Blood cholesterol levels can be affected by many factors. Diet that consists of high intakes of saturated fat, dietary cholesterol and excessive over-eating can increase LDL levels. Being overweight can increase the LDL level while decreasing the HLD level at the same time. This out of balance condition increases the risk of health problems. Physical activities lower  LDL. Age and sex are also factors. Men usually have higher levels of LDL until  women reach menopause at which time their levels increase. Heredity has an influence, too.

General Guidelines

Some guidelines that you can use to lower your  LDL level and perhaps better your health.

Choose foods that contain low levels of saturated fat. Generally, foods such as vegetables, whole grains, and fruits are low in total fat while high in starch and fiber.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Eating few calories of saturated fat and total fat helps, but when coupled with physical activity, the body responds positively.

Resist foods that are high in cholesterol such as animal meat, eggs, and some dairy products. Meat from emu, turkey, Texas longhorns, chicken, and fish like scallops that contain low cholesterol. Both duck and goose are considered to have high levels of cholesterol and should be avoided.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is considered to be high risk cholesterol levels? Blood cholesterol level of less than 200 is desirable. Levels above 200 but below 240 are considered borderline, but other factors such as age, obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise can cause a person to be at high risk for strokes and heart diseases. If the level is greater than 240, that person is considered to be at more than twice the risk than someone at 200.

2) Lowering high blood cholesterol will do what? Lowering the level of blood cholesterol to below 200 will slow the fatty buildup of plaque in the arterial walls, thus reducing the risk of heart diseases and strokes.

3) What are some of ways of reducing LDL levels? If you are a smoker, stop. Do not indulge in excessive eating, especially those foods high in dietary cholesterol and fat. Exercise regularly. Try drinking 1% milk instead of 2%. If obese, loose some weight. but consult your doctor before embarking on exercise programs. Walk daily. Aerobic exercise is excellent and can be done without equipment. Eat intelligently. If you just cannot do without animal
meats, trim all the fat from it and remove the skins. Stop smoking! Cigarette smoking is considered to the most preventable cause of heart attacks.

This page is not intended to offer medical advice. It is intended to give information to those people who suffer from cholesterol problems and might be helped by using emu oil.