Butter busters cholesterol information 1/3 ^

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Cholesterol and triglycerides (fat) travel around the body attatched to proteins called lipoproteins. There are several types of lipoproteins. The "good" cholesterol is called HDL-cholesterol (high density Lipoprotein) and the "bad" is called LDL-cholesterol (low density lipoprotein). Some LDL-cholesterol (bad) actually provides many good and necessary function in our bodies. It is when excessive levels of LDL-cholesterol occur that a build-up and subsequent blockage of our vessels appear. HDL-cholesterol, on the other hand, can remove cholesterol build up from a blood vessel and transfer it back to the liver where it can be broken down and eliminated from the body. Your blood cholesterol can be improved by altering your diet.

The cholesterol in the foods you eat is not the biggest problem. The most signifigant problem seems to be in the fat in our diets. In fact, dietary saturated fats will raise our blood cholesterol levels more than cholesterol in our diets. The saturated fats, found in foods such as meats and whole dairy products, tend to be the major culprits. Other major sources of trouble (saturated fats) come from baked and prepared foods that contain palm oil, palm kernal oil, cocoa butter, hydrogenated vegetable oil and coconut oil. the more saturated fats you eat, the more LDL-cholesterol the body produces.

The more LDL-cholesterol you have in your body, the bigger your risk for the developement of coronary heart disease.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HEART: The heart is like a pump.

Oxygen and nutrients required for heart muscle function travel through the coronary arteries to reach the heart muscle. When the coronary arteries become blocked by cholesterol deposits (plaque) you develop atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). When a coronary aretery becomes 75% or more blocked by plaque build-up, a heart attack can occur. A heart attack causes death of the heart muscle that is normally supplied by the blocked coronary artery. Cholesterol and triglycerides (fat) are contained in the various lipoproteins lin the blood. Your total blood cholesterol is comprised of good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and other lipoproteins that predominately carry triglycerides. Total cholesterol is calculated as follows: Total=HDL+LDL+ (triglycerides/5). The good cholesterol, or HDL, helps to lower the the risk of heart disease. You can raise your HDL levels by losing weight, exercising regularly and quitting smoking. Women who take estrogens have higher HDL levels. A good HDL level for a man is 45 or higher. A good HDL level for a premenopausal woman would be 55 or greater. the higher the level, the better. LDL, or what is referred to as bad cholesterol, will raise your risk of heart disease if your levels are high. You can lower your LDL levels by eating less saturated fat and foods containing cholesterol. By doing this, you wil be lowering your risk of coronary heart disease.

Ideally, you want your LDL under 130 (or less if you already suffer from heart disease).

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLOOD CHOLESTEROL: You are at a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease if your total blood cholesterol level is high. The risk increases progressively as your level rises above 200. Blood cholesterol levels are in part the result of the foods you eat, the they are also determined by genetic factors. Most people can reduce their blood cholesterol levels by as much as 2-25% by diet alone. For every 1% reduction in your total blood cholesteroll level, there is a 2% reduction in your risk for heart disease. In other words, if you lower your cholesterol from 250 to just under 200 (a drop of 25%), you would cut your risk of heart disease in HALF!!! By reducing your total blood cholesterol, you lower your risk of coronary heart disease and possibly a fatal heart attack or stroke.

WHAT IS A HEALTHY RATIO? It is true that your risk factors usually rise as your cholesteroll number increases. However, some people with a level over 200 are in serious trouble, and some people are not. The best way to tell if you have a potential problem is to know your HDL, or good, cholesterol level as well. People with high HDL levels can tolerate values of total cholesterol more than 200. This is determined by the RATIO of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. To figure out your ratio, divide the big number (total cholesterol), by the little number (HDL cholesterol). For example, if your total cholesterol is 200 and your HDL is 50, your ratio would be 4, or 200/5=4, which is very good. But if your total cholesterol is 210 and your HDL is 30, your ratio is 210/30=7, which is bad. Using the same method, if your total cholesterol is 150 and your HDL is 43, your ratio is 3½ which is very good. You need to keep your ratio under 4.0. Most people can accomplish this goal by cutting down on saturated fats and cholesterol products in their diet. Remember, diet has little to do with raising your HDL level. The best way to raise your HDL is through aerobic exercise. In order to determine of your cholesterol is over 200, check the HDL cholesterol on your blood and calculate your ratio. Very low levels (<35) can increase your risk of heart disease. Very high levels of triglycerides (over 250) may invoke a risk to your health. Those who are unable to attain ideal levels of their cholesterol and triglycerides should check with their physicians. Medication might be ultimately be required to reach healthier levels.

BY LOWERING YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND INCREASING YOUR HDL, YOU CAN IMPROVE THE RATIO AND YOUR HEALTH!

Please see Part 2

Butter Busters by Pam Mycoskie ISBN 0-446-67040-5 Entered by Carolyn Shaw 2-95

Submitted By CAROLYN SHAW On 02-15-95

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