Weight Loss Information

What Makes Your Blood Cholesterol High or Low


Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.

People with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.

Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat. Patients with heart disease or those who are at high risk for developing it typically have too much LDL-cholesterol in their blood. Many factors help determine whether your LDL-cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important.

Heredity. Your genes influence how high your LDL-cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood. One specific form of inherited high cholesterol that affects 1 in 500 people is familial hypercholesterolemia, which often leads to early heart disease. But even if you do not have a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play a role in influencing your LDL-cholesterol level.

What you eat. Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make your LDL-cholesterol level go up: saturated fat, a type of fat found mostly in foods that come from animals; and cholesterol, which comes only from animal products. Saturated fat raises your LDL-cholesterol level more than anything else in the diet. Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high rate of heart attacks in the United States. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol you eat is a very important step in reducing your blood cholesterol levels.

Weight. Excess weight tends to increase your LDL-cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL-cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss also helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL.

Physical activity/exercise. Regular physical activity may lower LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol levels.

Age and sex. Before menopause, women usually have total cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men get older, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60 to 65 years of age. In women, menopause often causes an increase in their LDL-cholesterol and a decrease in their HDL- cholesterol level, and after the age of 50, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

Alcohol. Alcohol intake increases HDL-cholesterol but does not lower LDL-cholesterol. Doctors don't know for certain whether alcohol also reduces the risk of heart disease. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood pressure, and raise triglycerides. Because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used as a way to prevent heart disease.

Stress. Stress over the long term has been shown in several studies to raise blood cholesterol levels. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to higher levels of blood cholesterol.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, ezine and more information on how to lower your cholesterol at http://weight-loss-health.com.au


MORE RESOURCES:

PracticeOne and the e-Medsys Solutions Suite Selected by Weight ...
MarketWatch - 17 hours ago
Our initial feelings and reaction are validated: e-Medsys EHR and PM are excellent for our multi-location weight loss practice. ...


What's happening Wednesday: Agricultural workshop; weight-loss ...
MLive.com, MI - Oct 7, 2008
A seminar on weight-loss surgeries is being presented at Borgess Medical Center's Lawrence Education Center, 1521 Gull Road. ...


Reading to Combat Childhood Obesity/New Less Invasive Weight-loss ...
WVLA-TV, LA - 16 hours ago
By Val Wilson Scientists had young, obese girls who were already in a comprehensive weight loss program read a book that emphasized healthy lifestyle ...


Reading for weight loss
Health24.com, South Africa - 43 minutes ago
In the study, researchers divided 64 obese nine to 13-year-old girls, who were already taking part in a comprehensive weight loss program, ...


I'm with the band: Rock widow Courtney Love's dramatic weight loss ...
Mail on Sunday, UK - 1 hour ago
By Daily Mail Reporter But Courtney Love's dramatic weight loss over the last two years is actually down to a gastric band operation she had two years ago, ...


New Weight Loss Method for Women
Daily Nexus, CA - 1 hour ago
As a result, patients are prevented from consuming excessive calories and undergo dramatic weight loss. Maria Soto, a 5-foot, 253-pound 29-year-old, ...


Weight-loss seminar featured at St. Peter’s
Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - 5 hours ago
NEW BRUNSWICK —An introductory seminar on obesity and weight-loss surgery will take place from 7 to 9 pm Thursday, Oct. 9 at Saint Peter’s University ...


Michigan City woman gets serious about weight loss
Munster Times, IN - 3 hours ago
Tyskie says that her weight loss inspired her niece to lose 75 pounds and to maintain that loss for the last five years. Tyskie has been able to keep her ...


Orexigen presents positive results from Phase I trials of weight ...
Pharmaceutical Business Review - 7 hours ago
... enhance patient compliance and improve weight loss outcomes in patients with obesity, a disorder which afflicts more than 75 million Americans. ...


Husband and wife achieve weight-loss goals together
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 4 hours ago
By Steve Palisin - spalisin@thesunnews.com Tonya and Newt Merrick of Longs tag team not only as teachers at North Myrtle Beach Elementary School: They've ...

Weight-Loss - Google News

home | site map
© 2006