New Cholesterol Profile

My own, that is. Doctor just sent me a letter that my total score is 222, up from 195 in April 2008.  My HDL is 48, and LDL is 147.

He recommended I cut back to 60g of fat/day max, and cholesterol under 200mg. At least he didn't suggest medication...

For the record, my weight is around 162 right now, I'm 5'8. Started running again well before this appointment, and had completed a 10k just a couple of weekends ago.  Damn genetics. I've been taking fish oil for a couple of years now, and i think that helps. I also took Promise yogurt shots for awhile, but my wife can't find them at Publix anymore.

Also, if you haven't checked out Google Health yet, do so. If you have a google account, you can already make a profile. It's an easy way to keep track of your records over time, and see how you are progressing (or not).

25 Surprising Ways You’re Hurting Your Heart | Masters of Healthcare

25 Surprising Ways You’re Hurting Your Heart | Masters of Healthcare: "Being grumpy. While grumpy old men may make for humorous movies, the reality is that negativity, especially in men, can lead to an increase in coronary heart disease. A researcher at Duke University who helped work on the study"

CSC - California Strawberry Commission

CSC - California Strawberry Commission: "While continuing to maintain their lowered blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the strawberries also reduced oxidative damage to LDL cholesterol. LDL is the ‘bad’ cholesterol, and it becomes even more damaging when it becomes oxidized. Furthermore, the strawberries improved the taste of the cholesterol-lowering diet. Overall, the research shows that strawberries can improve the effectiveness of diets designed to lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

For more information and a variety of healthy and delicious strawberry recipes, visit www.calstrawberry.com."

What are Tryglycerides or Triglycerides?

My Problem with Cholesterol is with the triglycerides, and it's tough to find info on them, there is much less out there than there is for HDL and LDL (good and bad cholesterol).

Triglyceride - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "In the human body, high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream have been linked to atherosclerosis, and, by extension, the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, the negative impact of raised levels of triglycerides is lower than that of LDL:HDL ratios. The risk can be partly accounted for by a strong inverse relationship between triglyceride level and HDL-cholesterol level.

Another disease caused by high triglycerides is pancreatitis.

Guidelines
The American Heart Association has set guidelines for triglyceride levels:[1]

Level mg/dL	Level mmol/L	Interpretation
<150	<1.69	Normal range, lowest risk
150-199	1.70-2.25	Borderline high
200-498	2.25-5.63	High
>500	>5.65	Very high, increased risk

Please note that this information is relevant to triglyceride levels as tested after fasting. Triglyceride levels remain temporarily higher for a period of time after eating."

Find information about your LDL-cholesterol management program at zetia.com.

Find information about your LDL-cholesterol management program at zetia.com.: "Doctors and other healthcare professionals recommend exercise for a variety of reasons. It may help you by:

Managing your weight
Improving blood cholesterol levels
Preventing high blood pressure
Increasing energy levels
Improving muscle strength and tone
Improving sleep "

Get hooked on fish oil

Chicago Tribune Julie's Health Club: "The strongest evidence shows that a diet rich in omega-3s fights heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends fish and fish oil to reduce heart attack risk and to help those who already have had one. They also are suggested for people with high triglycerides, which are important fats found in the blood. Heart disease, obesity and diabetes are associated with high triglycerides."

Keeping Cholesterol Under Control

Keeping Cholesterol Under Control: "Cholesterol is the Jekyll and Hyde of the body.
Like the literary split personality, it has a good side because it is needed for certain important body functions. But for many Americans, cholesterol also has an evil side. When present in excessive amounts, it can injure blood vessels and cause heart attacks and stroke.

The body needs cholesterol for digesting dietary fats, making hormones, building cell walls, and other important processes. The bloodstream carries cholesterol in particles called lipoproteins that are like blood-borne cargo trucks delivering cholesterol to various body tissues to be used, stored or excreted. But too much of this circulating cholesterol can injure arteries, especially the coronary ones that supply the heart. This leads to accumulation of cholesterol-laden 'plaque' in vessel linings, a condition called atherosclerosis.
When blood flow to the heart is impeded, the heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen, causing chest pain (angina). If a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery affected by atherosclerosis, a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or death can occur. (See 'How a Heart Attack Happens.')"

Cholesterol: The best foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart - MayoClinic.com

Cholesterol: The best foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart - MayoClinic.com: "Cut fats first
The first step for a heart-healthy diet is to reduce your intake of bad fats — especially saturated and trans fats. If cutting out bad fats isn't enough to reduce your cholesterol, you may want to try adding soluble fiber, nuts and fish to your diet. If you need more boost from your foods, try adding foods fortified with plant sterols.
Eating a combination of these cholesterol-lowering foods increases the benefit. But dietary changes alone are not always enough for everyone. If your cholesterol is still high after you've revised your diet and increased your physical activity, your doctor may suggest adding cholesterol-lowering medications to your treatment plan."

999 Foods Highest in Cholesterol

999 Foods Highest in Cholesterol: "999 Foods
Highest in Cholesterol
(based on levels per 200 Calories)
Email a Friend Download as CSV

Trans fats: What you need to know

Trans fats: What you need to know: "Trans fats are worse than saturated fat, the former can raise not only bad cholesterol, but lower the high density lipoprotein or HDL or good cholesterol while the latter online raises bad cholesterol. Many randomized and controlled dietary trials have already found that consumption of trans-fats can more than raise bad cholesterol. It can promote inflammation that is implicated in many chronic diseases such as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

According to scientists at Harvard School of Public Health, trans fats kill tens of thousands of Americans each year."