Cholesterol readings what do they mean? What is high cholesterol mean? Often a cholesterol imbalance is christened 'high cholesterol'.

Cholesterol is manufactured by your liver and is necessary for good health and your survival. The two most common cholesterols talked about are:

HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) commonly referred to as 'Good' cholesterol LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) commonly referred to as 'Bad' cholesterol

The reality is there is no such thing as good or bad cholesterol. Only an imbalance of cholesterols, which is where cholesterol readings come in.

Testing for your cholesterol levels. The cholesterol readings for both the good and the bad cholesterol need to be in the normal range. That being:

Total cholesterol -- of 199 mg/dL (Milligrams per Deciliter) is the optimal reading because anything this level and lower will do reduce your odds for coronary heart disease. Readings of 200 to 239 mg/dL total cholesterol increases you risk of heart disease and 240 and above more than doubles you chances of heart disease.

HDL -- the good cholesterol needs to be at 60 mg/dL or above to be considered protective against heart attack. Low HDL is a serious risk factor for heart disease. So even if your total cholesterol is below 200.

If your HDL is below 40 mg/dL (for men) (50 m
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g/dl for women). You have a cholesterol problem and will have to have -- both your LDL and triglyceride levels monitored with a lipoprotein profile.

Depending on those cholesterol readings, your health care provider will determine how often you will need your cholesterol tested.

The optimal LDL Cholesterol Level is less than 100 mg/dL. 100 to 129 mg/dL is considered near optimal. 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high. 160 to 189 mg/dL is high and 190 and above is very high.

The level of LDL your body needs to what it can tolerate is a range depending on risk factors you may have. If you do not have diabetes or heart disease and no other risk factors are involved your LDL can be as high as 160 mg/dL

One risk factor and you need to have your LDL at less than 160 mg/dL -- two risk factors it needs to be less than 130 mg/dL.

If you are suffering from heart disease and/or diabetes you LDL cholesterol readings need to be less than 100 mg/dL.

Triglycerides--the forgotten fats. If these are found to be high, the combination of low HDL and/or high LDL can be a cause for concern. This combo seems to speed the build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries -- greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and/or stroke.

If your cholesterol readings are looking grim? There are safe effective natural ingredients that will balance your cholesterol. You just need to find them!

Always choosing low cholesterol foods is the most direct and natural way to ensure that your cholesterol levels remain in the acceptable range to promote longevity and vitality. Hypercholesterolemia is an enemy of your body from head to toe.

There are very few if any symptoms until it has advanced to a problematic state. You need to intervene before you have to. Your diet for lowering cholesterol can be your saving grace from developing atherosclerosis and the major health issues that can arise from it.

High cholesterol foods are killing people all across the planet everyday in record high numbers. Many societies that were traditionally plant-eaters have adopted the American way of eating and are now suffering, as we are, from the long-term effects of food choices that are high in saturated fats, Trans fats and LDL cholesterol. Here are the foods that you need to avoid with great intent:

• Foods high in saturated fats;
• Foods with any Trans fats;
• Fatty red meats;
• Pork, duck and goose meats;
• Animal organs;
• Shellfish;
• Poultry including turkey and chicken;
• All dairy products unless they are low-fat or non-fat varieties;
• High sodium foods;
• Excessive alcohol consumption;

Low cholesterol foods are the foods that nature has intended for us. Through erroneous thought and misinformation, we have become the most artery-clogged and obese nation on the planet. We are also influencing the rest of the planet to eat and act like us – which is killing them as well. The bottom line is that we all should be eating foods like:

• Any plant including all vegetables, fruits and legumes;
• Whole-grain pastas and breads;
• Wild rice;
• Any plant sprouts;
• Any whole food that requires no label;
• Salmon and other fish that are rich in super-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids;
• Water, water and more water;

How to lower cholesterol naturally is all about what you eat, how much you get up and move, how you deal with the issues that stress you - and how much you assist your body to keep itself clean on the inside by flushing with water and intending to breathe deeply. Reducing cholesterol is a wonderful way to enhance the health of your entire family – and who doesn’t want that above all else?

Choosing low cholesterol foods in conjunction with daily exercise for at least 20 minutes will very rapidly change all areas of your life. You will almost instantly begin to feel, and see, the differences in your body. Your thoughts will be clearer and quicker. Your skin will be smoother. Your muscles will become stronger. Your fat storages will melt away. Your spark for living will blossom. Your stressors will seem minimized. Everything in life will take on new, vibrant meaning as soon as you commit to a healthy lifestyle based on low cholesterol foods and daily exercise. Enjoy – and congratulations!

Steven R Arnold

Reduce cholesterol by avoiding red meat, high-fat dairy and egg yolks, and eating whole grains that will lower cholesterol levels. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day to reduce cholesterol with help from aregistered nutritionist in this free video on healthy diets. Expert: Nicole Gaitan Contact: www.nicolegaitan.com Bio: Nicole Gaitan has been certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer and has received certification in sports nutrition. Filmmaker: Bing Hu

More that a million Americans die of heart disease each year. One of the major causes of this heart disease the high cholesterol levels in the blood.

Cholesterol plays a central role in many biochemical processes, but is best known for the association of cardiovascular disease with high levels of
cholesterol in the blood.

Konrad Bloch and Feodor Lynen shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1964 for their discoveries concerning the mechanism and regulation of the cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.

Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues. It is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. The average amount of blood cholesterol varies with age, typically rising gradually until one is about 60 years old.

In recent years, the somewhat imprecise term "bad cholesterol" has been used to refer to LDL (low density lipoprotein) which, according to the lipid hypothesis, is thought to have harmful actions, and "good cholesterol" to refer to HDL (high-density lipoprotein), thought to have beneficial actions.

The American Heart Association provides a set of guidelines for total blood cholesterol levels and risk for heart disease. The desirable LDL level is considered to be less than 100 mg/dl. However the 1987 report of National Cholesterol Education Program suggest the total blood cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dl normal blood cholesterol, if the cholesterol level is between 200 and 239 mg/dl it is considere
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d borderline-high, and higher than 240 mg/dl is considered high cholesterol level.

Conditions with elevated concentrations of oxidized LDL particles are associated with fatty deposits forming on the walls of arteries, a condition known as Arteriosclerosis, which is considered the principal cause of coronary heart disease and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

In contrast, however, if LDL particle number is low and a large percentage of the HDL particles are high, then fatty deposits forming on the walls of the arteries are usually low, and can even be negative, for any given total cholesterol concentration.

Cholesterol is found in animal fats: all food containing animal fats contains cholesterol. Plants have trace amounts of cholesterol, so even a Vegan diet, which includes no animal foods, has traces of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is not necessarily dietary in origin, it can be turned into cholesterol by the liver from unburned food metabolites. The liver converts unburned food metabolites into very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and secretes them into plasma where they are converted to low-density lipoprotein LDL) particles and fatty acids, which can affect other body cells. There appear to be seasonal variations in cholesterol levels in humans because of the unburned food metabolites the amount of cholesterol is higher in winter.

Cholesterol is required to build and maintain cell membranes; it regulates membrane fluidity over a wider range of temperatures. Cholesterol also aids in the manufacture of bile (which stored in the gallbladder and helps digest fats), and is also important for the metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K.

Cardiologists suggest that the public need to change its diet. To reduce cholesterol levels by lowering saturated animal fats and increasing polyunsaturated fats. Lowering cholesterol is a good start but it is far from all that is needed.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with High Cholesterol such as Vitamin C, Lecithin, Pectin, Garlic, EPA, Niacin and Phytosterols.

Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood.

Lecithin has the potential to protect against fat clogged arteries when take daily.

Pectin limits the amount of cholesterol the body can absorb. High pectin count in apples may be why "One a day keeps the doctor away".

Garlic counteract the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.

Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid (EPA) lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides. Salmon Oil is one of the best known sources of natural EPA.

Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it. Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.

Phytosterols is found in flax seed and peanuts, which are suggested to help lower serum cholesterol.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

David Cowley