Blood Facts | About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft fat-like substance found naturally in the body. Cholesterol circulating in the blood is deposited in the inner walls of the arteries, blocking the flow of blood. Most coronary heart disease is the result of blocked arteries. High cholesterol is considered one of the three key heart disease risk factors along with smoking and high blood pressure. According to he American Heart Association, heart attacks, strokes, and other blood vessel diseases afflict more than 63 million Americans and are responsible for nearly one-half of all deaths.

Blood cholesterol is determined by several factors, including the foods you eat and genetic makeup. The liver produces all the cholesterol your body needs. The cholesterol is necessary to produce certain hormones and construct cells. The liver processes cholesterol and recycles it into other substances.

What Can Be Done?
Studies have shown blood cholesterol level can be lowered by 10 to 15 percent or even more by dietary changes. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and cereal grains will lower the level of cholesterol. To lower your cholesterol intake, choose fish, poultry, and lean cuts of meat, and trim fat from meat and skin from chicken before cooking. Eat fewer eggs and less organ meats such as liver, brain and kidney will also help.

Select salad dressings, cooking fats and margarine containing polyunsaturated vegetables oils. These are oils from vegetable products such as corn, olive and canola oils. They help lower the level of blood cholesterol. Avoid "tropical oils" such as coconut or palm kernel.

To lessen your risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association recommends limiting cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams per day and reducing your total fat intake to about 30% of calories. In addition, exercise regularly, practice stress management, and do not smoke.

It is important to know your own cholesterol level, so you can make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve your health. By donating blood, you can find out if your cholesterol level is too high before trouble arises. The results are available by mail approximately 7 to 14 days after donation.