Understanding Your Cholesterol Numbers

When your doctor decides that it is time to test your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the cholesterol results and numbers to come back. You would do well to spend a few minutes discussing these results with your doctor, covering how you can improve them if that is in fact needed, and find out what your risk is for heart disease.

If your cholesterol numbers are not in the optimal range, your doctor may recommend that you take prescription drugs to help get your cholesterol numbers in a better range as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to heart disease, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your doctor may just suggest that you improve your diet, moving to a low cholesterol diet, and does not contain many high cholesterol foods regularly.

Once you are aware of the foods that you should and should not be eating, then switching to good foods should be no difficulty, especially as you know that once you have changed, your heart health is going to be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting lower.

This is exactly what you need, a strong heart. But along with the low cholesterol diet, you should also be exercising, may be four days a week going for a brisk 30 minute walk, as this will help your fitness level, and your overall health.

So, if you are to eat foods low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be eating, and what foods should you not eat? It is necessary to avoid an excess of foods from animals, so things like red meats should be consumed in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also high in cholesterol, but the egg whites are good for you, so consider switching to egg white products rather than complete eggs.

On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is an animal product, so if you still need to cook in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is processed less than light olive oil which is called that just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

Oat meal and oat bran is good for you to eat, and is a great way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.

Dried peas, beans and lentils, otherwise called legumes are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain plant protein, which is good for the growth of tendons and muscles, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

Naturally, there are a lot more foods that contribute to a diet of low cholesterol, but there is limited space here. The important thing is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are at lower risk of heart attacks or strokes. But of course, the decision is yours, reduce your cholesterol now, or run the risk of heart attacks and strokes in your future.