition |