Health Information Center – CedrikaProvencher

Many people complained, how difficult to control blood cholesterol. They have a strict diet, do not eat beef, lamb, chicken, offal and eggs, and eat only vegetables and fruits only. But why cholesterol does not go down too? Is there something wrong with their bodies?

Cholesterol should always controlled all the time. Total cholesterol should be approximately close to 200 milligrams percent (mg% written next, Red.). Usually, blood cholesterol levels between women and men are not much different, both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol = bad). However, HDL cholesterol (Hight-density lipoprotein cholesterol = good) in women tends to be higher than in men.

Normal HDL cholesterol in women is 55 mg% and HDL in men 45 mg%. With proper diet and regular exercise, the target is actually not too difficult to achieve.

It’s just that, in certain people, with a strict diet and regular exercise though, is not enough. Blood cholesterol levels remain high, before taking any medicines provided your doctor. Genetic factors often cause the reduction of cholesterol is not so satisfactory.

This factor is partly due to the nature of hypercholesterolemia, ie people who have average cholesterol levels high enough, between 200 to 350 mg%. So the people who suffer from hypercholesterolemia in diet and exercise should be under the supervision of a doctor. Hypercholesterolemia does require more aggressive treatment.

How much actually the highest cholesterol levels are allowed? And if cholesterol levels exceeded the highest level, what consequences? Consensus on the cholesterol that have been asked by the United States Department of Health is, if the cholesterol levels between 200 to 240 mg%, they have the risk of coronary heart disease threat to two times greater than if the cholesterol level reaches 300 mg%.

For that blood cholesterol levels should be controlled at all times, both in people who suffer from hypercholesterolemia or not. Because prevention is better than cure.

Environmental Factors
Environmental factors play a large part of the blood cholesterol is a diet, and blood cholesterol is very influential on the formation of atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the substance and the layer beneath the artery wall).

The results of epidemiological studies indicate, the wrong diet could accelerate the occurrence of atherosclerosis. While the right diet, but can delay the process of Calcification, Calcification could decimate already happened. So, eating not only mean what she likes or dislikes, but how we chose something that means for the body.

For example Finnish people who like beef and pork roll to warm the winter. They rarely ate nuts and seeds. As a result, they suffer more Coronary Calcification.

Unlike the Italians who prefer soy, like corn and peanuts; the average of their blood cholesterol levels lower than those of Finland.

Ideal consumption of cholesterol a day, actually there is no definite limit. Only nutritionists from Cipto Mangunkusumo suggested, should not consume more cholesterol from 300 mg per day.

This requires adequate knowledge about the content of various types of food containing high cholesterol. Given the cholesterol in the blood is also influenced by the input of fat in foods, especially of saturated fatty acids, fatty acids are also noteworthy.

Back to Traditional
Ways of choosing foods low in cholesterol is to limit the source animal. Expand food from vegetable materials. In addition contain no cholesterol, vegetable sources also contain the active ingredient non-nutrients that can lower cholesterol levels. For example from isoflafon seeds, pectin from fruits and vegetables, and fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Of course that is not recommended abstinence at all animal food sources, but must limit and choose. Meat should be finely fibrous, such as chicken meat. If you want to eat beef, select the no fat. Avoid brains and innards. Choose fish that are relatively low cholesterol, compared to shellfish.

Fast food (fast food) of any kind, should be reduced or restricted. These foods generally contain high cholesterol. As a guideline, can be seen the results of the analysis of various fast-food meal from Australia.

A piece of chocolate cake contains 100 mg of cholesterol. Burger type eggs and cheese combinations each serving contains 110 mg of cholesterol. Steak beginning of this type of chuck steak, rib steak, round steak, rump steak to contain an average of 100 to 200 mg of cholesterol per serving. Foods that contain cheese, any kind, such as cheese pizza, cheese burgers, cheese omelet, cholesterol varies between 100 to 200 mg per serving.

Indonesia’s traditional menu usually consumed daily, the average contain less cholesterol. For example rice with side dishes of tempeh, meat, vegetables, fruits and green beans contain only 70 mg of cholesterol. Fried rice with omelette containing approximately 50 mg of cholesterol (derived from eggs).

When having dinner with rice, vegetables nodes spinach, red beans, with side dishes of tofu, tempeh and salted fish or fried fish, contains only 20 mg of cholesterol. Clearly, maintaining the traditional menu is very limiting cholesterol intake.