Private MD News - Advanced Lipid Treatment I

Cholesterol testing kits can help people learn whether they should change their diet and engage in more exercise than they currently do in order to improve their levels. While most people know that consuming red meat and other foods high in saturated fat may increase the amount of low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, in their bodies, they may have trouble identifying which foods can help lower cholesterol.

Recently, researchers from Penn State, Tufts University and University of Pennsylvania determined that one thing people can do if they want to potentially improve their cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels is consume walnuts. The scientists found that eating whole walnuts or their extracted oil may reduce the risk of heart disease. While this is something that researchers have long known, scientists now understand why it works.

Walnuts are a superfood... Full Story

For years, fast food was known as the worst type of food a person could consume, since it is so packed with fat and sugar. In recent years, there has been an effort within the fast food industry to offer healthier options on their menus. However, this doesn't mean that people who eat these foods regularly aren't in need of blood tests to check their cholesterol levels. According to recent research funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Healthy Eating Research program, fast food menus are only slightly healthier than they were years ago, and much improvement is still needed.

The report also discovered that more than 25 percent of American adults eat fast food two or more times a week. Clearly, it's important for people to know what they are putting into their bodies when they consume these potentially unhealthy foods.

Improvements are slow and small ... Full Story