No more sweet treats?

Ice Cream...yummy. As good as it looks a single cup of ice cream has more fat than a hamburger and more cholesterol than 10 glazed doughnuts! Why am I telling you this disappointing news you ask? Just recently I had my blood drawn and the results were rather startling. My LDL Cholesterol (better known as bad cholesterol) was high. I would say this was a mistake or an accident, but just two months prior my LDL also was elevated. For those of you who know me, I eat healthy, run daily and am very conscious of what I eat.  So, why me and why now? Is it because I'm getting closer to 30....lord I hope not.

After doing some research about Cholesterol I've discovered a few things. There are two types of Cholesterol: LDL and HDL. LDL or low density lipoprotein is known as "bad cholesterol." High levels of LDL can build up in your arteries thus slowing the blood flow and increasing your risk of heart disease. HDL or high density lipoprotein is known as the "good cholesterol." The particles remove cholesterol from the arteries and transports it back to the liver for excretion.

What causes high LDL Cholesterol? Obesity, lack of exercise, genetics, smoking, food with Trans fat, foods with saturated fats, excessive amounts of food that comes from dairy (dairy, eggs, butter).

How to lower your LDL Cholesterol? weight loss, exercise, stop smoking, and diet.


Foods to combat high LDL Cholesterol: Oatmeal, Oatbran, high fiber foods, fish and omega fatty-3 acids, walnuts, almonds, olive oil

In summary, we need to cut back on cholesterol and total fat, especially saturated fats and Trans fats. Saturated fats are found in meat and full-fat dairy products while Trans fats are found in margarines, crackers, cakes. (processed foods)

WHEW!  If that didn't make your head explode. Since I received this disheartening news about my high cholesterol I've got to change some things. While I eat very healthy during the day I do drink up to 3 glasses of milk a day and eat "light" snacks with my lunch. AKA- Light Baked Lays, Pringles, Goldfish or crackers. Otherwise known as processed food. You know, I thought I was doing good by eating the healthier options...but the results don't agree.

Steps I'm taking to reduce my cholesterol:
Taking 1000 m/g of Fish Oil a day
Cutting out all processed foods
Snacking on only Fruit and Veggies
Reducing dairy intake. *3 glasses of milk to 2*

I hope all goes well with these changes. The only thing I foresee being a struggle is removing processed foods. I LOVE goldfish and chips! Grr, but health is more important than that and time is on my side.

I'll report back my progress!

Signed the deprived Mrs.