What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy fat steroid It is manufactured in the :
Liver Intestines Adrenal glands Sex organs
Cholesterol is only synthesized in animals
The Good…
Cholesterol is a very important compound!
It is needed to produce: Cell membranes Myelin Vitamin D Steroid hormones Bile acids
The Bad…
High blood cholesterol levels are strongly
connected to Atherosclerosis Coronary artery disease
Saturated fat will elevate “bad” (LDL) cholesterol more than any other type of fat
Trans fat raises LDL cholesterol like saturated fat
The Ugly…
Americans tend to be an obese and sedentary population with excess calorie intake
Many like a diet with excess animal protein that is high in saturated fat and cholesterol
Many enjoy the convenience of processed foods that can contain high levels of total fat and trans fat
The number one killer of Americans is coronary artery disease.
So What To Do?Give Yourself Some TLC!
Eat less than 7% of total fat calories as saturated fat
Limit dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg/d
Keep total fat consumed in the range of 25% to 35% of total calories
More TLC…
Add 2 grams of plant stanols or sterols to your diet each day
Include 10 – 25 grams of soluble fiber in your diet each day
Work on managing your weight (overweight raises LDL cholesterol and triglycerides)
Exercise! It increases your “good” (HDL) cholesterol
Foods with Soluble FiberHave more of these!
Oatmeal and oat bran Barley Beans and lentils Citrus fruits like oranges and
grapefruit Apples and pears Peaches and nectarines Prunes and plums Bananas
More foods that can help…
Soy protein Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans,
pistachios) Cold water fish with Omega-3- fatty
acidsreduces risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Alcohol (!?)One drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men is associated with lower risk of CVD
High Cholesterol FoodsPortion Control Please!
Any food with animal fat has cholesterol Foods with lots of dietary cholesterol:
Cheese Egg yolk Beef Pork Poultry (esp. skin) Shrimp
Foods High in Saturated Fat
Cut back! Both animal and vegetable foods can be high in saturated fat
High saturated fat foods include: Fatty cuts of meat Poultry especially with the skin Whole-milk dairy products Some vegetable oils
especially coconut and palm oil
Foods High in Trans Fat Limit these!
Any food made with hydrogenated oil or fat Stick margarine is high in trans fat Other high trans fat foods can include:
Crackers Cookies Peanut butter Pastries Cakes and pies
You have to read the Food Facts Label to be sure!
When choosing processed foods
Use the Nutrition Facts Label Calories and Calories from fat (less) Trans Fat and Sat Fat (less) Dietary Fiber (more)
Check the ingredient list & avoid: Hydrogenated oils
Excellent Resources!
National Cholesterol Education Month Your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol with TLC It’s About Eating Right! High Cholesterol: Understanding Your Risks History of Cholesterol