2008 Woodie Awards
Health Center provides free student cholesterol screening
By: Katie Martin
Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: Campus Life
Bad cholesterol, good cholesterol - what's a heart to do?
The Student Health Center conducts cholesterol and blood glucose screening every year for students, faculty and staff. Faculty and staff pay only $10 but student screenings are free.
The American Heart Association recommends getting a cholesterol screening and along with knowing your cholesterol level to live a more healthy lifestyle. It also advises maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and to follow your healthcare professional's suggestions.
The American Heart Association explains that cholesterol doesn't dissolve in the blood and is transported through cells by lipoproteins. Bad cholesterol is called LDL, which stands for low density lipoproteins, and good cholesterol is known as HDL, which is high density lipoprotein.
Having bad cholesterol can build up a waxy substance in artery walls that restricts blood flow and can cause heart attacks or strokes. You are at a greater risk of heart disease if you have a high level of LDL or a bad cholesterol number.
To decrease your chances of getting a heart attack or stroke there are some preventative methods such as getting screening done for your cholesterol and blood glucose and eating healthier.
Diet tips for lower cholesterol are to eat more fish and shellfish, chicken and turkey without skin, ground turkey with only 15 percent fat, lean, well-trimmed beef, veal, lamb and pork with very little marbling, and small servings of meat, seafood and poultry (seven ounces or less per day). Limit large servings of shrimp, fried chicken or duck, fatty ground meats, liver and organ meats, bacon, sausage, and high-fat deli meats.
For dairy products, skim or 1 percent milk is recommended, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, low-fat or nonfat yogurt and cheeses.
Always choose several servings of low-fat, highly nutritious fruits and vegetables. Eat your vegetables healthy such as serving them: raw, steamed, boiled, baked or stir-fried. Also seasoning vegetables with herbs or lemon juice instead of cream, cheese or butter can help reduce the fat and provide healthier dishes.
The Student Health Center conducts cholesterol and blood glucose screening every year for students, faculty and staff. Faculty and staff pay only $10 but student screenings are free.
The American Heart Association recommends getting a cholesterol screening and along with knowing your cholesterol level to live a more healthy lifestyle. It also advises maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and to follow your healthcare professional's suggestions.
The American Heart Association explains that cholesterol doesn't dissolve in the blood and is transported through cells by lipoproteins. Bad cholesterol is called LDL, which stands for low density lipoproteins, and good cholesterol is known as HDL, which is high density lipoprotein.
Having bad cholesterol can build up a waxy substance in artery walls that restricts blood flow and can cause heart attacks or strokes. You are at a greater risk of heart disease if you have a high level of LDL or a bad cholesterol number.
To decrease your chances of getting a heart attack or stroke there are some preventative methods such as getting screening done for your cholesterol and blood glucose and eating healthier.
Diet tips for lower cholesterol are to eat more fish and shellfish, chicken and turkey without skin, ground turkey with only 15 percent fat, lean, well-trimmed beef, veal, lamb and pork with very little marbling, and small servings of meat, seafood and poultry (seven ounces or less per day). Limit large servings of shrimp, fried chicken or duck, fatty ground meats, liver and organ meats, bacon, sausage, and high-fat deli meats.
For dairy products, skim or 1 percent milk is recommended, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, low-fat or nonfat yogurt and cheeses.
Always choose several servings of low-fat, highly nutritious fruits and vegetables. Eat your vegetables healthy such as serving them: raw, steamed, boiled, baked or stir-fried. Also seasoning vegetables with herbs or lemon juice instead of cream, cheese or butter can help reduce the fat and provide healthier dishes.
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