Health risks for heart disease and stroke are greatly increased when cholesterol levels are not maintained within the recommended normal range. High cholesterol levels over time can lead to the thickening and stiffening of arteries from plaque buildup hindering or blocking blood flow to major organs causing life-threatening illness. Along with high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease having consistently high cholesterol levels increase the risks of serious illnesses that much more.
What Are Normal Cholesterol Levels?
The normal level of total cholesterol is considered to be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), while anything 240 or higher is considered high.
The normal level of LDL cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dl. LDL or high-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol is considered too high when it is measured at 160 mg/dl or higher.
The normal level of HDL cholesterol is 60 mg/dl. HDL or high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol levels increase risk for heart disease when they fall to 40 mg/dl or less.
Another type of cholesterol that is tested is triglycerides. The normal level of triglycerides is 150 mg/dl or less. Any reading of 200 mg/dl or higher is considered high.
Adjusting Cholesterol Levels To Normal
The first step in reducing overall cholesterol levels to normal is diet and exercise. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in fat and cholesterol can help. Regular and frequent exercise can also help. If you smoke, stop and while helping to control your cholesterol you will improve your overall health too.
Even after adopting these lifestyle changes you may not bring your cholesterol test results into a normal range. Your doctor may decide that taking one of the many cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins might work for you. These drugs may have mild side effects that disappear with continued use. Normal cholesterol levels can be achieved quickly with the use of these drugs.
Other natural or non-drug treatments are available. Holistic approaches to health care can bring positive results with fewer side effects. Your doctor may not have much information about these methods so you may have to do the research yourself. Go to a respected health food store or search the Internet to find natural ways to achieve normal cholesterol levels. Just be very careful not to purchase expensive and unproven dietary supplements that claim to cure high cholesterol. They may contain ingredients that actually do more harm than good.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Low Cholesterol Diet Tips
If your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol and that you need to switch to a low cholesterol diet you are likely thinking that your entire culinary life is going to change. However, you still have lots of options open to you with a low cholesterol diet and you can still have flavor in your diet. Even though your diet is low in fat you can use smart meal planning and some creative ideas you can have a meal that is high in flavor. In addition, you can have fun exploring different way to eat hearth healthy and creating a low cholesterol diet menu.
Although this doesn’t mean you won’t have to make changes. A low cholesterol diet will require you to make some major changes and the plan is not favorable to eating lunch or dinner from a paper sack. But when it comes to preparing meals with items naturally low in cholesterol you can still have a fantastic and enjoyable meal. There is no reason to think that a low cholesterol diet means bland food and nothing good to eat.
What To Eat
You will have to focus more on low-fat foods with a low cholesterol diet which means you will have to shift your eating and buying habits some. You will have to find healthier options to the whole milk, straight butter and sour cream. Although for foods such as these there are low cholesterol alternatives that are rather tasteful.
Consider foods that are high in fiber since these are natural cholesterol fighters. You can add flavor to any mean with whole grain wheat, whole grain rice, bran and other similar foods. At the same time you will be reducing your bad cholesterol levels that can affect your body.
Any low cholesterol diet welcomes fresh vegetables and fruits. Although you should use other seasonings beside butter. Some great choices are pepper, paprika and garlic. You should not use salt in abundance and probably not at all. Go with a low-fat alternative if you must have butter.
A lot of red meats in your diet can also cause high cholesterol. So consider only eating red meat for special occasions and instead make most of your menu foods with chicken, turkey, fish or white meat pork. The less fat in the meats then the less likely they will have cholesterol with them.
You will not longer be able to deep fry with oil, but you can still find options with different oils. You can use olive oil while cooking which an excellent product to help the heart. When it comes to oils it is best to talk with your doctor or nutritionist for suggestions.
Although this doesn’t mean you won’t have to make changes. A low cholesterol diet will require you to make some major changes and the plan is not favorable to eating lunch or dinner from a paper sack. But when it comes to preparing meals with items naturally low in cholesterol you can still have a fantastic and enjoyable meal. There is no reason to think that a low cholesterol diet means bland food and nothing good to eat.
What To Eat
You will have to focus more on low-fat foods with a low cholesterol diet which means you will have to shift your eating and buying habits some. You will have to find healthier options to the whole milk, straight butter and sour cream. Although for foods such as these there are low cholesterol alternatives that are rather tasteful.
Consider foods that are high in fiber since these are natural cholesterol fighters. You can add flavor to any mean with whole grain wheat, whole grain rice, bran and other similar foods. At the same time you will be reducing your bad cholesterol levels that can affect your body.
Any low cholesterol diet welcomes fresh vegetables and fruits. Although you should use other seasonings beside butter. Some great choices are pepper, paprika and garlic. You should not use salt in abundance and probably not at all. Go with a low-fat alternative if you must have butter.
A lot of red meats in your diet can also cause high cholesterol. So consider only eating red meat for special occasions and instead make most of your menu foods with chicken, turkey, fish or white meat pork. The less fat in the meats then the less likely they will have cholesterol with them.
You will not longer be able to deep fry with oil, but you can still find options with different oils. You can use olive oil while cooking which an excellent product to help the heart. When it comes to oils it is best to talk with your doctor or nutritionist for suggestions.
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