LDL, Low Density Lipoprotein, Called Bad Cholesterol

Keep Your Cholesterol in Check

Cholesterol is a type of fat  Consume more fish, poultry, lean produced by the liver. Essential to beef, pork and lamb instead of proper body function, it aids in sausage and other organ meats. hormone production, supports  Drink skim or low-fat milk. nerve and brain development,  High LDL cholesterol increases  Eat sherbet, sorbet or ice milk in helps the liver digest fats and is the risk of plaque build-up in the the key substance in every cell of artery walls, causing them to the body. narrow, which contributes directly to heart disease, stroke and While cholesterol is important to other circulatory problems. your health, it is possible you can place of ice cream. have too much of a good thing.  Eat eggs in moderation, or eat Cholesterol Screenings Cholesterol travels to your cells only the egg whites. According to through your bloodstream. Getting your cholesterol checked the American Heart Association, Because it is a fat, it does not mix regularly is important to warding off one egg yolk contains 213 well with water or blood, and must heart disease. Start having your milligrams of dietary cholesterol be wrapped in protein. This is cholesterol checked every five (the daily recommended called lipoprotein cholesterol, years, beginning at age 20. If you cholesterol limit is less than 300 which is categorized into two find you have an elevated milligrams). forms: cholesterol level, you may have to  Eat steamed vegetables instead have it checked more often. of buttered or fried vegetables.  LDL, low density lipoprotein, Children over the age of two  Consume butter in moderation. called bad cholesterol should also be checked regularly if  Choose baked potatoes over  HDL, high density lipoprotein, there is a family history of high French fries. called good cholesterol cholesterol or heart disease earlier  Use unsaturated vegetable oils. than age 55.  Choose pretzels or air-popped Cholesterol Levels popcorn instead of potato chips as your snack. Cholesterol levels can be Self-Care Tips  Stay away from pastries and measured three ways: total doughnuts. cholesterol, LDL levels and HDL The primary sources of cholesterol  Eat pancakes or cereal with low- levels. Optimum levels for each in our diets are eggs, dairy fat milk for breakfast, rather than should be: products and red meat. You can eggs and bacon. keep your cholesterol in check by  Total cholesterol level = 200 or  Eat more fruit. balancing the amount of these less foods that you eat, along with the  LDL level = 130 or less following healthy eating habits:  HDL level = 60 or more reduces the risk of heart disease