Individuals who might be at risk for high cholesterol will need to have blood tests done in order to determine how high the cholesterol really is. Depending upon the results of those tests, a physician might prescribe a diet, or even medication to help lower cholesterol. Many people who are scheduled to come in for lab work are told to fast, or not anything from a certain point before the scheduled test. Below, we’ll discuss fasting, cholesterol and testing.

Simple Cholesterol Tests

For a simple cholesterol test, you probably won’t be asked to fast. The reason is because the test measures just the total cholesterol levels and HDL or high-density lipoprotein, which is often called ‘good cholesterol’ because it helps lower LDL or low-density lipoprotein – which is considered bad cholesterol. The simple cholesterol test can give physicians a good idea of how high your cholesterol is and how healthy you are.

For the fasting cholesterol test, you will not be allowed to eat for several hours before your blood is taken. It is a very complete test and measures LDL and HDL cholesterol as well as triglycerides. This gives doctors a complete view of how high your cholesterol really is and how damaging it could be to your health. If you’ve eaten recently, it could affect the results of the test so that your doctor doesn’t get an accurate reading. This is dangerous, as you could be placed on medication that you don’t actually need.

The cholesterol tests enable doctors to make educated decisions about your health. Although it’s annoying to have to fast in order to receive the tests, it really is an investment in your health and should be taken seriously. Your body will thank you later.

You can place yourself on a healthy and lower cholesterol reducing diet without going insane! With the right kind of substitutes, you will never even miss your favorite high cholesterol and high fat foods. If you have no idea what to do when trying to create a lower cholesterol reducing recipe, there are some really great tips that you can use to help you out a bit. Here is some more information for creating a healthy, low cholesterol diet.

Things to Include in Your Diet

There are some really important cholesterol fighting foods that you should include in your diet. They promote good health and fight heart disease, cancer and other health conditions. Oat Bran, Oats and Barley all contain sticky fiber. Since most of the digesting is done in the intestines, this is important. These things have been found to remove cholesterol that comes from the individual’s diet as well as from the bile duct. It stops the cholesterol in the intestines from moving into the blood stream. These are very important foods for a lower cholesterol reducing diet. Almonds and other tree nuts that are eaten raw will help lower cholesterol and promote good health. These are great when you’re in the mood for a snack and want to keep it healthy!

Substitute Foods

If you think ‘yuck’ when you think ‘tofu,’ perhaps you should give it a more in depth look! You can find substitute meats and cheeses that actually taste great! In fact, there are pre-packaged sausage patties, hamburgers, cheese, snacks and more that are seasoned with healthy herbs and sauces, making them taste just like the real thing. Think about it. You can enjoy a big, juicy hamburger and not feel guilty because it’s completely made from vegetables. Experimenting with different brands is a great idea because you can find foods that you truly love. One idea is to get suggestions from friends who use substitute foods or ask your nutritionist to suggest something that’s popular. Morning Star Farms is a great brand to find yummy tasting, healthy foods.

Other Important Tips

Garlic is amazing for lowering cholesterol. In fact, it’s also very health promoting as an anti-inflammatory and helps fight the risk for certain chronic diseases. Include garlic in your diet and if you really like garlic, that’s great because the more you include, the better. Of course, you don’t want to walk around smelling like a vampire repellant so finding a great balance is key. This is a great way to avoid salt as well by using garlic to season your favorite foods. Another thing you want to do for a lower cholesterol reducing diet is drink plenty of water. Water helps your body flush out toxins, fats and cholesterol. Of course, experts recommend 8 (8oz) glasses spread out throughout your day.

There are so many different options that you just shouldn’t limit yourself to thinking that you can’t have a lower cholesterol reducing diet. You really can by following the tips above and by doing your own research and experiments to see what works best for you. It’s your body so take care of it!