Tag Archives: high cholesterol

Lower Stress, Lower Cholesterol

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Stress has a lot of different effects on the body. It can affect sleep patterns, eating habits, and your immune system — so there are a lot of good reasons to lower your stress levels. Here’s one more: the better you cope with stress, the better your levels of good (HDL) cholesterol will be. Recent research from Oregon State University took another look at how stress and hostility affect cholesterol. More than seven hundred men participated in a Normative Aging Study from OSU. The average age of the participants was sixty-five; they were evenly split between white-collar and blue-collar professions. … Continue reading →

Good Health News: U.S. Cholesterol is Normal

Finally — some good health news for America. For the first time in nearly fifty years, the average cholesterol level for adults is in the “ideal” range. Health experts say that a cholesterol level of 200 or lower is ideal, and the average American adult has a cholesterol level of 199. The percentage of adults with high cholesterol (240 and above) dropped from a high of twenty percent in the 1990s to sixteen percent. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control have been monitoring the national cholesterol level since 1960. In the very first year of the survey, the national average … Continue reading →

Cut Bad Cholesterol By Thirty Percent!

Have high cholesterol? You’re not alone. Here are five changes you can make to your diet to help cut your bad (LDL) cholesterol by a huge chunk. Reduce saturated fat to less than 7% of your total daily calories. For a 2000 calorie diet, that’s less than 15.5 grams of saturated fat per day. Control your calorie intake to help maintain a healthy weight. Decrease your daily cholesterol intake to less than 200 milligrams per day. Eat plenty of fiber. Between 20 and 30 grams per day. And make sure a good portion of that is soluble fiber — between … Continue reading →

Lower Cholesterol With Sterols and Stanols

Have you heard about sterols and stanols yet? These plant compounds are super healthy for your heart! Studies show that sterols and stanols can cut your risk of heart disease by twenty percent! Studies from around the world are proving the power of sterols and stanols. Adding just two grams of either sterols or stanols to your daily diet can cut your total cholesterol by as much as ten percent — often in just two weeks. That’s pretty amazing. A ten percent reduction in total cholesterol is what gives you that lowered risk of heart disease. How do they work? … Continue reading →

September is National Cholesterol Education Month

Like the title says, September is National Cholesterol Education Month, sponsored by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Use this month as a starting point for your work to reduce your blood cholesterol levels! High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly one hundred million Americans have high cholesterol — more than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher. Of those one hundred million Americans, more than 34 million have high risk levels — 240 mg/dL or higher. Lowering your cholesterol levels can reduce your risk of … Continue reading →

The Facts About Cholesterol

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body uses for various functions. Yes, cholesterol is normal. Your body produces as much as it needs. However, your diet can lead there to be too much cholesterol in your body. The waxy substance gets deposited in your arteries, leading to heart disease and other problems. If your cholesterol level is above 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), that’s too high. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association, more than one hundred and six million Americans have high cholesterol. More than thirty seven million … Continue reading →

Top Cholesterol Fighting Foods: Part 2

Bad cholesterol is caused by saturated and trans fats in our diet. On the bright side, we can effectively lower our cholesterol just by eating the right foods! Unsaturated fats will help you combat bad cholesterol, and increase good cholesterol to lower your chances of a heart attack or stroke. Garlic Garlic lowers cholesterol and prevents blood clots. It reduced blood pressure and also protects you against infections. New studies have found that aside from all these benefits garlic also combats early stage plaque (the artery clogging material that can cause heart attacks or stroke). Garlic manages to do this … Continue reading →

Cholesterol Fighting Foods: Part 1

There are essentially two types of cholesterol: good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. The good version actually helps combat bad cholesterol, which then prevents plaque formation in your arteries. Bad cholesterol, called Low Density Lipo Protein (LDL) is caused by saturated fats (for example butter), while good cholesterol is tied to unsaturated fats (like olive oil). Your liver uses saturated fats to make cholesterol. Sources of these bad fats you should avoid or limit are whole milk, cream, butter, cheese, meats (beef, lamb, pork) and palm kernel oil, coconut oil and vegetable shortening. Certain foods are known to decrease bad cholesterol, … Continue reading →