It ferries insoluble cholesterol through the bloodstream to the nerves and other tissues that need it. LDL turns "bad" when there's too much of it in circulation, due to a diet rich in saturated fats, one with too many calories, or a genetic problem.
Trials with acronyms such as PROVE-IT, REVERSAL, ASTEROID, and JUPITER have shown that using powerful statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin (Crestor) to lower LDL to 70 mg/dL or below halted or even reversed the steady spread of atherosclerotic plaque and also reduced the rate of heart attack and stroke. Is this safe?
Aim for an LDL below 160 mg/dL if you have zero or one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. *To calculate your risk, talk with your doctor or do it online at www.health.harvard.edu/147. Some of the country's top cholesterol experts are now at work revising the guidelines that doctors use to identify and treat cholesterol problems.
White blood cells called macrophages sense oxidized LDL as foreign or harmful, and gobble it up. As macrophages fill with oxidized LDL and die off, they send chemical signals that cause inflammation in the artery wall. This steady, low-grade inflammation contributes to artery damage.
HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low and is considered a major risk factor because it increases your risk for developing heart disease. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease.
Which of the following is true about the association between diet and chronic diseases? Chronic diseases are neither caused nor prevented by diet alone. the activity of lipoprotein lipase.
“Western-type diets” or “atherogenic diets” high in saturated fat and cholesterol have been linked to elevated circulating cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol,17 prompting the recommendation that humans limit their intake of these dietary constituents.
At least 18% of all cancers and about 16% of cancer deaths in the US are related to excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition.
Eating more water-rich and fiber-rich vegetables and fruit can decrease the energy density of the diet. Protein and carbohydrates provide less than one-half the energy of fat per gram. Fat has a high energy density. Reducing fat intake can decrease the energy density of the diet.
GENERAL TREATMENT Treatment consists of the correction of the individual components, with weight loss as a major goal. Weight loss improves all aspects of metabolic syndrome. Weight loss of 5% to 10% can lead to significant reductions in morbidity and mortality.
Choose Healthy Habits Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods. Eating lots of foods high in saturated fat and trans fat may contribute to heart disease. Eating foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol can help prevent high cholesterol.
Following a Mediterranean diet—which emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, and fish—may help improve your lipid levels and lower cardiovascular risk.
Activities such as brisk walking, running, swimming, biking, and other aerobic exercises are all good options. As a general rule, being active is better than being sedentary. For example, taking at least 4,400 steps daily is associated with lower risk of death than taking only 2,700 steps per day.
The DASH dietThe DASH diet includes foods that are rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium. These nutrients help control blood pressure. The diet limits foods that are high in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars.
Mirriam-Webster defines nutrition as “the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth”. The food we eat every day affects how our bodies work, how we heal and grow, and how we maintain energy and strength for years to come.
In actual numbers, in 2015, poor diet was associated with over 52,200 colorectal cancer cases; over 14,400 mouth, pharynx and larynx cancers; nearly 3,200 uterine cancers; just over 3,000 cases of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; 2,000 kidney cancers; nearly 1,600 stomach cancers; and 1,000 liver cancers.
Which statement correctly relates the health of a community and its economy? Low income populations have higher rates of infectious diseases.
Why are vitamins essential to good health? They help the body convert carbohydrates into energy; they aid in the repair and construction of cells; they facilitate normal bodily functions.
Walk Away. One of the most effective refusal skills is just too walk away. You may feel obligated to stand and face “the enemy” but you need to just leave. Say no and walk away while saying it.
Activities like walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, rowing, stair climbing, hiking, cross country skiing and many types of dancing are “pure” aerobic activities. Sports such as soccer, basketball, squash and tennis may also improve your cardiovascular fitness.