Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 107) common conditions CHOLESTEROL Eat healthy foods, such as low-fat yogurt, to reduce your “bad cholesterol.” Cholesterol: Keeping it low Cholesterol gets so much bad press that you may not realize your body needs some to function properly. Just make sure it’s “good” rather than “bad,” and within the right level. By Kelly L. Gilmore have too much cholesterol, which raises their risk of coronary heart disease. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver from saturated fat that you eat. Some cholesterol also comes from eggs, meats and dairy products. The extra cholesterol in your blood can gradually cause a build-up (called “plaque”) in your arteries. That build-up slows down the blood flow and blocks small arteries. If an artery that supplies blood to your heart becomes blocked, you could have a heart attack. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, you could have a stroke. W hen it comes to cholesterol, a little goes a long way. Your body needs some cholesterol as a part of good health. However, nearly 107 million Americans “Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver from saturated fat that you eat.” familydoctor 2007 107
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