#image_title
With those New Year’s resolutions six weeks behind us, some people may have reverted to less healthy ways of eating. Heart Month is a great time to remind yourself why a healthy diet is important for more than just your waistline.
“What you eat and drink affects your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and if you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, your health care team may recommend following a cholesterol-lowering diet,” says Ripu Singh, M.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato and Waseca.
High cholesterol could cause your heart arteries to harden, a condition called atherosclerosis, which could lead to coronary artery disease. In addition, hardened arteries may allow a coating called plaque to build up and partially block your arteries. Blocked arteries can lead to low blood flow in the heart and chest pain.
Triglycerides and cholesterol are types of lipids, or fats, which circulate in your blood. Triglycerides store unused calories and provide your body with energy. Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones.
Cholesterol is made mainly by the liver but can also can enter your body in the foods you eat that contain animal fat. Foods that come from animals or contain animal fat include meat, egg yolks, lard and dairy products. The type and amount of fat you eat can influence how much cholesterol your body makes.
Your body makes triglycerides from excess calories, regardless of the calorie source, such as fat, protein or carbohydrates. Triglycerides also are made from excess sugar and alcohol. High triglyceride levels are a risk factor for heart disease.
Your health care team may recommend some of these lifestyle changes to improve your blood cholesterol levels and lower your triglyceride level:
“You can still enjoy foods you love, but you should prioritize a heart-healthy diet and eat less-healthy foods in moderation. Small changes can make a big impact in reducing your risk of heart disease,” says Dr. Singh.
Citation:
Try a cholesterol-lowering diet for heart health (2024, February 17)
retrieved 17 February 2024
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-cholesterol-lowering-diet-heart-health.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
The life of a Florida carpenter ant can be brutal. These half-inch ants are territorial…
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a first-in-class oral, non-hormonal…
John Cena announced on Saturday night in Toronto that he will retire from professional wrestling…
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has today (Sunday 7 July) detailed the new border control policy…
Within the Whispers of the Mountain Beyond the mossy ridges, where shadows rest, I seek…
Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of…
This website uses cookies.