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Food
For Thought
Did you know that one in five people
has high cholesterol?* You could have it too. Even if you're active
or thin, young or old. In fact, it may be part of your genetic makeup.
So, although you eat right and exercise, you might need some help
in controlling cholesterol.
Here's what you can
do.
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Start by eating fewer high-fat,
high-cholesterol foods and watching calories. We've included a
few tips in helping to get you on the right track.
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If
your total cholesterol is over 200, and diet and exercise aren't
working to lower it, you may need to add medication.** The fact
is that diet and exercise can only do so much to lower your cholesterol.***
These are some guidelines for a healthy diet.
With your
doctor, determine the number of calories you need each day to achieve
or maintain an healthy body weight.
- Eat
fewer high-fat foods.
- Choose
foods high in fiber.
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- Go
easy on the salt and sugar.
- If
you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
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* Source: News Release - "Facts About Blood
Cholesterol". Maryland: National Institute of Health; National
Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
reprinted 1996, pg.4.
** Source: Grundy SM, Becker D, Clark LT, et al. "Executive
Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment
of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)".
JAMA. 2001; 285(19).
*** Source: Stefanick ML, Mackey S, Sheehan M, et al. "Effects
of diet and exercise in men and postmenopausal women with low levels
of HDL cholesterol and high levels of LDL cholesterol." New
England Journal of Medicine, July 2, 1998, 339(1): 12-20
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