What You Should Know About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs. But, when you have too much in

your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries and can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Did you know that cholesterol is only found in animal-based

foods?

There are two types of cholesterol: dietary and blood cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is the

cholesterol found in foods of animal origin. Like people, animals naturally produce this waxy,

fat-like substance. So when you eat animal-based foods like eggs, dairy, meat, and seafood

you’re eating cholesterol that was produced by an animal. Plant-based foods do not contain any

cholesterol. Although many plant-based foods contain fat, like nuts and vegetable oils, they do

not contain any cholesterol.

Cholesterol is important for your overall health

Your liver creates all the cholesterol you need in your body. Cholesterol is essential for your

body to function correctly and aids in the production of hormones, vitamin D, and helps you

digest food.

There are “good” and “bad” types of cholesterol in your blood

The two types of blood cholesterol are High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol and Low-

density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol. HDL and LDL are actually carriers of cholesterol called

lipoproteins.

LDL cholesterol makes up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad”

cholesterol because having high levels can lead to a buildup in the arteries and result in heart

disease, whereas, HDL cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which

flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Too much LDL can lead to a build-up, which clogs and narrows arteries, and creates

inflammation, which can lead to a sudden rupture. That rupture may send a clot into the

bloodstream causing a heart attack and/or stroke.

Dietary cholesterol may not impact blood cholesterol as

much as previously suspected.

Just recently reported in the news – The Federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has

made significant changes to its recommended “healthy” diets. The panel now says it doesn’t

really matter how much cholesterol or unsaturated fats you eat.

Clinicians used to think that consuming dietary cholesterol added to the cholesterol that your

body naturally produces, thus raising the amount in your blood. This was perceived to be risky,

because too much blood cholesterol has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, the top

killer of both men and women in the United States.

For many years, dietary guidelines for Americans recommended that dietary cholesterol should

be limited to no more than 300 mg per day (the same amount found in two eggs, three ounces of

shrimp, two ounces of 85% lean ground beef, or one tablespoon of butter). The brand new report

released in February 2015 removed this cap on dietary cholesterol however, because the

committee believes that the research shows no substantial relationship between the consumption

of dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol levels. The committee concluded, “Cholesterol is not

a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.” That’s the good news.

The new guidelines, however, are not a reason to go out and

binge on French fries and cheese pizza.

The committee is still concerned about the relationship between blood cholesterol and saturated

fat from food, like cheese. When people reduce their intake of saturated fat, but eat more

carbohydrates, they lower protective levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, and drive up

triglycerides (a type of blood fat), a combo that may actually increase the risk of heart disease.

But numerous studies have shown that replacing foods like butter and cheese with plant-based

fats like almond butter, avocados, and olive oil can help lower the risk of heart disease.

The take-away from the new Dietary Guidelines report is that we all need to be eating less sugar

and processed foods and eat more plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and

legumes (like beans and lentils). If you ingest cholesterol from animals like eggs or seafood or

steak, you should pair them with other whole, nutrient-rich plant foods, like veggies and

avocado, combined with some fruit, black beans, sweet potato, or quinoa. That’s just good well-

balanced nutrition.

Get the facts.

About 71 million Americans have high cholesterol and only a third of them have the condition

under control. Less than half of adults with high LDL cholesterol get treatment.

Having high cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death

in the United States. People with high total cholesterol have approximately twice the risk of heart

disease as people with optimal levels. A desirable level is lower than 200 mg/dl.

Symptoms of high cholesterol?

The bad news is there are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol. Getting your cholesterol

checked with a simple blood test is the only way you can know if you are at risk for high

cholesterol or already have high cholesterol. Knowing your cholesterol level will help your

doctor suggest steps for you to take to prevent high cholesterol or to reduce your levels if they

are too high.

How to Lower Your Cholesterol Levels

If your blood test indicates you have high levels of cholesterol or you simply want to avoid

getting high cholesterol you can:

Eat a healthy diet. Maintain a healthy weight. Exercise regularly. Don’t smoke.

If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medications, in addition, to lifestyle

changes. Talk with your doctor about how to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke due to

high levels of cholesterol.

Common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms

of High cholesterol

Brand Generic

Zocor Simvastatin

Lipitor Atorvastatin Calcium

Crestor Rosuvastatin Calcium

Pravachol Pravastatin Sodium

Zetia Ezetimibe

WelChol Colesevelam Hcl

Tricor Fenofibrate Nanocrystallized

Niaspan Niacin

Trilipix Fenofibric Acid (Choline)

Livalo Pitavastatin Calcium

It is important to seek medical advice from your medical professional to determine if you

are at risk for high cholesterol and what appropriate course of action is needed for you

based on your medical history. Do not undertake any exercise or dietary changes without

consultation from your medical professional. They can best determine a comprehensive

treatment plan tailored for your specific medical history.

If you are uninsured or under-insured you may be paying more than you need to for medications

like Lipitor, Crestor, and other cholesterol medications at your local pharmacy. Our free

prescription drug card can help alleviate the high cost of cholesterol prescriptions.

Simply download our card at EasyDrugCard.com to begin saving on your prescriptions at your

favorite pharmacy. The card works like a coupon that never expires so you can use it again and

again. Use our pharmacy locator and drug pricing tools to find the best price for cholesterol

medications near you.

11 Tips for Taking Charge of Your Health

A large part of staying healthy is completely under your control. Take charge of your health by

following these tips:

1. Eat reasonable-sized portions of a variety of foods, including yellow and green vegetables, foods with a low glycemic index (such as whole grains, oatmeal, soy, and nuts). Avoid fad diets. Avoid transfats.

2. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for immunizations, both for your children and for yourself.

3. Get recommended screenings for silent but treatable conditions that could potentially threaten your health, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, PAP smears, and bloodwork for urine and blood sugar, cholesterol, and so forth.

4. Always wear your seatbelt; airbags are not a substitute for restraint. And don’t speed or text while driving.

5. Be prepared for disaster. For instance, fire in the home is always a possibility so make sure you have an adequate number of working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and a plan for escape should fire strike. Also make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

6. Don’t smoke cigarettes; if you do already, quit. Smoking increases your risks of cancer and heart disease, and it is a major cause of premature death in this country.

7. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. One or two drinks per day can actually have a beneficial impact on your health. But drinking to excess can have the opposite effect.

8. Make sure exercise is a routine part of each day. This doesn’t have to mean regular trips to the gym. Park farther away in the parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Play with your kids. Make movement a way of life.

9. Take prescriptions medications only as directed and don’t take medications—prescription or

over the counter—unless absolutely needed. 10. Get your health information from reliable sources. People joke about looking up medical

information on “Dr. Google,” and there is really a lot of truth to the possibility of finding very misleading information online. Some good sources of good information include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, both of which are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

11. Make good healthcare as affordable as possible by signing up for the Easy Drug Card for your prescription medications.

In addition to these, one of the easiest is simply to enjoy your life!