u are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol a

Your heart and cholesterol share an important link. You can take better care of your heart and reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke when you gain an understanding of the role cholesterol plays.

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in body cells. It is a necessary part of certain bodily functions; however, too much puts one at coronary risk. This is why cholesterol and heart disease go hand-in-hand.

Cholesterol and other fats cannot dissolve and they need special carriers called lipoproteins to transport them to and from cells. If transport is compromised, the health effect of cholesterol to heart disease becomes apparent.

If your low-density lipoprotein, LDL, level is too high, cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing risk of stroke or heart attack. LDL is significant, in relation to heart and cholesterol levels.

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, serves as a protection to heart health because it carries cholesterol away from your arteries. To put it in simple terms: achieve or maintain high levels of HDL cholesterol and heart disease risk is reduced.

Total blood cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Desirable levels would be less than 200 mg/dL, borderline high risk would be 200–239 mg/dL, and high risk would be 240 mg/dL and over. These numbers shed light on the health effect of cholesterol to heart disease.

LDL is considered a better gauge of risk than total blood levels. LDL levels will fall into this range: Less than 100 mg/dL (optimal), 100 to 129 mg/dL (near optimal), 130 to 159 mg/dL (borderline high), 160 to 189 mg/dL (high), 190 mg/dL or more (very high). As can be seen, your heart and cholesterol levels are inseparably linked.

Because levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, are also important, some physicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL in place of the total blood cholesterol. Reduced levels of HDL can also be dangerous: remember, low HDL cholesterol and heart disease risks are increased.

How can you guard your heart and cholesterol levels? If you are a smoker, you will need to stop. If you are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol an

ns to transport them to and from cells. If transport is compromised, the health effect of cholesterol to heart disease becomes apparent.

If your low-density lipoprotein, LDL, level is too high, cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing risk of stroke or heart attack. LDL is significant, in relation to heart and cholesterol levels.

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, serves as a protection to heart health because it carries cholesterol away from your arteries. To put it in simple terms: achieve or maintain high levels of HDL cholesterol and heart disease risk is reduced.

Total blood cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Desirable levels would be less than 200 mg/dL, borderline high risk would be 200–239 mg/dL, and high risk would be 240 mg/dL and over. These numbers shed light on the health effect of cholesterol to heart disease.

LDL is considered a better gauge of risk than total blood levels. LDL levels will fall into this range: Less than 100 mg/dL (optimal), 100 to 129 mg/dL (near optimal), 130 to 159 mg/dL (borderline high), 160 to 189 mg/dL (high), 190 mg/dL or more (very high). As can be seen, your heart and cholesterol levels are inseparably linked.

Because levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, are also important, some physicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL in place of the total blood cholesterol. Reduced levels of HDL can also be dangerous: remember, low HDL cholesterol and heart disease risks are increased.

How can you guard your heart and cholesterol levels? If you are a smoker, you will need to stop. If you are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol a

DL cholesterol and heart disease risk is reduced.

Total blood cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Desirable levels would be less than 200 mg/dL, borderline high risk would be 200–239 mg/dL, and high risk would be 240 mg/dL and over. These numbers shed light on the health effect of cholesterol to heart disease.

LDL is considered a better gauge of risk than total blood levels. LDL levels will fall into this range: Less than 100 mg/dL (optimal), 100 to 129 mg/dL (near optimal), 130 to 159 mg/dL (borderline high), 160 to 189 mg/dL (high), 190 mg/dL or more (very high). As can be seen, your heart and cholesterol levels are inseparably linked.

Because levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, are also important, some physicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL in place of the total blood cholesterol. Reduced levels of HDL can also be dangerous: remember, low HDL cholesterol and heart disease risks are increased.

How can you guard your heart and cholesterol levels? If you are a smoker, you will need to stop. If you are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol a

(borderline high), 160 to 189 mg/dL (high), 190 mg/dL or more (very high). As can be seen, your heart and cholesterol levels are inseparably linked.

Because levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, are also important, some physicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL in place of the total blood cholesterol. Reduced levels of HDL can also be dangerous: remember, low HDL cholesterol and heart disease risks are increased.

How can you guard your heart and cholesterol levels? If you are a smoker, you will need to stop. If you are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol a

u are overweight, you should strive to lose unwanted pounds. Regular exercise can have a tangible effect on the heart and changing to a diet low in saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol may be necessary.

Your diet should include vegetables and fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods. Eat fish at least twice a week. Choose lean meats and discard the skin on poultry. Cut back on salt. Select fat-free or low-fat dairy products. By changing everyday dietary habits, you can protect yourself from falling victim to high cholesterol and heart disease.

It is important to have regular screenings and, if you need to lower your cholesterol level, to work with a healthcare professional to set up a workable plan. Remember, cardiovascular disease is America’s #1 killer!

If dietary and lifestyle changes do not achieve hoped-for results, your doctor may recommend use of a statin drug to lower cholesterol. You should be aware, however, that statin drugs can cause liver damage, severe muscle breakdown, and even death; and they cause depletion of CoQ10, an important heart compound.

Natural substances contain important compounds that can act in the same fashion as prescription medications, but without unwanted side effects. Good results have been obtained by those using these compounds for heart and cholesterol levels.

One such substance, policosanol, acts to lower LDL and increases HDL, offering significant benefit in relation to cholesterol and heart disease. Fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, may protect against degenerative changes in artery walls, guarding heart health. In fact, the fat in fish actually lowers cholesterol. One plant sterol, beta-sitosterol, reduces blood levels and inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol. D-limonene, a compound found in orange peel oil, has also been found to reduce cholesterol.

A natural supplement will contain scientifically researched ingredients that can render powerful effects in relation to heart and cholesterol levels. Use of a natural remedy is a viable option. As with any treatment, it is important to obtain qualified advice.