F.A.Q.'s

1. Will using margarine instead of butter help lower my cholesterol?
Both margarine and butter are high in fat, so use both in moderation. From a dietary perspective, the major factor affecting blood cholesterol is how much saturated fat and trans fat is in the food. Limiting food high in saturated fat and trans fat may help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Most vegetable oils and soft or liquid margarines have less saturated and trans fat than the solid spreads have, and are preferable to the stick forms of margarine for a heart-healthy diet. When selecting a margarine, it's best to choose one that has “0 g trans fat” on the Nutrition Facts label.

2. How can I increase my level of "good" cholesterol levels?
Good cholesterol or HDL levels can be increased by aerobic exercise, losing weight, stop smoking, cutting out trans fatty acids, adding soluble fiber to your diet, and adding other dietary means such as cranberry juice, and consuming fish and other foods containing omega 3-fatty acids. Remember that HDL levels below 40mg/dl can increase your chances of having heart disease. However levels above 60mg/dl may actually prevent heart disease.

3. Since the nutrition label on my favorite food says there’s no cholesterol, can be sure that it’s a “heart-healthy” choice?
Nutrition labels on food are very helpful when choosing heart-healthy foods, but you need to know what to look for. Many “low-cholesterol” foods contain high levels of saturated fat and/or trans fat — both of which contribute to high blood cholesterol. Even foods that claim to be “low-fat” may have a higher fat content than expected. Look for the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and total calories in a serving of the product.

4. I’m a woman-Do I have to worry about high cholesterol?
Premenopausal women are usually protected from high LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol, because the female hormone estrogen tends to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. But cholesterol levels tend to increase as you age, and postmenopausal women may find that even a heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity aren’t enough to keep their cholesterol from rising. Learn more about women and cholesterol.

5. What kind of FATS are in food?
There are essentially 4 different kinds of fats found in our diet. Saturated, Trans, Hydrogenated and Unsaturated.

6.What can Cholesterol Do?
When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, a heart attack or stroke can result. Other risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes can also increase your risk of having cardiovascular disease.

7. How is cholesterol tested?
A small sample of blood will be drawn from your arm. If your doctor has ordered other tests to be run at the same time as your cholesterol test, all the samples will usually be taken at the same time. Your blood sample is then analyzed by a laboratory.


8.Do thin people have to worry about cholesterol levels?
Any type of body can have high cholesterol. Overweight people are more likely to have high cholesterol, but thin people should also have their cholesterol checked regularly. Often people who don’t gain weight easily are less aware of how much saturated and trans fat they eat. Nobody can “eat anything they want” and stay heart healthy.

9.What kind of drugs are there to take for high cholesterol?
Some of the drugs that can be prescribed to you are for example is a Statin such as: Lipitor, and Crestor. Other drugs such as Resins, Fibrates and Niacins are also used to help lower cholesterol.

10.How often should I have my cholesterol checked?
The American Heart Association endorses the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for detection of high cholesterol: All adults age 20 or older should have a fasting lipoprotein profile — which measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides — once every five years.