adds to the narrowing and blockages in arteries, which cause heart disease. We all have "good" cholesterol, called HDL, which helps remove cholesterol from the blood. We also all have "bad" cholesterol, or LDL, which causes cholesterol to build up in the blood. There are two diets that focus on lowering or maintaining levels of cholesterol - a natural, waxy substance found in all parts of the body, including the blood - to reduce risk for heart disease.
- The Heart Healthy Diet - http://nhlbisupport.com/cgi-bin/chd1/step1intro.cgi helps you keep your blood cholesterol low, decreasing your chances of getting heart disease.
- Similar to the Heart Healthy Diet, the Therapeutic Lifestyles Changes (TLC) Diet http://nhlbisupport.com/chd1/tlc_lifestyles.htm) focuses on helping people lower their blood cholesterol. Sometimes a person may also need medicine prescribed by a health care provider to help lower their blood cholesterol.
It's important to note that diet isn't the only thing that can affect
cholesterol levels. Your genes affect how fast cholesterol is made and removed from the blood, being
overweight tends to increase your LDL ("bad" cholesterol), and physical activity (for 30 minutes most days of the week) helps lower your LDL. Before
menopause (when your periods stop), women usually have cholesterol levels that are lower than those of men the same age. As women and men age, their cholesterol levels rise up until about age 60 to 65. But, after the age of about 50 (when menopause begins), women often have higher cholesterol levels than men of the same age.
