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Cholesterol
We hear about “high cholesterol”, but do we have
any idea what that means? I know I didn’t when it happened. I was
under the impression that I had high cholesterol for the last 2
years because my overall number came back high. I talked to my new
doctor a month ago and had her look over my chart. My combined
numbers were high because my HDL “good cholesterol” was very high.
It pushed my overall number over the top. She said my numbers were
very good Boy did I feel better. I was only 30 when I got that news
and thought I’d be doomed to meds soon.
What exactly are the good and bad cholesterol’s? I have a good
metaphor to help you understand why we need both. I’m a product of
the 80's, so we will use pacman. Our veins are constantly going
through a rebuilding process. Everyday wear and tear scuffs them up
and makes nicks in them. The bad cholesterol is attracted to the
scab/healing spot. The bad cholesterol, therefore, builds up
attaching itself to that spot and starting to clog the vessel. We
all have bad cholesterol, so this happens to everyone naturally. Our
body produces some of the “bad” cholesterol. Everything happens for
a reason. Here is where the good cholesterol comes into play. Good
cholesterol, LDL, comes along like pacman and eats up the bad
cholesterol. It actually carries it off, but we’ll just use the easy
visualizing metaphor.
How do we get better overall cholesterol? Exercise and nutrition. I
know no one wants to hear that, but it’s the secret to life. We need
movement to make our body happy and to function the way it was
intended. We also can’t eat fast food everyday and expect to be
healthy. It just isn’t balanced enough and is high in saturated fat
and cholesterol.
Exercise does not have to be a bad word. All it means is we are
using our body to do all of it’s functions . We are simply moving it
and bringing our heart rate up. Diet can help in a few different
aspects. Of course, watching our saturated fat and transfats will
help tremendously with this. But there are also some foods that will
help to carry the bad cholesterol out. Brown rice, apple, and dried
beans are a few examples. Basically high fiber foods are a great
idea to start implementing.
Talk to your doctor if you do have high cholesterol. Prescriptions
are much easier nowadays and handed out like candy. Look for other
alternatives if your numbers aren’t that high.
copyright 2007 Val Selby www.busymommawellness.com
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