Why do I have high cholesterol if I eat healthy?!
Question: Why do I have high cholesterol if I eat healthy!?
I just got my results back from my blood tests and this is the 2nd year in a row that I have high cholesterol (214)!. I am in my late twenties, not overweight (5'5' @ 135lbs), I eat very well (no fried foods, no red meat, etc!.), don't smoke and drink on occasion!. The dr!. says everything else is fine except for this!. What can be causing this!? My mom, which eats horribly and is overweight, has 200! We cannot explain this!. I just started exercising again so I hope it helps!. Any ideas what could be causing this!? It's kind of scary!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The major source of cholesterol is your own liver!. Yours is a little more efficient than average at producing it!.
The total number is not the whole story!. It's also important that the "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol" (that's "empty" cholesterol and "fat-covered" cholesterol, by the way) are in reasonable proportions, and that you don't have high triglycerides (fat that is loose in the blood instead of being properly stuck to cholesterol)!.
Assuming that these are all reasonable, then your total score is not normally considered a real problem!. In most of the world, "high" cholesterol starts at 240 mg/dL, and numbers like yours are perfectly normal unless there's some other problem!. Do you have other health issues, like diabetes or high blood pressure!?
If you don't have another health issue, then I'd say that your doctor?is very aggressive about cholesterol levels!. Most doctors would probably not share this opinion in a healthy, normal weight young adult!. I don't think you need to be scared by this!. People don't usually have heart attacks due to this cholesterol level, even if they're middle aged, a bit overweight, and don't get any exercise!. It's just not *that* bad!.
What you want to do is to be aware of the issue!. You are somewhat more likely to have high cholesterol levels when you get older, compared to the average person!. This means that for a long and healthy life, you should be just a little more protective of your heart-health than the average person:
* When you sit down to a meal, your plate should be half covered by vegetables!. Eat more vegetable-based soups and green salads, and reduce the amount of added sugar and extra fat foods (compared to the normal, healthy-weight person: you may already be doing these things)!.
* Never smoke tobacco or anything else!.
* Get regular exercise of the sort that makes you breathe at least a little hard!.
* Keep your weight in the normal range!. Don't get too thin, but don't get too fat!. It's easier to lose one extra pound when it appears than to let twenty of them get dug in before you address it!. Your weight should probably never go below 120 pounds (ever) or above 150 pounds (except when you're pregnant)!.
Remember with all of these things that it's the big picture that really matters!. If you eat deep-fried chicken with mashed potatoes drowning in butter and grease gravy once a year, or have a truly enormous piece of cake at your friend's wedding, or skip your heart-healthy exercise for a day or two -- these one-time events don't matter that much!. It's what happens on the other 364 days of the year that make the difference between someone who just says that she's looking out for her heart health, and someone who actually does it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The total number is not the whole story!. It's also important that the "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol" (that's "empty" cholesterol and "fat-covered" cholesterol, by the way) are in reasonable proportions, and that you don't have high triglycerides (fat that is loose in the blood instead of being properly stuck to cholesterol)!.
Assuming that these are all reasonable, then your total score is not normally considered a real problem!. In most of the world, "high" cholesterol starts at 240 mg/dL, and numbers like yours are perfectly normal unless there's some other problem!. Do you have other health issues, like diabetes or high blood pressure!?
If you don't have another health issue, then I'd say that your doctor?is very aggressive about cholesterol levels!. Most doctors would probably not share this opinion in a healthy, normal weight young adult!. I don't think you need to be scared by this!. People don't usually have heart attacks due to this cholesterol level, even if they're middle aged, a bit overweight, and don't get any exercise!. It's just not *that* bad!.
What you want to do is to be aware of the issue!. You are somewhat more likely to have high cholesterol levels when you get older, compared to the average person!. This means that for a long and healthy life, you should be just a little more protective of your heart-health than the average person:
* When you sit down to a meal, your plate should be half covered by vegetables!. Eat more vegetable-based soups and green salads, and reduce the amount of added sugar and extra fat foods (compared to the normal, healthy-weight person: you may already be doing these things)!.
* Never smoke tobacco or anything else!.
* Get regular exercise of the sort that makes you breathe at least a little hard!.
* Keep your weight in the normal range!. Don't get too thin, but don't get too fat!. It's easier to lose one extra pound when it appears than to let twenty of them get dug in before you address it!. Your weight should probably never go below 120 pounds (ever) or above 150 pounds (except when you're pregnant)!.
Remember with all of these things that it's the big picture that really matters!. If you eat deep-fried chicken with mashed potatoes drowning in butter and grease gravy once a year, or have a truly enormous piece of cake at your friend's wedding, or skip your heart-healthy exercise for a day or two -- these one-time events don't matter that much!. It's what happens on the other 364 days of the year that make the difference between someone who just says that she's looking out for her heart health, and someone who actually does it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You body, liver, makes cholesterol, so it's not that unusual to eat healthy and still have a cholesterol of 214!. By the way that isn't particularly high!. I'm surprised your physician didn't discuss this laboratory finding with you in a more constructive way!. You cholesterol level is largely genetic ( your mom ) and there aren't many things you can do about it!.
The most important factors in cholesterol levels is the 2 cholesterol components: LDL and HDL, the "bad" and "good" cholesterols!. Having a relatively higher HDL will counter the total and LDL cholesterol!. If your HDL is above 65, you are pretty good!. Exercise is one of the best ways to increase your HDL!.
I think you are just fine
Www@Answer-Health@Com
The most important factors in cholesterol levels is the 2 cholesterol components: LDL and HDL, the "bad" and "good" cholesterols!. Having a relatively higher HDL will counter the total and LDL cholesterol!. If your HDL is above 65, you are pretty good!. Exercise is one of the best ways to increase your HDL!.
I think you are just fine
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Blood cholesterol is not due to eating food high in cholesterol; your body makes it from any fat that you eat!. Genetically, some people make more than others!.
You can try greatly reducing the amount of fat form all sources, animal or plant in your diet so that only 10% to 15% of calories are from fat!. You can try cutting out animal foods altogether (ie eat a vegan diet) to see if either of those works!.
If they don't work and your doctor thinks 214 is too high, then you may need to take cholesterol reducing medication!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You can try greatly reducing the amount of fat form all sources, animal or plant in your diet so that only 10% to 15% of calories are from fat!. You can try cutting out animal foods altogether (ie eat a vegan diet) to see if either of those works!.
If they don't work and your doctor thinks 214 is too high, then you may need to take cholesterol reducing medication!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
High cholesterol can be inherited!. You can eat all the tofu, carrots, berries, and twigs you want, but it is still an inherited trait!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Cholesterol is both genetic and what you eat!. You could be getting high blood pressure for either reason or a combination of both!.Www@Answer-Health@Com