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  Many factors can affect the cholesterol levels in your blood. You can control some factors, but not others. Factors You Can Control Diet Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. Some foods have fats that raise your cholesterol level. For example, saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. Saturated fat is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods. Trans fatty acids ( trans fats) raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Trans fats are made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to harden it. Trans fats are found in some fried and processed foods. Limiting foods with cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can help you control your cholesterol levels. Physical Activity and Weight Lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain. Be...

What Is Cholesterol?  Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body.Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also is found in some of the foods you eat. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). These packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoproteins is important. LDL cholesterol sometimes is called “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body.) HDL cholesterol sometimes is called “good” cholesterol. This is because it...

  People who ate one serving (3/4 cup) of non-oil-seed legumes a day exhibited a 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol.     Chickpeas, beans, lentils or peas can keep away "bad cholesterol" with just one serving per day . Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Non-oil-seed pulses, such as beans, chickpeas, lentils and peas, are already recommended as part of dietary guidelines to prevent major chronic diseases. A large observational study has also linked consumption of these pulses with lower LDL cholesterol levels. The researchers acknowledge though that legume intake in many Western countries, such as Canada and the US, is quite low. "Canadians have a lot of room in their diets to increase their pulse intake and derive cardiovascular benefits," states Dr. Sievenpiper. "Only 13% consume pulses on any given day, and of those who do, the average intake is only about a half s...

Chocolate is made from tropical Theobroma cacao tree seeds. The earliest use of chocolate dates back to the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica. After the discovery of the Americas, chocolate became very popular in Europe, and its demand exploded. Chocolate has since become an incredibly popular food product that millions indulge in everyday for its unique, rich, and sweet taste. But what effects does eating chocolate have on our health? Benefits of chocolate Chocolate fat content, and its consumption has been associated with acne, obesity, high  blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes. However, "the recent discovery of biologically active phenolic compounds in cocoa has changed this perception and stimulated research on its effects in ageing, oxidative stress, blood pressure regulation, and atherosclerosis. Today, chocolate is lauded for its tremendous antioxidant potential." The potential benefits of eating chocolate are said to include: low...

  More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and by 2050, this number is expected to increase to 16 million. With figures like these, the race is on to find ways to prevent Alzheimer's. Now, a new study by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY, finds that a cocoa extract could do just that. The research team, led by Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti, a professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine, found that a cocoa extract - called lavado - may reduce or block damage to nerve pathways found in patients with Alzheimer's disease . This means that symptoms of the condition - such as cognitive decline - could be prevented. According to the investigators, lavado cocoa extract is a minimally processed cocoa that is high in polyphenols - antioxidants that are also found in fruits and vegetables. Past research has indicated that polyphenol-rich diets may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. With thi...

 ` Brown fat is a beneficial type of fat that burns energy and glucose to make heat, it protects against diabetes and obesity. Now, new research suggests long-term exposure to cold environments can stimulate growth of this "good" fat in humans, potentially benefiting glucose and energy metabolism.. Research has shown  People with abundant brown fat stores tend to be lean and have low blood sugar levels, and they even showed that ordinary white fat cells can transform into the beneficial brown fat cells. However, until now, how brown fat is regulated in humans and its relationship with metabolism has been unclear. Cold increased brown fat, while warmth suppressed it New study suggests exposure to mild, colder tempratures stimulates "good" brown fat , while exposure to warmer temprature suppresses it.  The Experiment. During the first month, the rooms were set at 24º C, which the researchers describe as a "thermo-neutral" temperature at which ...

Skin cancer, melanoma is spreading more than all other cancers combined despite regulations on tanning beds and sunscreen labeling.  Why the surge in skin cancer? We have moremobile society – cheap flight to islands…more outdoor and leisure activities. The Risk Several factors can increase a person’s risk of melanoma including sun exposure, sunburns, the number of moles on a person’s skin and family history. A recent study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, suggests that experiencing five or more sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 could increase melanoma risk by 80 percent. Prevention According to the American Cancer society, sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers. Ever since the first sunscreen was invented in the 1930’s, the thick and smelly topical has always been the first line of defense against harmful UV rays. But new research out of Manchester University and London’s Ins...