CHOLESTEROL Q AND A

We have all heard about cholesterol, so much so that there is a ton of misinformation out there about it. It’s so bad that I have heard someone tell me he could “feel” the increase in cholesterol in his body! For the record, you can’t!  So today, we are going to have a little quiz to find out just how much you know as opposed to what you think you know about cholesterol.  This will be my fourth post on cholesterol in the last year, please don’t get pissed or roll your eyes, it’s just that this topic is too important to overlook for long. High Cholesterol is a potential killer and precursor to heart disease. Conversely, high cholesterol is probably one of the most misunderstood and feared health issues of our generation, like I said earlier, there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding it, including my favourite “I am not fat, I don’t have high cholesterol!”  The truth is that you will never know your cholesterol levels till you get tested.

 Once again, I want to help you set the records straight on what you should know about cholesterol and how it affects you. Here at Corefitness we are all about education and entertainment, so  I invite you to take a very simple test on what you know and what you think you know about our frenemy called cholesterol. I hope you find this piece interesting and I hope it also scares you a little into making to lifestyle changes that will help lower your blood cholesterol and lead a fitter and healthier life.

Thanks and do have a wonderful day!

At what age should you start having your cholesterol levels tested?

20 years old

30 years old

40 years old

50 years old

CORRECT ANSWER: 20 years old

Although cholesterol levels generally rise with age, you don't have to be older to have high cholesterol. Even children can be at risk, especially if they have a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease. Everyone should start getting cholesterol tests at age 20, or earlier, according to the American Heart Association.

Your body needs cholesterol.

True

False

CORRECT ANSWER: True

Cholesterol is waxy, fat-like material that your body needs to make hormones, vitamin D, and acids for digesting food. But your body makes all the cholesterol your body needs. You don't need to add to it in your diet.

What is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol?

Too much cholesterol

Too much saturated fat

Too much trans fat

·         CORRECT ANSWER: Too much saturated fat

Saturated fat is a bigger culprit than cholesterol in your diet. Meats, whole-fat dairy products, and other foods from animals can be loaded with it. It's also in some vegetable oils such as palm and coconut oil. But foods with cholesterol can also raise your cholesterol. So most people should cut cholesterol -- in foods such as organ meats, egg yolks, and whole milk -- to less than 300 mg a day.

High cholesterol is mostly a man's problem.

True

False

CORRECT ANSWER: False

Before age 50, men tend to have higher total cholesterol than women. But women's "bad" cholesterol tends to rise with menopause when the female hormone estrogen declines. After about age 50, women usually have higher cholesterol than men of the same age. 

What is the main symptom of high cholesterol?

Fatigue

Weakness

Weight gain

None of the above

CORRECT ANSWER: None of the above

There are no specific symptoms of high cholesterol. To know if your cholesterol is too high, you have to have a blood test.

The higher your HDL cholesterol, the greater your risk of heart disease.

True

False

CORRECT ANSWER: False

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is actually the "good" cholesterol. An HDL level of 60 mg/dL (milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood) or above helps lower the chance that you'll get heart disease.

LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol because too much in your blood can lead to:

Obesity

Diabetes

Atherosclerosis

All of the above

CORRECT ANSWER: Atherosclerosis

Too much LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol raises your risk of heart disease. An LDL level of130 mg/dL or above is considered high. Excess LDL will contribute to the formation of thick, hard buildups, known as "plaque," on the walls of your arteries. Your arteries become narrower and harder, so less oxygen-rich blood can flow through. This is known as atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes

Eating oatmeal can lower your bad cholesterol.

True

False

CORRECT ANSWER: True

Soluble fibers can lower blood cholesterol levels. Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber. So are beans and many fruits and vegetables. In studies, LDL cholesterol dropped 3%-5% in people who added five to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day to their diet. A bowl of oatmeal and a banana have about 2 grams of soluble fiber

Which is highest in cholesterol?

A slice of chocolate cream pie

Two slices of cheddar cheese

A whole stick of butter

Two large scrambled eggs

CORRECT ANSWER: Two large scrambled eggs

Eggs do have a lot of cholesterol. In fact, two scrambled eggs have more cholesterol than the total amount you should have in a day. But you should think about more than just the cholesterol grams in any food you're eating. For example, chocolate pie is loaded with calories and saturated fat, which can also increase cholesterol, so you wouldn't want to have a lot of it. Eggs may have cholesterol, but they're also a great source of protein and lots of other nutrients. The cholesterol is all in the yolk, so egg whites or yolk-free egg substitutes are a good alternative. If you're worried about your cholesterol levels, check with your doctor

If you have high cholesterol, you should avoid all fats.

CORRECT ANSWER: False

You need some fat in your diet. Fats supply energy and essential fatty acids, and they help absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. The trick is to eat the best kind of fats. When you can, replace animal fats with plant fats (like nuts, seeds, olive or canola oils), which can actually help lower cholesterol. Eat as little trans fats as possible, and cut saturated fat to less than 10% of your calories

Which can help lower your "bad" cholesterol?

Exercise

A low-salt diet

A high-protein diet

All of the above

CORRECT ANSWER: Exercise

Exercise or other regular physical activity can help lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol and raise your "good" HDL cholesterol. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week. But any regular physical activity lowers your risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.

What is a good total cholesterol level?

Below 300 mg/dL

Below 200 mg/dL

Below 150 mg/dL

Below 100 mg/dL

CORRECT ANSWER: Below 200 mg/dL

Shoot for a total cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dl. A level of 200 to 239 mg/dL is considered "borderline high" and 240 mg/dL or more is high.

For LDL (bad cholesterol), anything under 100 mg/dL is best. Levels of HDL (good cholesterol) that are lower than 40 mg/dL raise men's chances of getting heart disease. HDL levels less than 50 mg/dL raise the chance of heart disease in women

Most people can lower high cholesterol if they lose weight, eat better and exercise more.

True

False

CORRECT ANSWER: True

Most people don't need drugs to lower their cholesterol. Diet, exercising, and losing weight can help do it. The TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) program can guide you on the changes you should make, depending on your risk for heart disease. The main goals are to eat less saturated and trans fat and cholesterol, and get more physically active. If those things alone don't lower your levels, your doctor might suggest eating more soluble fiber, like beans and oatmeal, and adding plant stanols or sterols. The best sources for stanols and sterols are fortified foods, including margarine and orange juice. If you can't do that, you'll probably need to take medicine