What About Cholesterol?
Cholesterol in your blood comes from two sources: your own body, made by the liver, and dietary cholesterol, from the foods you eat.
If your blood cholesterol level is high, cholesterol and other fatty substances are more likely to collect on the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, these deposits may restrict or block blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain or heart attack. Most people can lower their cholesterol by reducing their dietary intake of cholesterol and fat (especially saturated fat), losing weight if overweight and increasing exercise.
What’s Your Cholesterol Level?
Desirable Blood Cholesterol – Less than 200
This is desirable. Have your cholesterol checked again within five years. Your level may change if you change your eating or exercise habits.
Borderline High Blood Cholesterol – 200-239
High Blood Cholesterol – 240 and over
This means you may be at increased risk for developing coronary heart disease. This is even more true if you smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are sedentary.
Terminology
Cholesterol
A fat-like substance found in the cell walls of all animals. Dietary cholesterol comes only from animal sources such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and egg yolks. Blood cholesterol is affected less by dietary cholesterol than by saturated fats in the foods you eat.
Saturated Fat
Found primarily in animal products and in some vegetable products. It is solid at room temperature. A diet high in saturated fat will increase cholesterol levels in the blood.
Unsaturated Fat
Usually liquid at room temperature. May lower blood cholesterol when used in place of saturated fat.
Monounsaturated Fat
Olive, peanut and canola oil. This type of fat may give us added protection against heart disease by preventing cholesterol from “sticking” and collecting on the walls of the blood vessels.
Polyunsaturated Fat
Corn, sunflower, safflower and soybean oil.
Hydrogenated Fat
Fats and oils that have been changed from their natural liquid form to become more solid, such as most margarines and shortenings. This type of fat will increase blood cholesterol.