Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Decrease the Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes
By: Claire Bowes

What is Cholesterol

Before we go into how to reduce your cholesterol lets take a look at what exactly cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced by the liver and its job is to:

produce bile acids to help with the digestion of fat

build and repair cells and

produce estrogens and testosterone hormones

Therefore cholesterol is an important function of the body but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be the cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Cholesterol Symptoms

It is surprising to learn that there are virtually no symptoms to diagnose if you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol is normally identified by a blood test.

However if you are having health issues such as coronary disease vascular disease or stroke then this could be the end result of high cholesterol levels in your body.

Symptoms of:

Coronary Disease

Angina

Chest pains

Nausea

Shortness of breath

Vascular Disease

A tightening sensation in the lower extremities

Ulcers or open sores on the lower extremities

Stroke

loss of balance and dizziness

slurring of speech and difficulty in understanding

numbing sensation of the face arm or leg

this can be a sudden event with little

or no warning

People who are overweight and do no exercise at all tend to be the ones with higher cholesterol levels.

Therefore it is recommended that you have a cholesterol blood test every three years if you are overweight and every 5 years if you are a normal healthy weight.

How to Lower Cholesterol

If your blood test shows that your cholesterol levels are too high then you should take immediate measures to help lower your cholesterol. Your doctor will advise you on the best course of action but initially it is the norm for you to follow a low cholesterol diet.

A low cholesterol diet is normally a diet which is low in saturated fat and will include eating:

skinless poultry

lean meats

fish and shellfish

low fat dairy products

fruit

vegetables

whole grain foods

Cook your food by either

grilling

baking

steaming

boiling

poaching

microwave

Do not fry your food in lard or oil.

Your doctor also might prescribe you with a cholesterol lowering medication if he/she feels that the low cholesterol diet will not be enough.

Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.loweryourcholesterol.info website where you can find further information and resources on lowering your cholesterol.

Foods for Healthy Heart, Keep your Heart Healthy

If there is one word that is associated with potentially life threatening health issues it is cholesterol. There are numerous TV and print advertisements espousing the benefits of the latest cholesterol reducing drug and for good reasons. High levels of this naturally occurring substance are associated with increased risks of heart disease and stroke. Knowing this has caused many people to avoid cholesterol high foods in their attempt to mitigate the harmful effects it can cause. Happily, maintaining a healthy heart is relatively simple, and it’s never too late to start. Do you smoke? If you do, the first step is to quit. Even occasional smoking has been proven to be detrimental to the health of your heart. Regular exercise is essential to help maintain weight and keep the heart strong. It is also important to limit fats in the diet particularly animal fats derived from meat and full fat dairy foods. Oatmeal. Opt for coarse or steel-cut oats over instant varieties, they contain more fiber. Oatmeal is great for breakfast over sugary cereal; it is full of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. This fiber-rich superfood can also lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. Legumes/Beans: One serving of dried beans/legumes a day can reduce cholesterol by up to 10%. The fiber and other compounds present in legumes and beans can lower cholesterol, blood clotting and improve blood-vessel function. These are also a great source of folate, which keeps homocysteine levels (an indicator of heart trouble), in check. It is not surprising that people are interested in what are the best vitamins and foods for heart health. The heart is one of the most important organs in our body. We cannot live without it and when disease strikes the heart, the results are serious. Much research has been down about the importance of vitamins and foods for heart health. There are many, many healthy foods, many not so healthy foods and some foods that you should avoid entirely. When it comes to low cholesterol foods, choosing the right foods is not as hard as you might think, it can be as easy as finding something in the pantry or refrigerator and cooking it up, or it may not involve cooking at all. Foods like fruits and vegetables lower bad cholesterol. This can be a smart choice. Instead of going for cookies in the morning on your way out, grab a fruit, at lunch instead of going to a fast food restaurant, pack your own lunch such as a sandwich made with whole wheat bread, whole wheat blocks back cholesterol. Increase food sources of omega-3 fatty acids which target high triglycerides in the blood. Good sources of omega-3s include fish such as sardines, mackerel; nuts and seeds; green leafy vegetables; grains like wheat, bajra; legumes like rajma, cowpea, and black gram. Read about Natural Cures. Also read about Horse Supplements and Dog Supplements Tags: great source, heart disease, oatmeal, omega 3 fatty acids, 3 fatty acids, bad cholesterol, heart trouble, healthy foods, blood vessel, healthy heart, heart health, animal fats, dairy foods, legumes, superfood

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