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Cholesterol - Lowering Cholesterol Levels

Although many tips have been publicized about lowering cholesterol levels lots of people still have high levels. Excessive cholesterol in your bloodstream can lead to stroke and heart disease which are the top two causes of deaths worldwide.

If after checking your lipoprotein profile you discover that you have high cholesterol levels your doctor may recommend that you follow a TLC diet (therapeutic lifestyle changes) or start taking medication to lower your cholesterol level. The choice of treatment will depend on your cholesterol levels, family and personal health history, risk factors of heart disease, age, sex and other factors.

Principles of a TLC diet...

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes was developed to lower cholesterol levels that are too high. This will reduce your chances of developing heart disease or experiencing a stroke. This program encourages patients to follow a low-cholesterol diet, while applying healthy physical activities to ensure a well-balanced healthy lifestyle.

The TLC program comes with specific guidelines to lower cholesterol through your diet, along with several procedures to ensure positive, long-lasting results. This program focuses on limitations of sodium intake of up to 2,400 milligrams, reduction of 200 milligrams worth of dietary cholesterol and daily limitations of saturated fats.

The total calories for each person will be based on weight, height and age of the patient. It is important to ask for a doctor’s or dietician's recommendation about the total calories you need on a daily basis. A dietitian can also can provide you with a meal plan and can teach you new and healthy eating patterns, habits and choices. The TLC diet will only lower cholesterol if you follow the guidelines and calculations properly.

Medications to assist in lowering cholesterol levels..

When the TLC program or other cholesterol lowering diet plans fail to reduce your cholesterol level your doctor will most likely prescribe medications designed to lower cholesterol. Medications are given to people who have persistently high cholesterol levels even when following a diet for six months to a year. Cholesterol-lowering medicines work more effectively when combined with a proper diet and regular exercise regimen.

There are two kinds of medicine for cholesterol reduction. One type of medicine reduces the amount of cholesterol your liver naturally produces, while the other type of reduces the amount of dietary cholesterol that you absorb from various food sources.

If you are taking medicine for lowering cholesterol levels, it is important to incorporate certain lifestyle changes from the TLC program. Regular exercise and a well-balanced diet combined with proper medications is the ideal treatment to lower cholesterol and maintain healthy cholesterol levels for years.

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