What's Your CQ*?

* Cholesterol Quotient: Take This Quiz to Test Your Know-How

Time to brush up on our cholesterol awareness, according to guidelines by the National Cholesterol Education Program. See how you do on this quiz:

1. It is important to know my cholesterol numbers because: a) they help predict my chances of having a heart attack; b) I may be asked to remember them on a game show; c) heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States.

Answers: a, c.

2. Which of these are major risk factors for heart disease? a) smoking; b) diabetes; c) high blood pressure; d) listening to the presidential debates.

Answers: a, b, c.

3. HDL and LDL are: a) secret government codes; b) cholesterol particles in our blood that help predict the health of our heart and arteries; c) substances known as "lipoproteins."

Answers: b, c.

4. HDL cholesterol is: a) healthful; b) best if high; c) a blessing to heart health.

All are correct.

5. HDL cholesterol is improved by: a) stargazing; b) sleep; c) exercise.

Answer: c.

6. LDL cholesterol is: a) lousy; b) best if low; c) apt to become oxidized and clog arteries.

All are correct.

7. A diet that can decrease LDL cholesterol is: a) high in soluble fiber; b) low in saturated fat; c) not likely to be found in a trick-or-treat bag.

All are correct.

8. Which of these foods are good sources of soluble fiber? a) dried peas and beans; b) oats; c) Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Answers: a, b.

9. Researchers recommend TLC to reduce our risk for heart disease. TLC stands for: a) tender loving care; b) treat lipoproteins carefully; c) therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Answer: c.

10. Therapeutic lifestyle changes to lower LDL cholesterol include: a) running a marathon; b) eating a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol; c) weight loss; d) 30 minutes of physical exercise most days.

Answers: b, c, d.

11. Foods low in saturated fat include: a) fruit; b) nuts; c) double bacon cheeseburgers.

Answers: a, b.

12. Examples of how to eat less saturated fat include: a) snack on nuts instead of cheese; b) use olive oil instead of butter; c) skip the hot dog.

All are correct.

13. Stanols and sterols are: a) interesting names for twins; b) substances naturally present in plants that can lower blood cholesterol; c) added to foods such as margarine and orange juice.

Answers: b, c.

14. Thirty minutes of regular physical exercise on most days can: a) lower bad LDL cholesterol; b) raise good HDL cholesterol; c) make your heart muscle work more efficiently.

All are correct.

15. True or false: My day-to-day eating and exercise habits can help or hurt my heart.

Answer: True.

Barbara Quinn is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in California.