Mar 16, 2009 -
I was a vegan for a short time in my college days, and I remember getting a check-up that year and being surprised that my cholesterol test came back with high numbers. I told the doctor that I wasn't even eating any cholesterol, and she said unfortunately, you can inherit high cholesterol from your parents. With diet and exercise, I've definitely helped to get my numbers in check, but it's a constant battle since genetics aren't on my side.
- 19 Comments
Mar 13, 2009 -
If you're like me, you don't give your cholesterol much thought. I always thought your cholesterol levels were based on whether or not you ate a lot of high-fat foods like cheese, meat, and ice cream, but you can also inherit high or low cholesterol from your parents. And I also just learned that taking birth control pills can affect your levels too.
- 3 Comments
Feb 04, 2009 -
Dear Fit,
I discovered psylium husk powder at the health food store a while back when I was having troubles with constipation. Mixing it into my juice every morning has certainly done the trick, but I wonder if my body is getting addicted to it or something. Is psyllium husk safe to use every day?
- 3 Comments
Oct 09, 2008 -
Since high cholesterol is linked to heart problems, it's so important for us to be conscious of how much is in the foods we eat. Last Spring I tested your cholesterol smarts and now here's another quiz to keep you on your toes.
Source
Take the quiz
- 8 Comments
Sep 05, 2008 -
Lately I've been hearing so many people talk about how they use Egg Beaters in place of eggs. Original Egg Beaters seem like a healthier alternative to eggs, because the label says it's made from real eggs and contains no cholesterol, but the truth is it only contains egg whites. That's where the protein comes from (6g per 1/4 cup serving).
- 28 Comments
Aug 21, 2008 -
We all know that LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) is no good for us, and one of the leading risk factors for heart disease is high cholesterol levels in the blood. So use these five tips from the Cleveland Clinic on ways to help lower your cholesterol:
Avoid high-fat or fried foods. When you do eat foods with fat, look for unsaturated, not saturated, fat.
Reduce the amount of red meat that you eat, and eat more fish and poultry.
Get enough soluble fiber by eating plenty of fruits, beans, peas, and oats.
Don't eat more than three egg yolks per week.
Get plenty of exercise, maintain a healthy body weight, and stop smoking.
Fit's Tip: If you haven't had your cholesterol checked, you may want to ask your doctor to run a blood test — especially if high cholesterol runs in your family.
- 1 Comment
Jun 06, 2008 -
There’s been some evidence suggesting that increasing HDL (aka the good cholesterol) can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke — even without changes in LDL (aka the bad cholesterol). Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests these five things people can do to raise their HDL levels:
Get aerobic exercise. Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise can boost HDL by 5 to 10 percent.
- 3 Comments
Apr 24, 2008 -
When we talk about health and nutrition, the terms cholesterol and saturated fat are tossed about frequently. We should avoid large amounts of them, but I for one still get confused by the differences between the two. So I thought it might be a good time for a little review.
- 10 Comments
Apr 04, 2008 -
As if we needed another reason to load up on the coffee in the morning, new research is suggesting that coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body. This is because the "blood brain barrier" — a filter between the brain and the main blood supply, which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals, including cholesterol — could be protected by caffeine. But don't go spending your life savings on Starbucks just yet, one cup of coffee a day is all researchers think is needed to help protect the brain against cholesterol and chances are you're already getting that much caffeine any given day anyway.
- 11 Comments
Apr 03, 2008 -
Since I have a history of heart problems in my family, I'm really conscious about foods high in cholesterol. I try to limit the amount of meat and dairy products I eat, and only consume 300mg of cholesterol or less a day. So do you know how much cholesterol is in the foods you eat?
- 11 Comments
