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$Title{Cholesterol}
A Medical Times Patient Education Chart
(C) Romaine Pierson Publishers, Inc.
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Cholesterol
Good and Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance your body needs to form cell
membranes and many hormones. Enough cholesterol is produced by the body to
meet all its needs. Eating foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fat can
cause high levels of cholesterol to accumulate in the blood.
Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. Most of the
cholesterol is carried by low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is sometimes
called the "bad" cholesterol because together with fat and other particles, it
can cause a thick coating of plaque to form on the walls of the arteries.
This condition, known as atherosclerosis, is a major health risk.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called the "good" cholesterol
because it transports the cholesterol back to the liver, where it is processed
for removal through the bile.
High and Low Levels
Cholesterol is measured by the number of milligrams (mg) of cholesterol
per deciliter (dl) of blood. The numbers will fall into one of three ranges,
as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and listed
on the front of this chart. If your total blood cholesterol level is high,
your doctor will probably want to obtain a measurement of your LDL levels.
LDL levels greater than 130 mg/dl are considered a health risk.
Cholesterol testing involves taking a sample of blood either from your
finger or arm and should be done by a health professional in a hygienic
medical setting. The sample should then be sent to a competent and
experienced laboratory for analysis.
How to Lower Cholesterol
If you have high blood cholesterol, your doctor will advise you to change
your diet so that you eat fewer foods that are high in cholesterol and
saturated fats. Cholesterol is found only in animal products. Animal
products are also the primary source of saturated fats, although a few
vegetable oils--coconut, palm, and palm kernel--do contain saturated fats.
It is generally recommended that you consume no more than 300 mg of
cholesterol each day and that no more than 30% of your total calories come
from fats, with no more than one-third of that (10% of total calories) coming
from saturated fats.
If dietary changes do not lower cholesterol sufficiently, your doctor may
prescribe medication. Maintaining a desirable weight can also help lower LDL
and exercise may help raise the level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Levels of Some Common Foods
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Cholesterol Saturated
(mg) Fats (g)
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(Meat, fish, and poultry
are 3.5 oz portions)
Lean T-Bone Steak
(broiled) 80 4.2
Lean Ground Beef
(broiled) 87 7.2
Fresh Spareribs (braised) 121 11.8
Roasted Chicken 75 1.1
(light meat, no skin)
Roasted Turkey 86 0.4
(light meat, no skin)
Swordfish (dry heat) 50 1.4
Shrimp (moist heat) 195 0.3
Lobster 72 0.1
8 oz whole milk 33 5.1
8 oz skim milk 4 0.3
1 oz cheddar cheese 30 6.0
1 whole chicken egg 274 1.7
1 slice whole wheat bread 0 0.4
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