True or False?
The lower my cholesterol, the lower my risk for heart disease.
True and False. The statement above is true. According to
the statistics, your risk for heart disease is lower when you have low total
cholesterol and low LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol
is the fatty substance that is most related to arterial blockage.
The statement above is also false. Your risk for heart disease is
actually higher if you have a low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol
level. HDL is the "good" cholesterol; it carries fat out of the coronary
arteries.
If a product’s package reads "low cholesterol," it is low in fat and safe to eat.
False. A lot of foods marked "low cholesterol" contain
oils that may be high in saturated fats and transfats, substances that research
suggests may be as bad if not worse for you as cholesterol. Unsaturated fats,
such as vegetable oils, are also high in calories.
Remember, all fats are high in calories — one gram of fat has 9
calories. Protein and carbohydrate each have 4 calories per gram. It’s true that
we all need some fat in our diets. However, choose monounsaturated fats such as
olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, nuts and seeds. Monounsaturated fats do not
increase blood cholesterol when included in a low-fat meal plan. The total
amount of fat in your diet should be about 25 to 35 percent of your daily intake
(or 1 tbsp. of the fats listed above, per meal).
The best age to have my cholesterol level checked is age 50 because that’s the peak age for heart attacks in men.False. It is important to have your cholesterol level
checked when you are young, since the process of arterial clogging (called
atherosclerosis) is a gradual one and takes many years. Heart attacks that occur
in people age 50 and above may be the result of plaque that began to form on the
inside of their coronary arteries when these people were teenagers.
Total cholesterol should be measured at least every five years
starting at age 20. If your cholesterol levels are within the normal range and
you do not have other risk factors for heart disease, you can continue getting
tested every five years. If your cholesterol levels are too high, you should
talk with your doctor about making lifestyle changes or taking medication. You
and your doctor should also discuss a re-testing schedule.