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Prevention It may be time to recheck your blood cholesterol, even if your doctor has told you in the past that it was fine. Increasing evidence shows that the lower your cholesterol, the better for your heart. And new guidelines recommend some lower cholesterol levels. A total cholesterol count of less than 200 remains the desirable level; 200-239 is borderline high; and 240 or more is high. For "bad" (LDL) cholesterol, however, the guidelines now list a count of less than 100 as best; 100-129 as near or above optimal; 130-159 as borderline high; 160-189 as high; and 190 or above as very high. A count of 40 or less for "good" (HDL) is low, and a count 60 or above is high (and therefore good). Try Lifestyle Changes. High cholesterol doesn't necessarily mean you need drugs to lower it. The guidelines urge trying lifestyle changes first, such as a low-fat diet and exercise. Your physician is your best source to help you make decisions about lowering cholesterol.
Nutrition Why Lutein? In laboratory studies, scientists examined human carotid arteries whose inner layer had been treated with lutein prior to removal during surgery. The lutein-treated layers attracted fewer white cells, wich oxidize LDL cholesterol. Oxidized LDL in artery walls is a major cause of atherosclerosis. Beware of Trans Fats. They may be more hazardous to your heart than the saturated fats that physicians have warned about for years. A new study compared people who ate a specially prepared trans-fat diet with a group who consumed a similar saturated-fat diet. Compared to those on the saturated-fat diet, trans-fat eaters averaged 21 percent lower "good" (HDL) cholesterol, and the ability of their blood vessels to dilate was reduced 29 percent. Both conditions put the heart at risk. What are they? Trans fats are created when hydrogen atoms are forced into liquid oils, such as corn and soybean oil, to make them solid at room temperature. Nutrition labels call them "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils. They are common in margarine, packaged baked goods and fried foods in restaurants. Saturated fats are found in meat, other animal products and tropical oils such as coconut and palm.
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BlueCross® BlueShield® |
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