Cholesterol Caveats

You likely already know that your body is designed to make all the cholesterol you need. Your blood levels of cholesterol can rise, however, based on your lifestyle. This includes your type, level, and frequency of exercise as well as what you eat. Dietary cholesterol is found in egg yolks, whole-milk dairy foods, poultry, fish, and animal meats. Your physician can evaluate your total cholesterol as well as your blood levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and help you design a personal program, if you need to achieve a healthier ratio of HDL to LDL. For some, this may include medication to help lower LDL or increase HDL. Other strategies may include maintaining an optimum weight, exercising for 30-60 minutes a day, leaning toward Mediterranean cuisine, using low-fat dairy products, and selecting a wide variety of foods that are naturally low in saturated fat and cholesterol such as vegetables, fruits, and whole-grains. Think of a high-level-wellness lifestyle as “getting more bang for your buck.” This is because generally what’s good for your brain is also good for your heart and immune system.