by Ted Peterson
We all should know what our cholesterol number is and what it means for good health.
Most American cholesterol number is too high. Cholesterol is the amount of fat that people eat each day. No one should eat more then 20 – 30 % fat each day but the average American will take in from 40% to 50% each day and they do not exercise regularly. Cholesterol can be good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol is not a fat but it is closely related to fats. Cholesterol is a chemical that is a part of the structure of cells and in the formation of important hormones. Your liver help produce all your cholesterol.
Cholesterol is the item that can narrow the blood vessels in your body. As a rule, the more cholesterol there is in your bloodstream the greater the risk of heart trouble or high blood pressure.
Cholesterol can be good (HDL cholesterol) or bad (IDL cholesterol). Bad cholesterol is the fats that will raise the cholesterol level and are called saturated fats. Saturated fats most of the time will be solid at room temperature. They are meats and high fat dairy items. Unsaturated fats are found in plant oils, etc. Most are liquid at room temperature. You do not want to only have unsaturated fats as then you will then have trouble.
Good cholesterol will tend to clear out your blood vessels. Try to keep your fat intake to about 25% to 30% each day or do a lot of exercise.
Some people have an inherited tendency to have a high cholesterol and therefore has a tendency to have heart attacks. If a member of your family has had a heart attacks, check your cholesterol level once a year or so.
American should not get more then 30% of their calories from fats. If you are from a poor country and have to work hard to live your fat % can be more.
If your cholesterol level is under 200 mg/dl, you are OK. About 25% or more American have cholesterol level over 240 mg/dl and should try to get it down. You may have to see a DR.
You may have to change the food that you eat, take a drug, or they may tell you to exercise more or harder. You need to get it down.
By using different oils you can lower your cholesterol count. The best oils (monounsaturated) are Olive oil, Canola oil & Almond oil. The next best (polyunsaturated) are Safflower oil, Margarine, Walnut oil, Sunflower oil, Soy oil, Peanut oil, Corn oil & Sesame oil. The bad oils (saturated) are Palm oil, Palm kernel oil & Coconut oil. Take you pick. .
Good luck.
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