World Renowned Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease

...Simply stated, without inflammation being present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in the wall of the blood vessel and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped....

Food Choices to Lower Cholesterol

Meat - choose lean cuts
Poultry - trimmed with no skin
Eggs - eat only the whites, cholesterol free egg substitutes
Cheese and Milk - fat-free, low fat with no more than 3g of fat per ounce
Fats and Oils - corn, olive, canola, sesame, soybean, peanut, and sunflower. Margarine made with unsaturated liquid vegetable oil.
Cereals, Pasta, Breads - whole grains
Other good choices: fish, nuts, dried peas and beans, plain baked potatoes, frozen/fresh/dried fruits and vegetables.
Snacks - sorbet, low-fat frozen yogurt, angle food cake, fig bars, plain popcorn, pretzels, fruit juices, tea, coffee, gelatin desserts, graham crackers.

Good vs. Bad Cholesterol

Sterols are fat compounds in food, but only animal foods contain cholesterol (meats, eggs, fish, poultry, and dairy products).

LDL's are Bad...

High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) have been linked to heart disease.

HDL's are Good...

Elevated levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) represent cholesterol that is being returned to the liver for absorption and excretion. It appears that high levels of HDL's provide a protective effect from heart attacks. Marine foods are generally rich with omega-3 fatty acids and this can lower blood pressure, especially for those with hypertension.

Cholesterol

What is cholesterol? 
Cholesterol is made primarily in the liver and can be found in certain foods. It is important for proper bodily functions such as hormone production, fat digestion, and production of vitamin D. However because of the food sources cholesterol comes from (animal foods such as dairy, eggs, and meat), many people tend to take in too much cholesterol, which can be dangerous and unhealthy.

Why is HIGH cholesterol bad? 
When too much  is present in the body it will build up in the arteries, narrowing the space for blood flow. Compromised blood flow leads to heart disease.

Types of cholesterol
Cholesterol comes in three different types, or categories. Cholesterol travels with protein in the blood and together is called a lipoprotein. Based on the cholesterol-pro
tein ratio, the lipoproteins are considered low density (LDL), high density (HDL), or very low density (VLDL). The higher the density, the more "good" it is considered. For instance, if a person is low in HDL levels, there is a greater risk of heart disease.

In a diet with excess sugar, calories, or alcohol, these things will be converted into triglycerides. A triglyceride is another type of fat that is carried by VLDL in the blood. A high triglyceride level has been shown to have a direct correlation to heart disease as well.

How to know your cholesterol level and how to help it...
A simple blood test will show a breakdown of the various lipoprotein levels in the body, which can be discussed with your primary physician. There are many things that affect cholesterol levels such as heredity, age, and gender, but there are ways to dramatically change cholesterol levels such as with diet and exercise.

• Choose lean meats and poultry without skin
• Dairy products should be fat-free, 1% fat, or low-fat
• Pick foods with little or no salt, including your own food preparations 
• Reduce trans fats in your diet by:
• Prepare foods without saturated and trans fat
• Avoid foods containing partially hydrogenated oils 
• Reduce foods and beverages with added sugars (fruit drinks, sodas, sweet tea)
• Watch portion sizes, especially when eating out
• If you do drink alcohol, do it in moderation 
• Stop all tobacco products