Everyone needs some cholesterol. But too much cholesterol can be bad for your health and can put you at risk for heart disease. Approximately 1 in 3 Americans (over 100 million) have high cholesterol. This ebook will help give you some ideas on how to get your cholesterol where it needs to be. GENERAL INFO In order for you to start lowering your cholesterol, you first need to understand it. Let’s start with some simple definitions: 1. HDL HDL’s, or High Density Lipoproteins, are what’s known as “good cholesterol.” A HDL attaches itself to cholesterol and escorts it through your liver and out your body. 2. LDL LDL’s, or Low Density Lipoproteins, are the “bad cholesterol” that we don’t want in our bodies. It’s the LDL’s that clog our arteries and can cause heart disease. 3. RATIOS Finding a good balance between HDL’s and LDL’s is very important. Here’s a table that shows what they should be: Desirable Borderline Undesirable HDL Above 45 35-45 Below 35 LDL Below 130 130-160 Above 160
FOOD Eating the right foods can greatly reduce your cholesterol. This next section will list all sorts of foods that have been proven to greatly reduce cholesterol. 4. Know Your Oils There are so many cooking oils out there. Knowing the healthy ones vs the non-healthy ones can make a big difference in your cholesterol levels. Here are some good oils: • Canola oil • Olive oil • Grapeseed oil • Flax seed oil
