A balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is a substance present in all cells of the body. Accumulation of cholesterol above normal levels can pose a serious health risk – heart attacks and strokes. Although heart health is not just limited to high cholesterol. Nutritionist Dr. Vishakha breaks myths surrounding the consumption of statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, and teaches us the numbers that reflect heart health.
She wrote: “To think you need to take a statin – a cholesterol-lowering drug just because your total cholesterol is elevated is highly misleading! I have so many patients who consult me from all parts of the world who think they are on a risk of heart disease based on this one number. This is incorrect.”
According to Dr. Vishakha, the numbers of your good cholesterol, triglycerides, and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio are a much better indicator of heart health than one total cholesterol number.
1. HDL – your good cholesterol
The nutritionist indicates that more than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 md/dl in women is important to provide good heart protection. If this number is low, you should focus on managing and maintaining this number. Include regular exercise in your routine, consume omega-rich foods and ask your doctor for relevant supplements.
2. Triglycerides
This is probably the most important number that reflects your heart health. “Tg levels below 100 mg/dl are great for heart health,” said Dr. Vishakha.
3. Triglycerides/HDL Ratio
You want this ratio to be in the range of 1-2. If your total cholesterol is high, but this ratio is fine, you don’t have much to worry about.
Doctor Vishakha emphasizes that if you have a family history of heart disease, you should definitely be more vigilant. Not by taking a statin, but by doing more specific tests and making all necessary lifestyle and diet changes. According to the nutritionist, a few months of lifestyle changes should greatly help reduce these numbers, even eliminating the need for statins.
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical advice. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV claims no responsibility for this information.
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