Cholesterol
Cholesterol has a poor reputation, but it actually isn’t all bad. There is both good and bad cholesterol. HDL (high density lipoproteins) cholesterol is the “good” cholesterol that, when at healthy levels, can protect against heart attack and stroke. HDL also prevents LDL (low density lipoproteins) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) from clogging your arteries. Too much of one of these or not enough of the other can have critical implications for your well-being. It can also put you at risk for heart attack, stroke and heart disease.
How do you know whether you have too much “bad” (LDL) cholesterol or not enough “good” (HDL) cholesterol? There is a screening your doctor or healthcare professional can administer to detect your levels of HDL and LDL in your blood. It’s important to know this information because there typically aren’t any symptoms associated with high cholesterol, but the consequences of having this condition can be severe.
Start by taking the American Heart Association’s Cholesterol IQ Quiz.
How Do I Manage my Cholesterol?
Our liver and other cells create about 75% of blood cholesterol, while the other 25% comes from food we eat. LDL cholesterol is produced naturally by the body, but many people inherit genes from their parents or grandparents that can cause their body to make too much. Additionally, LDL cholesterol can increase from what you eat, such as foods high in cholesterol and saturated and trans fats. While lifestyle modifications can help you get your LDL and HDL levels in check, if high cholesterol runs in your family, you may have to work with your doctor for an additional treatment plan.
Once you know what your LDL and HDL levels are, you can work on finding the balance needed to stay healthy. Lifestyle modifications can include increasing physical activity and reducing trans fats and/or adding more nutritious fruits and vegetables to your diet. You can also add a soluble fiber supplement such as Konsyl to help manage your cholesterol. Soluble fiber can help reduce LDL cholesterol beyond what you can achieve with a diet low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol alone.
Diagnosis and Monitoring
While high cholesterol can lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke, there usually are no symptoms. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor so he or she can test and monitor your |
 cholesterol levels on a regular basis. Even if your levels are good, staying aware and maintaining good habits is essential to continued good health.
Prevention and Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, being educated and managing your lifestyle are steps in the right direction. Work with your doctor for a specific treatment plan and you should also take these positive steps.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle
- Participate in regular physical activity
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Watch your fat intake
- Know which fats raise LDL cholesterol and limit your intake of them
- Keep overall fat intake to a healthy level
Fiber and Cholesterol
Fiber is a natural way to help lower or maintain your cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Adding 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium seed husk per day, along with sticking to a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
If you’re also trying to manage your weight, taking a fiber supplement daily is a low calorie option to obtain the recommended daily intake without adding unwanted calories! Taking 2-1/2 rounded teaspoonfuls throughout the day of pure psyllium only adds 8 calories! Konsyl Original doesn’t have any fillers, sugars or artificial sweeteners. Eating fiber before meals provides the feeling of satiety so you’ll be less hungry and naturally eat less.
Tools and Other Resources
For more information and other tools and resources, visit the American Heart Association’s website.
|
