Heart Patient Diet Plan

Introduction

There was much publicity about cholesterol and its relationship with coronary artery disease. High cholesterol is considered a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease, but there is enough evidence to suggest that the reduction of cholesterol in the diet alone can significantly reduce levels of blood cholesterol. Recent data supports that reduce the amount of saturated fat, cholesterol (ie, reduce the consumption of meat) in the diet significantly reduces blood cholesterol.

Analysis

Cholesterol is a waxy, yellowish substance produced by the liver. It can be anywhere in the body and is essential for the digestion of fats. Cholesterol is the basis for cell membranes, bile salts, vitamin D, sex hormones, hormones and adrenal glands. In the average American diet, the body produces 2 / 3 of the total quantity of cholesterol that we need and the rest comes from our diet (the body can produce all, if cholesterol was absent in the diet) (Richardson, 353-360).

Cholesterol is present only in animal products, not in plant products. Given that Americans as a whole consumes a diet rich in animal products, but also consume large amounts of cholesterol. Cholesterol and fats are insoluble in water and must be transported in the blood by substances called lipoproteins proteins. Lipoproteins are composed of fat and protein (hence its name) and lipoprotein each door, different amounts of cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carry cholesterol and most of the low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) carry most of the fats (triglycerides). High levels of these companies have been linked with the development of coronary artery disease. Another carrier called high density lipoprotein (HDL) consists mainly of protein (Peavey, Linda, and Smith, pp 45-86). HDL cholesterol immediately from cells of the body to the liver to be excreted in bile. May this be why high levels of HDL have been found to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease?

Investigators have not determined what is an "ideal" cholesterol in the blood should be. In general, the risk of coronary heart disease due to cholesterol in the blood increases slowly by itself when the level is below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dl). The risk of heart disease starts to increase more rapidly above 200 mg / dl, especially at levels above 240 mg / dl. In short, many experts recommend a level of blood cholesterol below 200 mg / dl. Interestingly, cholesterol levels very low (below 110-125) in the ...