Cholesterol levels - Harmony Hormone Care

What are cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. There are two types:

• LDL cholesterol, sometimes called "bad" cholesterol, can build up in your arteries and form plaque over time. This narrows your arteries and makes them less flexible, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack or stroke.
• HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries and transports it back to your liver where it is broken down and removed from your body.

What are healthy cholesterol levels?

The American Heart Association recommends these guidelines for healthy cholesterol levels:

• Total cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL
• HDL cholesterol: 60 mg/dL or higher

Levels between 200-239 mg/dL total cholesterol or 130-159 mg/dL LDL cholesterol are considered borderline high. Anything above 240 mg/dL total cholesterol or above 160 mg/dL LDL is considered high.

If your cholesterol levels are concerning, I highly recommend speaking with the caring medical team at Harmony Hormone Care. They specialize in holistic hormone treatments personalized to your unique health needs.

What affects cholesterol levels?

Many factors can influence your cholesterol levels, including:

• Diet: Saturated and trans fats tend to raise LDL cholesterol levels. Foods high in soluble fiber can help lower LDL.
• Weight: Being overweight or obese tends to increase unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels.
• Physical activity: Regular exercise helps boost protective HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL.
• Age/gender: Total and LDL cholesterol levels tend to rise as we age. Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men.
• Genetics: High cholesterol can run in families.
• Medications: Certain drugs, like birth control pills or beta blockers, can raise cholesterol.

How to improve cholesterol levels

Here are some tips to help improve your cholesterol profile:

• Increase foods with healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, nuts
• Eat more soluble fiber - oats, beans, apples, pears
• Stay active with 150min per week of moderate activity
• Reach or maintain a healthy body weight
• Limit saturated fat, trans fat, sodium
• Take any medications as prescribed by your doctor

The caring health professionals at Harmony Hormone Care can provide customized guidance and support to help you reach your cholesterol goals through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and advanced hormone therapy as needed.

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