Cholesterol

Question: cholesterol? i need healthy food recipes tpo lower my cholesterol please give me some good recipes without alot of veggies.

Answer: the first answer is great - also start your day with porridge which can actively lower bad cholesterol levels

Question: CHOLESTEROL???????????? Can alcohol elevate your cholesterol??? I don't eat alot... once or twice a day. My Doc said 150 was norm... mine is 350... any ideas???

Answer: If you drink more than 2-3 *normal* drinks a day, it can effect your cholesterol. Since bad cholesterol is produced in your liver, elevating your liver functions by drinking can increase cholesterol production. Also, make sure you're eating foods lower in cholesterol, and eat more frequently. Eating very little and drinking more than one alcoholic beverage a day is very unhealthy. Smaller, healthy meals have significant benefits. If you're eating a lot of one specific kind of food, you'll want to check into what the cholesterol content of it is. Foods like (as the website I list says) "Biscuits, cakes, pastries, red meat, hard cheese, butter and foods containing coconut or palm oil" have a lot of saturated fats. Also make sure to include fiber and general plant matter into your diet. Eating infrequently will actually hurt your cholesterol, since your body needs certain things to keep cholesterol in check, and I'm guessing that this, along with alcohol, is causing your high cholesterol.

Question: What is the difference between cholesterol and total cholesterol values? Is there a cholesterol value independent of total cholesterol? If so, is it used as part of the formula for total cholesterol. And how do HDL and LDL fit into the measurement of cholesterol vs total cholesterol. Any references would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer: Total cholesterol = LDL + HDL + (1/5 triglycerides) For example, if one has HDL of 40, LDL of 100 and triglycerides of 100, then the total cholesterol = 100 + 40 + (1/5 of 100=20) = 160. The LDL/HDL ratio is as important or more so than the total, and 2.5 or less is good. 100/40 = 2.5

Question: How is cholesterol calculated and can you have too much good cholesterol? I went to the doctor and my cholesterol was 246 which isn't so good but my good cholesterol was 65, which she said is great. Is the LDL what's remaining after the good cholesterol is subtracted from the total? Can you have too much HDL?

Answer: HDL are "high-density lipoproteins" which is fancy doctor talk for cells that are high in protein, low in fat/cholesterol. This is preferred, as this is what "feeds" the body with growth proteins. Proteins power "cell" creation and repair (only). Things like muscle, skin, hair, etc...anything that grows or requires frequent repair benefit from higher counts of HDL. HDL's increase in demand with more activity. Specifically 'cardio' (meaning heart) workouts. You really can't have "too much" HDL's because if the body doesnt need the level of proteins in the blood sugar, it simply release it as it passes through the kidneys. We pee out excess proteins. They do NOT convert to bodyfat like some bodybuilders like to beleive. LDLs are of course "Low density", meaning low protein high fat. LDL's partially provide energy to "active" muscles. The cells are often "coated" with saturated fats. As these move around the body feeding active muscles, they 'bump along' the artery walls, the leave little "skid marks" so to speak. These marks build up to become plaque, and can cause heart decrease. Reducing LDL's to under 200, (or 150 even better) would be good advice but often requires medication, diet modification, AND more physical activity.

Question: Why is cholesterol important for your health and the function of your body? Why is cholesterol important for your health and the function of your body? Is cholesterol in your diet really that bad?

Answer: Cholesterol doesn't make you fat or anything, but it contributes to heart disease in the future. If you have a high cholesterol, you have a high chance of heart disease. To prevent this, try eating mono-unsaturated fats, and poly-unsaturated fats. These are good fats that lower bad cholesterol, and increase your good cholesterol. Sources of mono and poly unsaturated fats are nuts - almonds, pecans, peanuts, and walnuts, and cooking oil, lol.

Question: How much Cholesterol should you be taking in every day? I started reading food labels, and I noticed there's a line called Cholesterol with a number in mg's. How many mg's or what is the total amount of cholesterol per day that is recommended for a 20 something female? Thanks.

Answer: Officially, experts say you shouldn't have over 300mg (based on a 2,000 calorie diet). I tend to think that's a little high and try to not go over half that. It really depends on your age and activity level. Maybe the link below will help a little more.

Question: How much cholesterol is in egg whites as opposed to the yolks? One of my co-workers told me that there are equal amounts of cholesterol in both the white and the yolk. I told her that wasn't true because the yolk is what has all the calories, fat, and cholesterol in it, so I'm doing a good thing by eating egg white omelettes, as opposed to regular ones that include the yolk. Or am I? Who's right?

Answer: Your coworker is an idiot. There is zero cholesterol in the white. But the yolk has good stuff, too, like iron and omega fatty acids, so don't skip it all the time.

Question: Why are there different ways of calculating your Total Cholesterol? My sister says your total cholesterol should be your HDL + LDL. However, on my last blood test, my HDL + LDL was 10 points lower than my total cholesterol. So, I found some web sites that have the following formula: HDL + LDL + (Triglyceride * 20%) = Total Cholesterol The formula above does work to give me my total cholesterol given the other #'s (HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides) on my last blood test results. But, I want to know why my sister's always come back as: HDL + LDL = Total Cholesterol Some web sites say to calculate it one way and others say the other way. Anyone know why they would be different?

Answer: Technically, there is no pure cholesterol in your bloodstream. Cholesterol is transported by lipoproteins. LDL (low-density lipoproteins) and HDL (high-density lipoprotiens) are the lipoprotiens used to transport cholesterol. Tests can be run that actually test for the cholesterol, which gives you the total cholesterol number (direct measurement). Or you can run a test for the HDL and LDL cholesterol complexes. You add these values to get a computed total cholesterol. If you run a total cholesterol AND compute it from summing the HDL and LDL cholesterols they should be close, but won't agree exactly. Tests have a margin of error. This is why they won't match exactly. Though triglyerides are often transported by lipoproteins, I don't know why they would use it to compute total cholesterol. We used to run total cholesterol then and HDL, computing the LDL as a difference between the total and HDL. A correction to the answer above this - folic acid is not a fatty acid.

Question: How can I lower my cholesterol in 2 weeks? I have a cholesterol check coming up in 2 and a half weeks, and I know for a fact my cholesterol is very high. Is there a way I could significantly lower my cholesterol in 2 and a half weeks? Thanks sooo much.

Answer: Take Lecithin capsules from the health food store. Stop eating red meat and pork. Stop drinking alcohol. Eat fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats like chicken and fish. Start exercising. Your cholesterol will be lower in 2 weeks, and the lecithin will raise your good cholesterol.

Question: How can my cholesterol be very high if I eat a vegan diet? I just found out that my cholesterol is in the highest category, including the LDL cholesterol. I am 25 years old, a normal weight, and I have been a vegetarian (but very close to a vegan) for most of my life. I am very upset and confused. Does anyone know why this might be happening?

Answer: Well dietary factors can include eggs are a source of cholesterol, I think so does milk and dairy products. But even so in vegan diet some cereals (including sugars), oils and seeds contain more than trace amounts of cholesterol, though may have very little effect. Then again as suggested there could be a metabolic problem here, one of which is diabetes. Cholesterol is generated directly from the food sources but can be synthesized in the "endoplasmic reticulum" ... this is a homeostatic approach to keep the cholesterol level balanced and to avoid dangerously low levels of cholesterol (hypocholesterolemia). So (in theory) sustained periods of undernourishment may have tricked your body into producing high levels of cholesterol, and these may have remained when you return to a proper routine of eating which is why a balance diet is not about limiting intakes of certain foods but keeping nutrients in regular balance. "Genes" is too simplistic an excuse, there are environmental factors such as stress and hormones to factor in too. There are plenty of medical arguments to causes and solutions, you may have to have a conversation with your doctor to see what's right for you. I would (personally) also seek to check if the monitor was calibrated properly or get retested to see if you have returned to normal.

Question: What kind of foods contain good cholesterol? I've always been curious as to which foods exactly contain good cholesterol. The type of cholesterol (HDL) that will actually lower the cholesterol that is bad for you.

Answer: foods contain no good cholesterol,your body makes the good cholesterol.Only animal foods(meat and dairy) contain cholesterol. Eating a low-fat vegan diet may be better at managing type 2 diabetes than traditional diets, according to a new study. Researchers found 43 percent of people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-fat vegan diet for 22 weeks reduced their need to take medications to manage their disease compared with 26 percent of those who followed the diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). In addition, participants who followed the vegan diet experienced greater reductions in cholesterol levels and weight loss than those on the other diet. A vegan diet is plant-based and consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes and avoids animal products, such as meat and dairy. People who are on a vegan diet are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, and so B12 vitamins were given to the participants on that diet. "The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones -- especially weight loss and lower cholesterol," says researcher Neal D. Barnard, MD, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University, in a news release. "I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs." Barnard is also president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit health organization that opposes animal research and advocates a vegan diet. Vegan Vs. ADA Diet For Diabetes In the study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers compared the effects of following a low-fat vegan diet and the ADA diet on reducing the need for drugs to manage diabetes, kidney function, cholesterol levels, and weight loss in 99 adults with type 2 diabetes. Meals were not provided, but participants met a dietitian to come up with a diet plan and then met regularly each week for nutrition and cooking instruction. Forty-nine of the participants followed a low-fat vegan diet consisting of about 10 percent of daily calories from fat, 15 percent protein, and 75 percent carbohydrates. They were asked to avoid animal products and added fats and instead favor foods like beans and green vegetables, but portion sizes and total daily calories or food intake were unrestricted. The other 50 participants followed the dietary guidelines recommended by the ADA, including 15-20 percent protein, 60-70 percent carbohydrates and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil), and less than 7 percent saturated fats (such as animal fats and butter). Total cholesterol was also limited to 200 milligrams or less per day. Overweight participants in the ADA diet group were also advised to reduce daily calorie intake by 500-1,000 calories per day. The results showed that both diets improved diabetes management and reduced unhealthy cholesterol levels, but some improvements were greater with the low-fat vegan diet. For example: 43 percent of those on the vegan diet reduced their need to take drugs to manage their diabetes compared with 26 percent of the ADA diet group. Weight loss averaged more than 14 pounds in the vegan diet group vs. less than 7 pounds in the other group. LDL "bad" cholesterol dropped by an average of 21 percent in the vegan group compared with 11 percent in the ADA diet group who did not change their cholesterol drug use. Measures of blood sugar control also improved more significantly among those who followed the low-fat vegan diet than among those who followed the ADA diet and who did not change their diabetes drug use. Researchers say the vegan diet represents a major change from current diabetes diets because there are no limits on calories, carbohydrates, and portions, which may make it easier for some people to follow. Talk to your doctor about what diet changes you might consider to help with diabetes or other medical conditions. SOURCES:Barnard, N. Diabetes Care, August 2006; vol 29: pp 1777-1783. News release, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. By Jennifer Warner Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D. © 2006, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

Question: What can I do to lower my cholesterol in addition to changing my diet? I found out, after having a fasting cholesterol test, that I have slightly high cholesterol. I know that I need to eat better, less fat and all. I exercise regularly (brisk walking at least 40 to 50 minutes a day). Is there anything else I can do to lower my cholesterol?

Answer: Just so you know, dietary cholesterol only comes from animal-based foods since it does not exist in plants. So, eat as many veggies or vegetables oils as you like. Probably cut down on dairy products and meats. Then make sure you exercise, including weight training. Other than those lifestyle changes, you can take a statin drug, but only if your doctor wants you to, but it sounds like you're only slight over normal, so just make those lifestyle changes and you should be fine.

Question: When should I start worrying about my cholesterol? I'm 15, and I eat two eggs just about everyday. (Every school day, at least.) I looked at the egg carton and it said one egg contains 79% cholesterol daily value. So that means I go over the recommended amount of cholesterol in my first meal! I was just wondering, is two eggs five days a week bad? Should I stop? People have told me that I'm young and I shouldn't worry about my cholesterol at this age, if so, when should I start?

Answer: High Cholesterol levels are often genetic. If either of your parents have elevated Cholesterol levels, then it may not be a bad idea (the next time you have blood-work) to have a base-line cholesterol check. My dad has very high cholesterol (made by the body) and I was tested as a teenager. I've been on medication since I was 17. If you are concerned that you are eating too many eggs, then cut the amount down to a few times a week.

Question: How to deal with cholesterol during pregnancy? My cholesterol has always been normal, but now that I am pregnant, it keeps getting higher. I am not 8 months pregnant, and it is higher than 5.5 mmol/l , it is now around 8. I am very concerned that the high cholesterol means that I am prone to having cholesterol all my life, even after my pregnancy. Does it really mean that I now suffer from cholesterol and have to worry about it forever? What can I do about it for now?

Answer: Although you will have to double-check that these foods are all safe during pregnancy, here are a list of foods that help to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol: blueberries almonds walnuts pistachios oats (and other soluable fibre sources) kidney beans (and other beans) salmon (and other omega-3-rich foods - not 6 or 9, just 3) flax (oil and ground - both are important! - note that brown flax has more nutritional value than golden and is less expensive. Also, although you can take capsules, it's much more effective to use flax oil and whole ground flax right in your food.) avocados olive oil (choose this over butter and margarine - my doctor recommended mixing butter and olive oil half-and-half instead of replacing butter with margarine) garlic (fresh is best, and the more the better. Eat it with parsley to help prevent garlic-breath) whole-grains (remove as much starch from your diet as you can and eat a LOT of whole-grains. Personally, I love whole-grain pasta, bread, and even pastries, not to mention cereals!) yogurts with live cultures (probiotics) (plain, unsweetened is always the best) (you can also take a live probiotic supplement in capsule form) apples brown rice cinnamon grapes (and pure, unsweetened grape juice) There are more, but these are the key ones, and the easiest to use. Although soy products are known to lower cholesterol, they should be avoided during pregnancy as they have a hormonal effect. Also, the effect of soy on babies before and after birth is not really known, but many studies show that it's probably not very good! Also, eat foods that are as basic as possible - so, when you can make something yourself instead of buying it pre-prepared, that's best. When you have to use pacaged food, look for simple ingredients. Usually, the shorter the list the better that it is.

Question: Do built-up plaque and cholesterol in your arteries ever go away if you start a diet and exercise plan? I know eating poorly and not exercising can lead to a build up of cholesterol and plaque in your heart's arteries. I am just curious if one starts a diet and exercise program after a bunch of cholesterol has built up, will the build-up go away or is it there forever (other than surgery)? Thanks for your insight, I appreciate it.

Answer: Please forgive me for being quite blunt in my reply but I am sick and tired of seeing good people lied to about what diet or exercise program will be their magic cure. It is far kinder I believe, and more helpful to know the facts, as ugly as they are...That way you have a fighting chance. The facts are not very uplifting, but here they are... At least you are aware of this junk in your system. Yes... Right now, there is a ton of deadly 'plaque' inside your intestines, not to mention harmful 'parasites' (mostly worms!) that are making and keeping you fat! The fact is: 99.9% of all people living within the United States, and about 91% of everyone else living outside of America are infested with this JUNK. And it's put there on purpose! ( I know this sounds like “men in dark suits with sunglasses flying in black helicopters” kinda stuff.)..But you gotta hear it, it's for your own good... And yes there is a solution, so read on. This article called." Free Me From Fat Forever" certainly breaks the mold on everything that the media feeds us to do with weight loss. If it is the truth, it's quite shocking? I hope it can help

Question: How much cholesterol should I consume per day? If you are on a low cholesterol diet, how much cholesterol should you consume per day? My doctor told me my cholesterol is 260 and that I need to lower it.

Answer: The American Heart Association recommends less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day through food for people with no heart disease risk factors.