Cholesterol Management

Which cholesterol number is supposed to be high and which should be low? Is Cholesterol Management one of your main health concerns? Will 2010 be the year you strive to get your Cholesterol numbers under control? Research indicates that high cholesterol levels are associated with certain medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke and the risk of dementia.MedlinePlus: Cholesterol WebMD: Cholesterol Health Center Medheadlines: Good Cholesterol Staves Off Memory Loss, Dementia (July 1, 2008)

It is important to understand which cholesterol number should be raised and which should be lowered and what actions to take to improve one number without negative impact on the other. Continue reading for tips on cholesterol management and links to other articles with relevant information.

Weight loss, as well as reducing saturated fat and cholesterol from food, can help to lower LDL and raise HDL levels.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

Some foods are known to help lower LDL cholesterol numbers. Try adding these to your diet to help reduce LDL:

• Walnuts - Nuts are often thought to be to fatty and high in calorie to add to the diet. However they have substantial protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Studies have shown that nuts have cholesterol-lowering effects.http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/nuts-help-lower-bad-cholesterol

• Fatty Fish - Oily fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines, are full of omega-3 fatty acids which help lower triglycerides.

• Foods with Plant Sterol - Plant Stanols can be useful in reducing LDL cholesterol numbers. Plant sterols and stanols occur naturally in small amounts in grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These cholesterol-lowering foods are being added to margarine spreads, orange juice, cereals, and foods like granola bars to make their ingestion easier. http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/low-cholesterol-diet-plant-sterols-stanols

• Oat Bran
• Oatmeal

Other foods and drinks can help raise the HDL level. These include:

• Red Wine (no more than 2 glasses per day)
• Dark Chocolate (Small amount, 70%)
• Green Tea (brewed, not instant)

Duke University researchers found in 2002 that exercise could affect cholesterol levels, even without changes in diet.eMedicine: Research on Exercise Regularly exercising 30 minutes or more a day can help raise HDL and lower LDL.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

When diet and exercise fail to effectively adjust the levels of LDL and HDL, medication can be used to help manage cholesterol levels. Commonly prescribed medications include statins, bile-acid-binding resins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors.MayoClinic.com: Treatments and Drugs

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you plan to start a cholesterol management program, please consult your doctor.