Did you know that September is National Cholesterol Education Month? In honor of this, here are the basics of how to monitor cholesterol and what you need to know to maintain heart health.
The Source
Cholesterol comes from two sources: your liver and foods derived from animals – meat, poultry, and dairy products all contain cholesterol, called dietary cholesterol.
Cholesterol circulates in the blood. As the amount of cholesterol in your blood increases, so does the risk to your health. Too much cholesterol can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
The Types
There are two types of cholesterol:
- LDL cholesterol, which is bad, and
- HDL, which is good.
To remember this, you can determine if you want to go high or if you want to go low.
- Too much of the bad kind (LDL), and not enough of the good kind (HDL), causes cholesterol to build up in the inner walls of the arteries. This can decrease the blood flow to your heart and brain.
Examples of Food Sources
Healthy foods that are high in cholesterol should still be eaten in moderation. Foods like:
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Shellfish
- Steak
- Organ meats (liver, kidney)
- Sardines
- Full-fat yogurt
Foods are high cholesterol foods you should avoid or eat only rarely.
- Fried foods
- Fast foods
- Processed meats
- Desserts
I know, all the good stuff!
When it comes to cholesterol, this is what to remember: check, change, and control. That is:
- Check your cholesterol levels. It’s key to know your numbers.
- Change your diet and lifestyle to help improve your numbers.
- Control your cholesterol, with help from your doctor if needed
With just a few changes to your diet, you can decrease the amount of cholesterol you get from food and increase your heart health. For more information on how to monitor cholesterol, visit the American Heart Association website here.
Best of Health!
Dr. K Lev
