How to Lower your LDL Cholesterol Through Changes in Your Diet?

Answer 1

When you go to your doctor, how may tell you that your hdl/ldl ratio is not good or he may simply tell you that your cholesterol as too high. The important thing to understand is that HDL cholesterol is considered the good cholesterol, while LDL is referred to as the bad cholesterol.

The total cholesterol number should be under 300 to maintain good health. If the number exceeds this or the doctor feels that a person has an unhealthy ratio of good to bad cholesterol, the doctor may prescribe the patient with a medication designed to lower the count.

Even though the medications are good, there are ways an individual can lower his cholesterol or improve his ration without using prescription drugs. A common commercial touts the benefit of a well-known brand of cereal for lowering cholesterol and improving a person’s numbers. Eating it for six weeks, the company claims, will do the trick. They can make this claim because oats are the primary ingredient in all the variations of this product. Oatmeal and other forms can help a person get his cholesterol under control and increase his fiber intake.

Increasing a person’s dietary intake is only one way a person can lower his ldl cholesterol without using medication. Cutting certain foods such as whole milk, cheeses, eggs and bacon can reduce the amount of cholesterol a person gets. Eating a small amount of these foods probably will not harm you. A person who cannot stand to drink skim milk can use 1% instead, although he will receive less benefit from doing so.

Increasing fat intake seems counterproductive, but certain fish and nuts can help regulate heart health and help prevent the build-up of fatty deposits in the artery. Omega 3 fatty acids do not significantly lower a person’s ldl cholesterol, but the body still must intake some fats for good health. Just make sure that the fats for a cholesterol lowering diet come from the category that doctors consider good.

Combine the diet with a cardiovascular exercise routine and you will see your hdl/ldl ratio improve. A person on the border line can extend his lack of need for prescription cholesterol medications by eating right and following the instructions of his primary care physician.

Answer 2

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can clog the blood vessels, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is produced by the liver, but for many people, elevated cholesterol of 200 or higher is the result of consuming foods with too much cholesterol. It should be noted however, that there are those who inherit the tendency toward high cholesterol. Regardless of how the condition occurs, it can be dangerous and take years off of a person's life. The good news is that there are some simple steps one can take to keep cholesterol at healthy levels.

It is important to know that there are two types of cholesterol that complete the cholesterol profile. One is LDL cholesterol, which consists of low-density lipoproteins. This is known as bad cholesterol, the type that should be kept lower. The other type is HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol that everyone desires.

The key to lowering bad cholesterol and the overall cholesterol number is to eat health food. Start by increasing the number of fruits and vegetables consumed. Fill half of the lunch or dinner plate with healthy vegetables and fruit, and choose fruits and vegetables for snacks. Whole grains also factor into the cholesterol equation. Whole grains contain fiber which helps remove cholesterol from the blood. Everyone should strive to make at least half of the grains they eat whole. This means including whole wheat or whole grain bread, and whole grain pasta and brown rice in the diet.High cholesterol foods are also high in fat. By consuming foods that are lower in fat and trans fat, a healthy cholesterol level can be achieved. This means eating low-fat meats and poultry, low-fat dairy products and cutting back on cakes, cookies, crackers and other snack foods. Exercise also plays a role in lowering cholesterol. Walking is simple form of exercise that can help burn off fat, and lower cholesterol.

Fortunately, for those who inherit high cholesterol, there are medications available to treat the condition. However, those individuals still need to follow the guidelines for healthy eating.