| Health Matters
Good Cholesterol / Bad Cholesterol
By Sue Whitaker
Cholesterol
is a waxy material found in every cell in the body. It is an essential
part of cell membranes and also certain hormones. The body can
make all the cholesterol it needs. Extra cholesterol can clog
the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
High blood
cholesterol is associated with obesity, inactivity, and eating
certain unhealthy foods. Other risk factors include smoking, having
high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, and a family history
of heart disease. You can’t change your family history, but you
have control over the other conditions. If necessary, your doctor
can prescribe certain medications to help lower cholesterol, too.
Cholesterol
is found only in foods with an animal source. Limit intake of
fatty meats, cheeses, butter, 2% or whole milk, cream, egg yolks,
lard. Other foods contain saturated and/or trans fats which contribute
to the formation of cholesterol, so cut back on these, too: most
oils, margarine, fried foods. (Beware of “saturated” or “trans”
fats on the label.) Choose healthy snacks like fresh fruits and
vegetables instead of candy, cookies, muffins, doughnuts, chips,
and pies.
Cholesterol
travels through the blood in little packages called lipoproteins.
Lowdensity lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body’s
cells and thus are “bad” for health. High-density lipoproteins
(HDL) remove cholesterol from the blood, so are called “good.”
A blood test (lipid panel) measures levels of total cholesterol,
LDL, HDL, other cholesterols, and a type of fat called triglycerides.
It is good to aim for a total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL
cholesterol below 130 (even lower if there is a high risk of heart
disease), HDL cholesterol above 60, and triglycerides below 150.
Since it is very important in predicting heart disease, the LDL
number is even more important to know than the total cholesterol.
Please note: Tai chi
lessons are offered weekly at ELPC. A walking path has been
plotted through ELPC to encourage routine walking no matter what
the winter weather brings. Contact Patrice at 412-441-3800, ext.
30, for details.
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