The Fountain of Youth may be fiction, but there really is a magic gene pool in northern Italy.  Researchers discovered that, despite unhealthy overall cholesterol levels, inhabitants of the village of Garda were seemingly immune to heart disease.  Turns out it they had a protein in their HDL cholesterol (the good kind) called ApoA-1 Milano.  In less scientific terms, the villagers were born with self-cleaning arteries.

Researchers went to work creating a synthetic version of this plaque-busting protein, and in 2003, they created one. Problem is, the drug is way too expensive to mass produce. Luckily, they also discovered that there are things you can do now to raise your good HDL, and lower your bad LDL cholesterol. The more you learn, and the actions you take today, can actually make a real difference.  Let's start with the basics:

'Good' vs. 'Bad' Cholesterol   When you have too much fat in your bloodstream, that fat changes changes into 'Bad' LDL cholesterol.  Sometimes, 'Bad' LDL cholesterol sticks to the walls of your arteries. Over time, this blocks your arteries, and the blood flow slows down. When the blood flow slows down, you could have chest pain (or not) and/or high blood pressure.  When the blood flow stops or is blocked, you could have a heart attack.  The other kind of cholesterol, called 'Good' HDL, helps free some of the 'Bad' LDL cholesterol from sticking to the walls of your arteries, allowing your blood to flow better.  Simply put; HDL is good, LDL is bad.

What should my level be?  The only way to know is to have your blood tested.  The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends the following goals for your total Cholesterol levels (HDL & LDL):


 

'Bad' LDL Level Chart:  This is the chart where you can see the corresponding classification of your 'Bad' LDL values. 'Bad' LDL cholesterol is responsible for clogging up your blood vessels if not regulated properly.

 

'Good' HDL Level Chart:  'Good' HDL cholesterol must reach a certain level so it is able to counter any coronary risk that your 'Bad' LDL level is posing.

The 3 Factors to Self-Cleaning Arteries:   The first factor is hereditary. Some families have livers that make too much LDL cholesterol; if your parents or grandparents had high cholesterol, that may be why you do too. You have no control over this factor.  The second way we get cholesterol is through our nutrition (notice we do not uses the word 'diet' as that implies only food).  The third is through lifestyle (this includes stress, exercise, sleep, dental hygiene and such). You can’t change your genes, but nutrition and lifestyle are things you can change, starting today!

Coronary heart disease can sneak up like a thief in the night!  Learn more on how to prevent, and even reverse heart disease, without surgery or drugs!  The sooner you take action, the sooner you will add years to your life!

One Final Tip:  Try cooking and eating foods made with vegetable oils (olive oil is one of the best) verses tropical oils (coconut, palm kernel and palm oils).  Tropical oils contain saturated fatty acids, and reek havoc on the heart!  Learn more about how to protect yourself by continuing with the 'Learn More' button above.