For a long time, the connection between cholesterol and cardiovascular health was seemingly clear.
Saturated fats, the guidelines said, led to heart disease.
Turns out this compound is way more complex than experts believed.
Weight, age and genetics arguably play a bigger role when it comes to risk factors for heart disease.
Here we help you get some of the key new discoveries straight.
Exercise raises HDL:Exercise is good for your heart in more ways than one!
HDL also helps with blood-vessel health and prevents plaque buildup.
So get moving, already!
Your exercise Rx: 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Certain carbs may increase risk:That white bagel may be worse for you than the cream cheese.
You thought the saturated fat in the cream cheese schmear was the main problem.
How those carbs hurt you?
In turn, that increases inflammation in the body, damages blood vessels and can jack up your cholesterol.
Healthy alternatives: Minimally processed carbs like steel-cut oatmeal (a better pick than the bagel!)
don’t have this effect.
High-cholesterol foods aren’t the enemy:Dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol are two different things.
What actually raises your cholesterol: Processed carbs, saturated and trans fats-with trans fat being the real enemy.
Diet does affect some people more than others:First, a biochemistry lesson.
The liver then metabolizes and disposes of them.
That’s a good thing.
Go toheart.orgto get a preview, and see your doctor for a detailed assessment.
