An Unknown But Common Problem The term “metabolic syndrome” probably sounds like a term that is best left in the circle of the medical elite.  Well, I think it’s a concept that should be better understood by all Americans.  Metabolic Syndrome is a very American disease, for lack of a better term.  It only occurs [...]

Good vs. Bad Every good story has to have a good guy and a bad guy.  We like nice distinct lines so we know how to label things in our minds.  When dealing with the body and health it is not always that easy to cut a line between good and bad.  You can run [...]

Nutrim Offers Hope One pill that does it all.  Isn’t that what most Americans are looking for?  How about a powder that does a lot?  One research study showed that Nutrim powder might be as good as it gets without any crazy side effects.  The Plan The study was carried out in 38 middle aged, [...]

So you came back from the doctors office with a page full of numbers and you are trying to make some sense of them.  I am going to try to give a simple breakdown of the main components of the number on a cholesterol blood test.  Hopefully, by the end of this post you’re a [...]

Sugar and Insulin When we eat sugar it is absorbed into the body and makes its way to the bloodstream. The bloodstream then carries the sugar to the cells of the body. When a large amount of sugar is in the bloodstream, the body releases a large amount of insulin. This insulin drives sugar into [...]

The ATP III The ATPIII is considered to be the most authoritative document on cholesterol in America. It was released by the National Cholesterol Education Program.  It gives guidance to physicians and those in the health care field on how to address high cholesterol levels in America.  It answers the why, what, how, and why [...]

Not All Fat is Bad! One of the “good fats” is polyunsaturated fat.  This fat can be used a more health-conscious substitute for saturated fats.  It’s suggested that up to 10% of your caloric intake consists of polyunsaturated fats.  Research shows that a diet including moderation of polyunsaturated fats actually proves to be lower in LDL [...]

The Not-So-Bad-For-You Fat The “best” fat out there is monounsaturated fat.  While it is still a fat and shouldn’t be overdone, it’s the only fatty acid that has proven to reduce LDL cholesterol without hurting a good HDL level.  Of the fats, this one is most important to your diet and should be the largest [...]

Understand the Importance of LDL Cholesterol If you know someone who has suffered a heart attack or stroke, then the words “You have high LDL cholesterol” from your doctor may have some meaning to you. For the rest of us, the words “high cholesterol” may not conjure up many thoughts or images. Even if you [...]

These are the levels that are set by the ATP III. They are based on the risk for heart disease found in various studies. Understanding these gives you a notable upper-hand in the fight against high cholesterol and heart disease. (In mg/dL) LDL Cholesterol  HDL Cholesterol     Total Cholesterol Triglycerides <100 Optimal < 40 [...]