Cholesterol

Brought to you by Shelley Swenson
Wakulla County Extension
FCS/EFNEP Agent

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like material in your blood. Your body makes its own cholesterol. When you eat foods that have lots of fat or cholesterol, you can have too much cholesterol in your blood.

Cholesterol can build up on the inside of the blood vessels of your heart. If too much cholesterol builds up, then the blood cannot flow through to your heart. This can cause a heart attack.

Good vs. bad cholesterol

Not all cholesterol in your blood is bad for you. There are three kinds of blood cholesterol that you should know about: HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

How do you find out if you have high cholesterol?

Go to the doctor and ask for a cholesterol test. The test will let you know how much good and bad cholesterol you have.

The doctor will tell you the number for your total cholesterol level.

Your total cholesterol number should be under 200.

 

Good Cholesterol Bad Cholesterol
Good cholesterol is called HDL Bad cholesterol is called LDL
Helps to keep the arteries from clogging up Causes the buildup in your arteries and cause blockages of your arteries
Protects against heart disease Causes heart disease
Good level = 60mg/dL or more Good level = under 100mg/dL

 

Source—http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118506.htm

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Posted: January 11, 2013


Category: Health & Nutrition, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Cholesterol, Families & Consumers, Family & Consumer Sciences, Family Youth & Community Sciences, FDA, FDA Concerns, FYCS, Health, Nutrition, Shelley Swenson, Wakulla, Wakulla County Extension, Women's Health


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