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
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAccording to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
Why Making Small Changes in Your Eating Habits Adds up... Read More
How to Estimate How Many Calories You Can Have and... Read More
On a little island half way in between Guam and... Read More
Once in a while a good title comes along and... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #1) Train With WeightsWorking out with weights... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
Lose Weight - Grab A GlassIn childhood, we heard it:... Read More
How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More
Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time.... Read More
A number of popular diets are focused on carbohydrates. Some... Read More
Surprisingly, hair loss is one of the reasons female pre-operative... Read More
The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More
Frankly, I'm puzzled whenever I hear this from somebody who's... Read More
Before many Australians recently, a devastating story unfolded on a... Read More
Dieting Dilemma No 1: When Life Gets in the WayThat... Read More
For many years, herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Losing weight doesn't have to be boring when you focus... Read More
If You are sick of losing the same weight over... Read More
One of the most important things you can do for... Read More
Women on diets need more calcium than normal to avoid... Read More
Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More
Don't get discouraged. I, too, have found myself in this... Read More
It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More
Want an after dinner snack? Jealously watching your family consume... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
Why Making Small Changes in Your Eating Habits Adds up... Read More
I want to talk about the "all or nothing" outlook... Read More
There are currently over 100 billion dollars sold in weight-loss... Read More
Very few Americans are satisfied with their current weights. There... Read More
Lose Weight - Get A Break ---------------------------------------- The American Obesity... Read More
After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very... Read More
Like many people I've been on dozens of diet plans... Read More
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
You may be considering a low carb diet program, but... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
Include in your diet things that contain more water like... Read More
As we look around at the current generation of children,... Read More
Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
In order to identify hunger, you must first understand what... Read More
Weight Loss |