One of the biggest risk factors of heart disease is high cholesterol. Taking steps to lower your blood cholesterol level can help you avoid that risk.
When there
is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your
arteries. This causes arteries to narrow and the blood flow to the heart is
slowed down or blocked.
There are
two forms of cholesterol, HDL(good) and LDL(bad). LDL is the main source of
artery clogging plaque. HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood.
There are no
real symptoms of high cholesterol, therefore a blood test is needed to
determine if you are at risk. If you do have high cholesterol, taking steps to
lower it will reduce your risk of heart disease.
There are
some recommendations that say once you are 20 years old, you should have your
cholesterol checked every 5 years.
There are
many factors that affect your cholesterol level:
- Diet
- Weight
- Exercise
- Age and Gender
- Heredity
- Medical
Conditions
- Medications
Controlling
your cholesterol includes a healthy diet, regular exercise and maintaining a
healthy weight. Sometimes your physician will prescribe a medication to help
with your cholesterol.
Some of
the top cholesterol lowering foods are:
- Oats
- Barley and other
whole grains
- Eggplant and
Okra
- Nut
- Canola,
Sunflower and Safflower oils
- Apples, grapes,
strawberries and citrus fruits
- Soy
- Fish
- Fiber
Supplements
Foods to
avoid are ones that include saturated and trans fats.
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