What to eat to lower cholesterol
The most powerful way to lower your cholesterol and protect your arteries is through intentional, heart-smart food choices. Here’s how to get started.
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Cholesterol Testing Schedule: By Age & Risk Level
Age Group Risk Level Recommended Testing Frequency 20–39 years Low risk (no major risk factors) Every 5 years Moderate/high risk (family history, diabetes, etc.) Every 1–3 years Known heart disease or very high cholesterol At least annually Men 40–64 years Low risk Every 5 years Moderate/high risk (smoking, hypertension, etc.) Every 1–3 years Known heart…
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Checking Levels
When Should You Check Your Cholesterol? Know Your Risk. If you’re a man age 35 or older or a woman age 45 or older, it’s time to start having your cholesterol checked regularly. Why? Because cholesterol levels—and the plaque they can create—often creep up silently, long before symptoms appear. Depending on your numbers and your…
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Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is a broad term that refers to the stiffening, thickening, or loss of elasticity in arterial walls. Think of it like the difference between a flexible garden hose and one that’s been left out in the sun for too long—it becomes rigid, less responsive, and prone to cracking.
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Keep Levels Down
You don’t need a shelf full of supplements to manage cholesterol. You need the right foods, the right habits, and the right strategy.
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How Often
If you’re 20 years or older, it’s important to have your blood cholesterol checked at least once every five years, even if you’ve never had an issue with high cholesterol before.
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Dairy Products for lowering cholesterol
Dairy products such as skim or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese can be beneficial for lowering cholesterol levels. These products are rich in calcium, which has been shown to help reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gut. Additionally, they contain a type of fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which may help lower…
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The Right Protein
When choosing what to eat for a Heart Healthy Diet look for high-quality lean protein, which is important for maintaining and repairing muscle tissue, and for maintaining healthy bones. Most of these also contain other important nutrients, such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins.To keep your blood cholesterol level low, choose only the leanest meats,…
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Understanding Cholesterol Levels
You’re told by your physician you need to lower your cholesterol in order to live a healthier life. The blood tests you had done show the total cholesterol levels to be over 200. But what does that really mean and how do you get started towards reducing your cholesterol? To begin, cholesterol is a naturally…
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Cholesterol Testing
What you need to know about Cholesterol testing Having your blood cholesterol measured is a relatively simple and inexpensive process. The problem is in getting accurate results and then a sound interpretation of the figures. This blood test is complicated to run in a laboratory. Different labs use a variety of methods that yield differing…
