Cholesterol levels - Renew Medical Clinic

What is cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two main types of cholesterol:

• LDL cholesterol - Also called "bad" cholesterol, LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
• HDL cholesterol - Also called "good" cholesterol, HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries.

When you get your cholesterol tested, you'll receive a cholesterol ratio that compares your total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels. Here are general guidelines for healthy cholesterol levels:

• Total cholesterol - Below 200 mg/dL is considered desirable
• LDL cholesterol - Below 100 mg/dL is optimal
• HDL cholesterol - 60 mg/dL or higher reduces heart disease risk

High cholesterol usually doesn't have any symptoms. The only way to know if your cholesterol levels are high is to get tested. It's recommended that adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. People with high cholesterol are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke.

What causes high cholesterol?

High cholesterol is usually caused by lifestyle factors like:

• Eating a diet high in saturated and trans fats
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Inherited genetic factors

Making lifestyle changes is typically the first line of defense against high cholesterol. Losing extra weight, eating healthy fats, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing stress can all help optimize your cholesterol levels.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications like statins. At Renew Medical Clinic, our practitioners take a holistic approach to cholesterol management. We offer advanced lipid testing to assess your cardiovascular disease risk more accurately. Our naturopathic doctors can provide customized treatment plans that combine lifestyle changes, high-quality supplements, hormone balancing, and prescription medications if needed.

How can I lower my cholesterol?

Here are 10 ways to help lower your cholesterol naturally:

1. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains - Fill up on fiber-rich produce, nuts, seeds, beans and oats.
2. Choose healthy fats - Swap saturated fats for monounsaturated fats like olive and avocado oil.
3. Lose extra weight - Shedding just 5-10% of body weight can improve cholesterol levels.
4. Exercise regularly - Aim for 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise daily.
5. Quit smoking - Stopping smoking improves HDL levels.
6. Limit alcohol - Moderate your alcohol intake to 1 drink per day or less.
7. Reduce stress - Chronic stress raises cortisol and cholesterol production.
8. Take supplements - Fish oil, niacin, garlic, and psyllium husk can help lower LDL.
9. Eat more soluble fiber - Try oatmeal, beans, apples, pears and prunes.
10. See your doctor - Discuss medications if needed to manage genetic or complex cases.

The skilled practitioners at Renew Medical Clinic use in-depth testing and a personalized approach to help patients optimize cholesterol levels without solely relying on prescription statins. Contact us today for a consultation!