September is National Cholesterol Education Month
Published 7:17 pm Friday, September 25, 2015
From Beaufort County Health Department
September is National Cholesterol Education Month. Celebrate by learning more about cholesterol and how to keep your levels in check.
There are two types of cholesterol: the good (HDL) and the bad (LDL). Cholesterol is in many foods we eat and is also made naturally by our liver. Though it is naturally made, it is not good for us in large quantities. It can cause a buildup in arteries and lead to the narrowing of arteries, which can limit the flow of blood and oxygen through one’s body. This is why checking cholesterol levels is very important.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), buildup of cholesterol starts as a child and continues throughout our lives. Things such as diet, amount of physical activity and smoking all have an effect on how the body deals with cholesterol. Seventy-three and a half million adults in the United States have high LDL cholesterol; only 1 out of 3 has it under control.
In order to keep our levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) low and prevent plaque buildup, we must maintain a diet high in fiber and low in fat. The best way to do this is to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables we eat in our daily diet. Changing our diet in combination with increasing physical activity can help increase our levels of HDL (good cholesterol.) HDL helps lower LDL (bad cholesterol) by bringing it back to the liver to be removed from the body.
Another recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is to get cholesterol levels checked every five years starting at age 20. In honor of National Cholesterol Education Month, talk to your doctor about checking your cholesterol levels.
Maintain or improve your cholesterol numbers by eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising more.
To learn more about cholesterol or how to improve your diet and exercise, contact Kimberly Matthews with Beaufort County Health Department at 252-940-6521.