Stop Worrying About Cholesterol: Ideal High Borderline Cholesterol Range

Question: So does it imply that one should stop worrying about levels of cholesterol? What should be done if an individual has high or borderline high cholesterol, but no signs of heart disease? Is there an ideal range of cholesterol then?

Stop Worrying About Cholesterol

No it does not mean that one should stop worrying about levels of cholesterol and start binging. It pays to weigh risks against benefits. Research has clearly shown that those who already have signs of coronary heart disease (highest-risk group people) the benefits of lowering cholesterol outweigh any possible risks.

Experts feel that it would be irresponsible to tell people in this category not to diet, avoid medication and not to worry or reduce their cholesterol levels into a low-risk range.

Borderline High Cholesterol

Experts feel that when anybody has high or borderline high cholesterol but no signs of heart disease then they should get their doctors advice and consider the potential benefits and risks carefully. Trace out what risks of heart disease can be eliminated with little cost and no risk. It includes exercising, losing weight and giving up smoking.

For most people to lower cholesterol, changes in diet are considered the best choice.

Changing to an appropriate, low-fat and safe diet has always had beneficial side-effects – it controls blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and prevents cancer. But one may benefit by drugs in case of a senior inherited cholesterol disorder. It reduces cholesterol even though there is no sign of heart disease.

Most problems appear when cholesterol levels are 160mg/dL or lower. Diet or drug therapy or both helps to attain this low level. So, with LDL levels of about 100mg/dL one might not want to go much lower than that.

Foods that help lower cholesterol

There are five major foods, most often called super foods that help to lower the cholesterol, that is the LDL cholesterol.They are all an essential part of the high cholesterol diet. It is important to note that while it is necessary to have low LDL cholesterol it is also important to have a high HDL. So, many of the foods on the list help to lower the LDL while raising the HDL or not affecting it at all.

Also see Link between High Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis

The first super food that serves to lower cholesterol and is part of the high cholesterol diet is the oat. Oat is a soluble fiber that lowers the bad cholesterol while not affecting the good cholesterol. This is important as it is essential to maintain the good cholesterol. Oatmeal and the whole oat flour are simple ways to get the oat into one’s diet. See also Children Cholesterol Levels

The second super food in the high cholesterol diet isfish. Fish provides Omega 3 Fatty Acids. This food is a special part of the high cholesterol diet as it lowers the LDL while raising the HDL. That is why this is special and important.

The third super food is the nut. Nuts are not only rich in fiber but they contain mono unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that have been proven to lower the bad LDL cholesterol. Nuts are a good part of the high cholesterol diet.

The fourth super food in the high cholesterol diet is any food fortified with plant sterols. They are natural substances that are able to block absorption of cholesterol. If cholesterol is not absorbed then it can not affect one’s cholesterol. This is essential to the high cholesterol diet. Prevention is important in any process.

The fifth food on the super food list in the high cholesterol diet is soy. Soy products serve as a really good substitute for animal products. Many now do not recommend soy as a part of the high cholesterol diet because while it does lower LDL, the effect is not great enough for soy to be essential. None the less, it can’t hurt.

It is important to note that fruits and vegetables can be eaten as part of the high cholesterol diet as well. Also, it is essential to know that part of the reason the above super foods are affective is because they are eaten in combination with one another.

Related Topics

Stop Worrying About Cholesterol: Ideal High Borderline Cholesterol Range