New Cholesterol Guidelines, The

Over the past hardly any decades, hundreds of studies have shown a able-bodied link between levels of a certain vital fluid cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Now, armed with more precise information than at any time before, scientists in both the United States and Canada have not long ago issued new cholesterol guidelines to provide the optimum protection possible. For women in midlife, this is profitable news because after the age of 50 our risk of heart disease increases substantially.

What is cholesterol & what does it do?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the life-current stream. It forms part of confined apartment membranes and bile, and is involved in the manufacture of vitamin D cortisol, and hormones similar as estrogen and testosterone. The liver changes saturated fat (from meat and dairy products) and trans-fats (hydrogenated oils ground in baked goods and fast foods) into cholesterol

Cholesterol piggybacks upon certain proteins in the life-blood to form a variety of particles. single kind is low density lipoproteins (LDL) the so-called "bad" cholesterol because it may accumulate upon artery walls, reducing blood run to the heart and brain. The other kind is high density lipoproteins (HDL) the so-called "good" cholesterol because it carries without excess LDL cholesterol from the vital current stream and back to the liver, which disposes of it.

The fresh guidelines

Recent recommendations by the U National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel and the report of the Working assemblage on Hypercholesterolemia in Canada, have attempted to harmonize cardiovascular risk assessment across North America. The recommendations outline three horizontals of risk - low, moderate and high - and define treatment targets for identifiable risk markers. "Bad" LDL should remain depressed (less than 2.5 mmol/L Canadian measurement, or les than 1OO mg/dL U measurement for the high risk group) "Good" HDL should reach an optimal horizontal more than 0.9 mmol/L or 40 mg/dL Women may benefit from an flat higher HDL level: more than 50 mg/dL

The risk factors

Routine screening is commended for postmenopausal women. The highest risk clusters include those with established coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and adult diabetes. For all clusters risk factors include current or past cigarette smoking, high life-blood pressure, a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, and abdominal obesity. The guidelines praise that waist circumference should not exce 88 cm (35") for women

Lifestyle changes

The researchers also praiseed Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLCs), which have three areas of focus: physical activity (which boost horizontals of HDL), healthy eating, and weight reduction if necessary. Depending upon your level of risk, your doctor may commend TLCs and possibly cholesterol-lowering medication.

Healthy eating

There are sum of two units ways you can influence your cholesterol horizontals through food. These are healthy recommendations regardless of heart disease risk. One: eat les saturated and trans-fats, and limit pabulums high in cholesterol such as ovums Two: eat foods that lower your life-current cholesterol such as oatmeal and salmon.

REDUCE YOUR SATURATED & TRANS-FAT INTAKE

* Use low-fat dairy (skim or 1% milk, yogurt and cheese) and lean meats (les than 15% fat).

* Avoid tropical oils of that kind as coconut & palm kernel that can be set in cookies, cakes & crackers.

* restore or banish trans-fats found in prepared meats with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil: cookies, crackers, potato chips, commercial baked productions prepared foods, some margarines & fried nutritions in restaurants and fast diet chains.

* Limit foods high in cholesterol of that kind as eggs, organ meats & a certain quantity of seafood to 200 mg cholesterol a day. smooth though there is a lack of evidence that dietary cholesterol has a significant consequence on increasing cholesterol in the life-current stream, the American Heart Association praises this target level.

INCREASE rationss THAT LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL

* select foods with polyunsaturated fatty acids similar as corn, safflower, sunflower, and soybean oils, walnuts and sunflower sperms Do not exceed more than 10% of calories from these nourishments or you run the risk of lowering HDL

* Opt for monounsaturated fatty acids ground in canola & olive oils instead of saturated fats.

* Increase cardio-protective omega-3 fats from fish and plant sources (fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, trout and sword fish and flax and flax se oil).

* Eat more whole grains of the like kind as whole-wheat breads, pasta and brown rice that are depressed in fat. Add soy to your diet, too.

* Up your intake of vegetables, fruits, oatmeal and simple pods to increase soluble fibre & to moderate total fat intake.

To assess your 10-year risk of heart attack, pass to the National Institutes of Health web site: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guideHneslcholesterol. For Canadian guidelines, diocese the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation web site:www.cacr.calnews/2004/Newsbeat12(2)0405walker.pdf

By Nancy Heidenreich, RD

A registered dietitian for more than 35 years, Nancy Heidenreich has practised as a research dietitian, a private practitioner and as an educator. She is commonly enjoying retirement north of Toronto.

Copyright Initiatives for Women's Health, Inc. Sep/Oct 2005

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