Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all your cells. Your cholesterol levels can serve as a harbinger for your future heart health. High cholesterol can double your risk for heart disease, therefore prevention and treatment are important to preserve the health of your heart.
Checking your cholesterol during your regular primary care physician visit will keep you up to date with your cholesterol numbers. If results show that your numbers are too high, you should know that you're not alone; and actually share that trait with about 74 million other adults in the U.S. Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention less than half of them are receiving treatment or changing their diet to better protect their heart health.
The first thing to know is, we can't live without cholesterol. We're born with cholesterol and babies get even more from their mother's milk when they breastfeed. It's even added to baby formula. Our hormones and cells need some cholesterol to function properly and cholesterol is needed by the liver to process fat. Some studies suggest about three-quarters of cholesterol is genetic, while diet only accounts for one-quarter of cholesterol in the body.
What are LDL and HDL Cholesterol?
Lipoproteins are the carriers that move cholesterol around the body. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry most of the cholesterol, taking it from the liver and depositing it on the walls of the arteries. High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand, carry cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver where it is broken down. That is why HDL cholesterol is considered good cholesterol. The more HDL you have, the less cholesterol there is to clog the arteries, which is better for your heart health.
When there is extra cholesterol in the blood, it tends to build up on the artery walls, which can seriously restrict blood flow over time Abnormally high levels of LDL and blood cholesterol have been linked to a certain type of genetic predisposition as well as a diet high in saturated animal fats. That is why most patients with high LDL cholesterol are encouraged to adopt a cholesterol-lowering diet.
What Does a Cholesterol-Lowering Diet Look Like?
Cholesterol is often seriously misunderstood in the context of heart health. For one thing, many people think the way to lower cholesterol means eating a lot of "low-fat" foods that lack flavor. That is, of course, ridiculous. In fact, when adopting a diet that lowers your cholesterol, it is important to understand that avoiding all fats will not get you where you need to go. Even if you completely avoid all foods that contain cholesterol, like eggs and cheese, you won't necessarily lower your cholesterol levels.
There are many foods that lower cholesterol naturally. Some examples include vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish and lean meats. If you are looking for a way to lower cholesterol naturally, there is no shortage of low cholesterol diet plans available online and in bookstores that promise to help. For example, there is The DASH Diet, which is a diet low in both sodium and saturated fat. Endorsed by the American Heart Association, this diet has been proven to lower high blood pressure, as well as cholesterol. The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) is more than just a diet; it's actually a three-part plan that attempts to lower high cholesterol by focusing on a lower-fat diet coupled with exercise and weight control. The creators of TLC report that the TLC plan can lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 20-30 percent. In addition to reducing your fat intake, it is also necessary to increase the level of fiber in your diet to help combat elevations in cholesterol. High-fiber foods, including many types of whole, real plant foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
Both the DASH Diet and TLC promote the consumption of low-fat dairy products, including yogurt and reduced-fat cheeses. For most people, it’s also perfectly healthy to eat grass-fed animal products as part of an otherwise balanced diet, including beef and lamb. Such foods are a key part of the Mediterranean Diet, which is one of the most recommended dietary plans in the world. It's even commonly prescribed by doctors to patients with high cholesterol. The Mediterranean region's people experience much less heart disease, and the diversity, flexibility and adaptability of the diet make it easy to begin to eat that way and then stick with it.
If you have any questions regarding your cholesterol, diet or cardiovascular health, make an appointment with North Suffolk Cardiology. (631) 941-2000.