The number one killer of Americans Denver Broncos Authentic Jersey , both men and women, is heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, high blood cholesterol is the most significant risk factor. When you go to the doctor and he tells you your cholesterol level, you typically are told your TOTAL blood cholesterol level. How does cholesterol get into your blood? The body's liver makes most of the cholesterol it needs - yes, NEEDS. Some cholesterol is absorbed from the food you eat. The body needs cholesterol to make several important hormones including estrogen and testosterone. In addition, cholesterol is part of the protective covering that surrounds nerves and other cell membranes.Elevated cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease. For a better assessment of your risk of heart disease, it is important to know not only your total cholesterol but also your HDL. The total cholesterol consists of HDL - high-density lipoprotein, LDL - low-density lipoprotein, and VLDL - very low-density lipoprotein. LDL is the bad guy. HDL is the good guy. Why? LDL cholesterol sticks to your the walls of your blood vessels and can cause blockage. VLDL is the precursor to LDL cholesterol. HDL goes around in the blood stream Dallas Cowboys Authentic Jersey , collects bad cholesterol, and carries it back to the liver where it is broken down.It is desirable to keep total cholesterol levels below 200 mgdl. Values above 240 mgdl are considered significantly elevated. If you know your LDL value, it is desirable to have this type of cholesterol below 130 mgdl. Values for LDL above 160 are considered significantly elevated. Because HDL is the good guy, you want this level high. Values below 35 mgdl are a HIGH risk indicator for heart disease. It is more desirable to have HDL levels close to 50 mgdl or higher.The Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio is a good indicator of risk. To calculate this important ratio, divide your Total cholesterol value by your HDL value. The HIGHER the ratio, the GREATER the risk of heart disease. For example: Total = 240 mgdl HDL = 30 mgdl Ratio = 24030 = 8.0 *This is a high risk ratio.*IDEAL RATIO FOR MEN IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 4.0.*IDEAL RATIO FOR WOMEN IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 3.5.What is cholesterol? It is a waxy, fat-like substance.What foods contain cholesterol? Foods of animal origin are the ONLY foods that contain cholesterol. Foods of plant origin, even those naturally containing fat, DO NOT contain cholesterol.Cholesterol in food:There are a number of factors that affect your blood cholesterol level. One factor Cleveland Browns Authentic Jersey , is a diet high in dietary cholesterol. Moderation is advised to keep cholesterol levels in check. The American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend that you consume 300 mg of cholesterol or less per day.As stated above, foods of animal origin are the ONLY foods that contain cholesterol. Foods of plant origin, even those naturally containing fat, DO NOT contain cholesterol. Are certain foods of animal origin higher in cholesterol than others? Yes.Not many people enjoy eating organ meats, such as liver. If you are someone who does, you should know that organ meats are high in cholesterol, 270 mg per 3-ounce serving of liver. While liver is nutritious, if you are at risk for heart disease then you need to limit your intake.Egg yolks have gotten a bad rap in the past. Why? It is because egg yolks are high in cholesterol, 215 mg per yolk. The yolk is definitely nutritious Cincinnati Bengals Authentic Jersey , its purpose is to provide nutrients for a chick embryo to develop. Unfortunately, it contains too much cholesterol to eat it as you please. You should limit the number of yolks you eat to 3-4 or less per week. What about the whites? Eat as many whites as you like. The white part of an egg contains no cholesterol and is a rich, complete source of protein.To limit the number of egg yolks, you can substitute 2 egg whites for one whole egg when baking. For example, a recipe calls for 2 eggs. You could either use 1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites OR 4 egg whites. By doing this simple substitution, you will decrease the cholesterol content. Another option is to use an egg substitute, check label for egg equivalent.As for meats, look for leaner cuts of meat, fish Chicago Bears Authentic Jersey , and poultry. Cut away excess fat before cooking. Choose low-fat dairy products. By following these steps, you will not be able to eliminate all the cholesterol but you are taking important steps towards healthy eating.Read food labels for foods low in cholesterol or foods that are cholesterol free. How do you know if a product is low in cholesterol? Here are the food label requirements (government regulated):Label claim: Per Serving:Cholesterol Free - Less than 2 mg cholesterol and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fatLow Cholesterol - Less than or equal to 20 mg cholesterol and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fatReduced OR Less - At least 25% less cholesterol than theCholesterol original and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fatThe above table shows requirements for saturated fat. This is because blood cholesterol levels are significantly affected by dietary saturated fat intake. Cholesterol and saturated fat usually are found in the same foods, thus sometimes get confused. In animal products, both the lean portion - flesh or muscle - and the fatty tissue contain cholesterol. This is why some low-fat animal foods can be relatively high in cholesterol. Foods such as shellfish and organ meats are high in cholesterol yet low in saturated fat.Quiz question: Nuts are high in fat, 80-89% of calories coming from fat. Do they contain cholesterol? A: No.==> Nuts are from plant origi . Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap Authentic NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Jerseys Free Shipping