Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.
People with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.
Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat. Patients with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.
Heredity. Your genes influence how high your LDL-cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood. One specific form of inherited high cholesterol that affects 1 in 500 people is familial hypercholesterolemia, which often leads to early heart disease. But even if you do not have a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play a role in influencing your LDL-cholesterol level.
What you eat. Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make your LDL-cholesterol level go up: saturated fat, a type of fat found mostly in foods that come from animals; and cholesterol, which comes only from animal products. Saturated fat raises your LDL-cholesterol level more than anything else in the diet. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high rate of heart attacks in the United States. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you eat is a very important step in reducing your blood cholesterol levels.
Weight. Excess weight tends to increase your LDL-cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL-cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss also helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL.
Physical activity/exercise. Regular physical activity may lower LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol levels.
Age and sex. Before menopause, women usually have total cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men get older, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60 to 65 years of age. In women, menopause often causes an increase in their LDL-cholesterol and a decrease in their HDL- cholesterol level, and after the age of 50, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.
Alcohol. Alcohol intake increases HDL-cholesterol but does not lower LDL-cholesterol. Doctors don't know for certain whether alcohol also reduces the risk of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides. Because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used as a way to prevent heart disease.
Stress. Stress over the long term has been shown in several studies to raise blood cholesterol levels. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to higher levels of blood cholesterol.
Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, ezine and more information on how to lower your cholesterol at http://weight-loss-health.com.au
top rated cleaning service Lake Forest ..Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
Once in a while a good title comes along and... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
"Life would be perfect if only I was thin." That... Read More
It can happen with one bite. The moment those refined... Read More
A common question among weight loss professionals...If fad diets don't... Read More
The chemistry sounds very straightforward. Human body fat is a... Read More
Negative thoughts, symbolic protection, being who we really are ........ Read More
I want to talk about the "all or nothing" outlook... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Where You Want?If you have excess... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
So your neighbor, office mate, best friend, whoever just lost... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
At around ?350 pounds a treatment, Lipo-Dissolve the so called... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
Close kept secrets to weight loss: Give me 9 days... Read More
The act of taking the first step is what separates... Read More
Have you been surfing the web trying to find a... Read More
With tons of information out there on "Fat Acceptance" does... Read More
You've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of... Read More
Even if you're not overweight, you still could have a... Read More
ObesityToday, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
Must We Gain Weight Every WinterIt's that time of year... Read More
insured cleaning company Morton Grove ..As a woman, your body is very complex. Throughout every... Read More
For the past several years one subject has been coming... Read More
On the road to weight loss, fitness, and health,... Read More
Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
NLP Setting an Anchor Process to Get Back Motivation for... Read More
Are you frustrated with your weight problem and don't know... Read More
Yoga is wonderful for nurturing a state of mental and... Read More
If you are a mom at home on a diet,... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
A fill is nothing to be worried about. The actual... Read More
Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
In December 2003, the FDA incorporated an ephedra ban making... Read More
Each month I receive hundreds of e-mails from consumers who... Read More
Do you know this year Florida will go through a... Read More
On the market at any given time, there are hundreds... Read More
Recently, I read an article from Japanese magazine that by... Read More
Here are seven tips for getting the calories out of... Read More
Okay, so you've read some of these articles, done your... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
Are you overweight? Then you probably want to lose some... Read More
Weight Loss |