A Cholesterol Chart: What Numbers Reveal About Good And Bad Cholesterol


by Athlyn Green - Date: 2007-01-17 - Word Count: 613 Share This!

A cholesterol chart can be a big help when trying to get an idea of where your blood cholesterol levels should fall. This can be a valuable tool, helping to fix this information in your mind.

It may be helpful to attach a normal cholesterol level chart to the wall so that you can become better acquainted with relevant numbers, especially if you are attempting to achieve healthful blood levels.

A cholesterol chart can spell out what you need to be aware of in simple terms, showing target ranges for cholesterol levels. Your doctor may give you one or you may be able to locate one online.

What levels would a normal cholesterol level chart show? Where should you be?

Total Cholesterol 200 or lower
Low Density Cholesterol 130 or lower
(High Density Cholesterol 50 or higher)
Triglycerides 150 or lower

What other numbers would a cholesterol chart reveal? What about "borderline high" or "high risk" blood cholesterol levels?

Borderline High
Total Cholesterol 200-240
Low Density Cholesterol 130-160
(High Density Cholesterol 50-35)
Triglycerides 150-500

High Risk
Total Cholesterol 240 or higher
Low Density Cholesterol 240 or higher
(High Density Cholesterol 35 or lower)
Triglycerides 500 or higher

When looking at a normal cholesterol level chart, how do you make sense of the numbers? It helps to have an understanding about the different kinds of cholesterol.

You may be wondering, for example, why HDL levels should be higher. Most people associate high levels with high cholesterol. HDL is the exception. It is actually beneficial, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the blood and helping in processes that lead to its elimination.

LDL, on the other hand, contributes to deposits in the arteries, causing narrowing and hardening, obstructing blood flow, and precipitating coronary problems.

Triglycerides are derived from fats eaten in foods or made in the body. Unused calories are converted to triglycerides and then transported to fat cells to be stored. Excess triglycerides can spell trouble and are linked to coronary artery disease for some people.

It could be said that the numbers in a cholesterol chart are a window on cardiovascular health.

Keeping a normal cholesterol level chart close by can help you to get a handle on cholesterol ranges and can be a reminder of where levels should be.

If you are wondering what can help your blood cholesterol levels, adopting healthful habits can make a difference. "Stop smoking," "reduce stress," and "get active" are all good maxims.

Changing the way you eat also is a heart-friendly measure.
Avoid trans-fats
Avoid saturated fats
Cut down on salt

Almonds, walnuts, and blueberries are thought to be particularly beneficial. Oat bran, avocadoes, oranges, apples, pears and grapes, beans and soybeans, flax seeds, garlic, mushrooms, fatty fish, and oils such as olive, canola, flaxseed, and sesame should become regular menu items.

Other plant-derived compounds can protect hearth health and cardiovascular functioning. These have been clinically tested for their effectiveness.

Policosanol (derived from beeswax) is an exciting, widely researched substance that inhibits hepatic cholesterol synthesis. It can lower LDL and raise HDL, assisting you to reach desired numbers such as seen on a standard cholesterol chart. D-limonene, a compound in orange peel oil, also reduces cholesterol.

Other studies have shown a correlation between vitamin E and lower rates of ischemic heart disease. Selenium has been discovered to be preventative, in relation to atherosclerosis and stroke. Beta-sitosterol is used for treating hypercholesterolemia and coronary heart disease.

Taking a natural supplement offers additional insurance against coronary problems and can help to bring cholesterol into desired ranges such as those seen on a normal cholesterol level chart.

Consult with your doctor and a nutritionist, make lifestyle changes, change what you eat, and become familiar with relevant numbers on your cholesterol chart. With these common sense approaches, you can reduce risk factors.


Related Tags: cholesterol chart, normal cholesterol level chart

Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She has contributed to Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis, a section of http://www.beat-your-depression.com dedicated to natural treatments and prescription drug alternatives for this disorder. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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