Blood Lipids - Understanding Your Lipid Profile

BLOOD LIPIDS - UNDERSTANDING YOUR LIPID PROFILE

The Blood lipid levels in patients without coronary heart disease is classified as desirable, borderline - high and high risk. The blood lipid levels are presented in List.

Blood lipid levels : Desirable high, Border line, High risk

Serum Cholesterol : <200 mg/dl - 200-239 mg/dl - >240 mg/dl

LDL Cholesterol : - < 130 mg/dl - 130-159 mg/dl - >160 mg / dl

HDL Cholesterol : - > 50 mg / dl - < 35 mg / dl (for men) -- > 35 mg/dl for women

VLDL Cholesterol : - < 40 mg / dl -- --

Triglycerides : < 150 mg/dl - 150-500 mg/dl - > 500 mg / dl

< stands for less than, > stands for greater than

The Cholesterol Ratio : Total Cholesterol / HDL - should be < 4.5

Source : (National Cholesterol Education programme - Arch. Intern Med., 148 : 30 : 1988)

LDL Cholesterol or 'Bad' Cholesterol

Too much LDL cholesterol may lead to heart attack, stroke and circulation problems. If you do the following you may lower LDL level:

1.     Lose weight

2.     Eat less fat

Eat less cholesterol containing foods as egg yolks

Triglycerides

High levels of triglyceride increases your risk to heart problems. If you do the following, you may lower your triglyceride level:

1.     eat less fat

2.     lose weight

3.     avoid alcohol

4.     lower your blood sugar levels

5.     eat less sugar / sweets

HDL Cholesterol or 'Good' Cholesterol

If you do the following you may raise your HDL level

1.     exercise more

2.     stop smoking

3.     lose weight.

Eating to reduce blood cholesterol

1.     trim all visible fats from meats and remove skin from chicken

2.     avoid or limit organ meats such as liver and brain

3.     reduce intake of animal products (not more than 200 grams / day)

4.     use low fat dairy products and limit milk intake to 300 ml a day. (Vegetarians may go up to 500 ml)

5.     avoid high fat products such as butter and cream

6.     limit egg yolks to a maximum of two per week

7.     if you choose to fry, use a non-stick pan with no added fat. Do not deep fry

8.     limit or avoid commercially baked foods as they contain hidden fats, saturated fats and cholesterol