Heart

Being overweight raises total blood cholesterol levels. In addition, it throws your cholesterol levels out of balance, raising levels of LDL cholesterol (the harmful kind of cholesterol that clogs blood vessels) and lowering levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol that helps clear blood vessels). Besides its effects on blood cholesterol levels, being […]

Making gradual and permanent changes in your diet and lifestyle can help you lower your cholesterol levels. Not only will these changes reduce your risk for developing heart disease, but they will also reduce your risk for other serious conditions such as high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. The main lifestyle changes to help

The American Heart Association recommends a step-wise approach to lowering cholesterol levels. The Step I Diet If you have high blood cholesterol and have not tried other dietary approaches, the Step I diet is the place to start: Total fat intake should be no more than 30% of calories. Saturated fat (the kind that is

If your blood cholesterol level is higher than it should be, your doctor will probably advise you to try to bring it down with diet and exercise first. For many people, diet and exercise changes can cause their cholesterol level to begin dropping after two to three weeks and to fall 30 to 55 points

Q: Does caffeine raise blood cholesterol levels? A: Caffeine is found in many soft drinks, coffee, tea, and to a lesser extent, chocolate. Caffeine does not raise blood cholesterol levels, and research has yielded conflicting results on whether caffeine increases risk of heart disease. Based on current evidence, a moderate intake of caffeine does not seem

More that one-half of all Americans have blood cholesterol levels that are higher than they should be. High blood cholesterol levels can clog blood vessels, increasing risk for heart disease and stroke. Many factors contribute to high blood cholesterol levels, including your genetic make-up, eating a high-fat diet, being inactivity, and being overweight. A high

Antioxidants: Substances in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds that can help prevent or slow build up of cholesterol and other fat-like substances in the arteries. Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene are all antioxidants that help protect against heart disease. Atherosclerosis: A thickening and hardening of the arteries caused by deposits of cholesterol and other

American Dietetic Association  Phone: (800) 877-1600 http://www.eatright.org American Heart Association  Phone: (800) 242-8721 http://www.americanheart.org National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute  Phone: (301) 251-1222 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Many factors can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels or cholesterol levels that are out of balance. Some of these factors are within your control, and some are not. To some extent, your genetic make-up determines your cholesterol level. Some people inherit a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which means that very high cholesterol levels run

When we get more cholesterol than we need – either because our body makes too much or because we eat too many cholesterol-rich foods – the surplus cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream. Along with other fat-like substances, certain kinds of this circulating cholesterol tend to deposit in the inner lining of the blood vessels. These

You will have to work with your doctor to figure out exactly what medication or medications are right for you, and what dosages control your blood pressure best. What your doctor will consider when choosing your medication What you should consider when choosing your medication What if the medication doesn’t lower your blood pressure? How