What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found in your blood. Some cholesterol is good for you, but toomuch cholesterol can be bad for you.
Why is high cholesterol bad for you?
High cholesterol in your blood can lead to health problems as you grow older.What are my cholesterol levels?
| Your Level: | Normal: | |
| LDL Level | ||
| HDL Level | ||
| Total Cholesterol |
Follow up in __________________ Appointment scheduled for: _____________________
What can I do to lower my cholesterol?
- Eat more fiber!
- Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Try to make half of the grains you eat “whole grains” such as brown bread, oatmeal, grits, brown rice, quinoa, and granola.
- **Do not try to increase fiber through brands like “Fiber One” or through foods who claim to have “added fiber”. This type of fiber can often cause upset stomach, bloating, and constipation. Instead, just buy foods that have plenty of fiber in them naturally.
- Exercise every day!
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes with a raised heart rate.
- Limit screen time to less than 2 hours each day.
- Eat less trans fat and saturated fat
- Limit fast foods and pre-packaged frozen meals. Instead, enjoy more fresh foods cooked at home.
- Saturated fats are solid at room temperature (for example: butter, animal fats like bacon grease and hamburger fat, and dairy fats from sour cream and cheese).
- Trans fat is a type of fat found in processed foods. It helps keep food from spoiling at the grocery store, but it is very bad for heart health. If you see the word “hydrogenated” on the ingredient list, it has trans fat in it. Limit snack cakes, store bought cookies, baking mixes, fried foods, and pre-prepared frozen foods and dinners. Instead, bake snacks and cookies “from scratch” at home and enjoy more homecooked meals.
