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Health 52
Info Tip: Lowering Cholesterol
While heredity affects the amount of cholesterol your body produces, diet is
a factor you can control to help prevent heart attack and stroke.
The body needs cholesterol to control hormones and digestion. While the
“good” HDL cholesterol works to keep plaque out of the arteries, its
counterpart LDL, known as “bad cholesterol”, can accumulate and clog blood
vessels, leaving you vulnerable to heart disease.
To help lower your total cholesterol through healthier eating habits, limit
animal-derived saturated fats like butter and marbled beef. Avoid trans fat,
known as hydrogenated vegetable oil. This is the unnatural combination of
hydrogen and vegetable oil used in processed foods and some margarines to
create a creamy texture and prolong the shelf life of many cookies, cakes
and breads.
Use monounsaturated vegetable oil for cooking. Try mixing chocolate soy milk
in the blender with fresh fruit for a quick and nutritious smoothie. Fruits,
vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and soy protein are all
cholesterol-free.
For a healthy heart, know your cholesterol level. If it’s high, talk to a
doctor about ways to lower it that make sense for your lifestyle.
Sources: Harvard Medical School,
Hospital
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