Special Diet Lowers Cholesterol
February 9, 2005
(CBS) It's no secret that cholesterol plays a key role
in heart health, but now a new study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that simple
diet changes can greatly improve your cholesterol levels.
For the Heartscore series, The Early Show medical correspondent
Dr. Emily Senay explains the controlled diet was high
in soy protein such as soy milk and soy burgers, almonds
and cereal fiber as well as plant sterols - tree-based
compounds that are used in cholesterol-lowering salad
dressings and other products.
But the headline is that the diet was capable of reducing
cholesterol just as much as taking a statin drug, Senay
says.
And though this was a study funded by the makers of
many of these products, individually these items do
help lower cholesterol. This is great news, particularly
for folks who struggle with side-effects from statin
drugs.
People who take statin drugs also need to be watching
what they eat, which Senay says, sometimes that message
gets lost because people think they're taking a statin
drug.
Here is what constitutes a healthy level of total cholesterol
in the blood.
Desirable: under 200 mg/dL
Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL
High: above 240 mg/dL
People with a total cholesterol of 240 have TWICE the
risk of coronary heart disease as those whose levels
are below 200. Unfortunately, half of all Americans
have levels above 200.
As you know, your LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good
cholesterol) levels are also important.
LDL Optimal Level = below 100 mg/dL
Average HDL Levels
Men = 40-50
Women = 50-60
So, is it possible for cholesterol to be too low?
The short simple answer is no. In general, if your
cholesterol is abnormally low, it's probably because
you have something else seriously wrong, such as cancer
or another disease.
However, it can be a problem if your HDL levels are
below average. Having low HDL levels actually puts you
at a higher risk for heart disease. Your good cholesterol
is important because it carries the bad cholesterol
away from your heart's arteries, thus helping to prevent
heart disease.
Women tend to have higher HDL levels because the hormone
estrogen raises good cholesterol levels. Women need
to be aware that as they age and as they hit menopause,
their HDL levels may drop.
If you discover that your HDL level is below 40, the
American Heart Association recommends having your cholesterol
rechecked in a year, particularly if you have other
risks factors for heart disease.
You can increase your good cholesterol levels by:
Not smoking
Losing weight
Exercising 30-60 minutes daily
But of course, the most important advice anyone can
offer when it comes to maintaining overall, heart-healthy
cholesterol levels: eat foods that are low in saturated
fats and cholesterol, exercise and lose weight if necessary.
Source:www.cbsnews.com
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