Heart
Disease
High
Cholesterol
Low
Cholesterol Diet
Cholesterol
Levels
HDL
Cholesterol
LDL
Cholesterol
Low
Cholesterol Foods
High
Cholesterol Foods |
HDL Cholesterol
HDL stands for high-density
lipoprotein. HDL cholesterol, the 'good'
cholesterol, is used to collect cholesterol from the blood and the
artery-cell walls, and carry it to the liver where it is removed for
excretion. In this manner, HDL cholesterol serves a protective
purpose, protecting the arteries from invasion and plaque build up by
cholesterol.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is termed the 'bad'
cholesterol. LDL cholesterol particles are like small
dump trucks carrying cholesterol to the cells that require it.
The ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL
cholesterol
in the blood is critical it should be balanced. Ideally there should be
enough HDL particles to gather up and remove any unneeded cholesterol. The
problem comes in when there is a substantial
number more of LDL particles delivering cholesterol than there are HDL
particles picking up any extra cholesterol. At this point the
heart and artery
system begins to accumulate cholesterol and the undesirable buildup of
plaque occurs.
When your doctor runs a Lipids Panel Lab test on a sample of your
blood, he or
she will get a listing of your LDL and HDL cholesterol
levels. The American Heart Association recommends LDL levels
below 100 mg/dL as optimal or ideal and HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more
as giving some protection for heart disease. HDL levels of 40
mg/dL or less are considered a major heart disease risk factor.
Low HDL cholesterol levels can be raised by natural means. First you
must determine your risk for heart disease. Do you smoke? Are you
overweight or obese? Do you eat a lot of fatty fast food or
off-the-shelf cupcakes, donuts, cookies, potato chips? Are you
physically inactive? You don't do aerobic, heart-pounding
exercise
on a frequent basis?
If you said yes to most of these questions, you may be considered at
risk for heart disease.
Your HDL levels can be increased by limiting or eliminating the risk
factors above.
Anne Collins, a qualified
nutritionist, has been helping
people eat low-cholesterol diets since 1982. More than 249,000 men and
women have followed her advice in losing and avoiding tons of fat. What
makes her program so much better than others? She provides awesome personal
support.
Once you get in the habit of eating nutritious, heart-healthy, low
cholesterol meals you will never want to
return to unhealthy eating.
Click on the following link and check out Anne's programs.
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