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Antioxidant
Antioxidants are believed to help the body's cells resist damage caused by free radicals, formed by normal bodily processes such as breathing or environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. When the body lacks adequate levels of antioxidants, free radical damage ensues, leading to increases in LDL-cholesterol oxidation and plaque formation on arterial walls. Antioxidants exist as vitamins, minerals and other compounds in a variety of foods.
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Artery, arteries
The blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
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Blood Cholesterol
Blood cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is essential for human life. It builds and repairs cells, it is used to produce sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, it is converted to bile acids to help you digest food and it is found in large amounts in brain and nerve tissue. Too much cholesterol in the blood, however, increases the risk of coronary heart disease and disease of the arteries. Contrary to popular belief, most cholesterol found in the blood is manufactured by the body itself, not derived through foods consumed in the diet. Dietary cholesterol is found only in animal foods such as egg yolks, butter, organ meats, beef, chicken, and shellfish.
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Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries when the heart beats. Doctors and nurses measure blood pressure by putting a cuff around your upper arm. Then they listen to your blood flow with a stethoscope. High blood pressure is also called "hypertension."
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Calorie
A calorie is a measure of energy that you get from the food you eat. A calorie from food is sometimes called a kilocalorie or a large calorie. There aren't different types of calories - the energy you get from a calorie in a piece of lettuce is the same as the energy you get from a calorie in a piece of meat.
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Cholesterol
The word cholesterol is used to describe different things. Dietary cholesterol is the cholesterol found in foods and blood cholesterol is the cholesterol in the bloodstream. A high intake of dietary cholesterol raises blood cholesterol levels in some adults.
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Dairy products
Milk and products made from milk, including cheese, yogurt, and butter.
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Deciliter (dL)
The metric unit (technically 0.10 liter or 0.21 pint) used to measure cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels are read as the milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, 200 mg/dL is considered a desirable level for total cholesterol.
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Dietary Cholesterol
Dietary cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in all foods of animal origin, including meat, fish, poultry, egg yolks and whole fat diary products. Because our bodies make cholesterol, it is not required in our diets. However, because most people eat foods that contain cholesterol, it's important to avoid excessive amounts. The amount of cholesterol you consume can affect your blood cholesterol levels.
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Dietary Fat
Dietary fat is a nutrient needed for an overall healthful lifestyle. Like carbohydrates and protein, dietary fat is an important source of energy for the body. Fat is the most concentrated source of energy in the diet, providing nine calories per gram compared with four calories per gram from either carbohydrates or protein.
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Electrolytes
Electrolytes are salts and other substances in body fluid that our vital organs need to function properly. Because they are charged particles, electrolytes that circulate in our blood set up a voltage gradient, like a battery, between cells for proper nerve and muscle function. Your heartbeat, for instance, is based on electrical impulses that require electrolytes. Our main electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, phosphate, calcium and magnesium.
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Familial Combined Hypercholesterolemia
An inherited disorder in which the liver overproduces VLDL, causing high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides, or both.
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Familial Hypercholesterolemia
An inherited disorder in which the liver cannot properly remove LDL particles from the blood, causing a very high cholesterol level.
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Folate, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6
These vitamins are essential for the metabolism of homocysteine, and help maintain normal levels of this amino acid. Current research suggests that elevated blood levels of homocysteine may be a major risk factor for heart disease and even modestly increased levels of this amino acid may promote atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies reveal that people with high homocysteine levels are deficient in the B vitamins: folate, B6 and B12.
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Garlic
Garlic is composed of many sulphur-containing substances, one of which is allinin. When garlic is crushed, the allinin becomes allicin. It is thought that allicin may affect the way in which the body deals with cholesterol.
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Heart Attack
A sudden loss of oxygen to the heart that damages heart muscle.
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Heart Disease
Heart disease is a term that includes several specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack.
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High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - or "good cholesterol" - takes cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it's either broken down or excreted. Higher levels of HDL in the blood seem to protect against heart disease.
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HMG-CoA Reductase
A class of enzymes involved in the production of cholesterol.
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Homocysteine
High blood levels of this amino acid have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other vascular diseases. Recently, several prospective studies have been published providing strong evidence that increased homocysteine levels may also increase the risk of developing vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Epidemiological studies reveal that people with high homocysteine levels are deficient in the B vitamins: folic acid, B6 and B12.
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Hyperlipidemia
High cholesterol levels in the blood.
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Inflammation
Inflammation is the body's protective response to injury, infection or allergy. But when inflammation occurs in coronary arteries - in response to damaged inflicted by oxidized LDL cholesterol - it can damage healthy arteries.
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Lipoprotein
The transport vehicle that carries fat throughout the body. Made up of protein, fat, and cholesterol.
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Lipoprotein Profile
An individual's levels of the different types of lipoproteins, or cholesterol, including LDL, HDL, VLDL, and triglycerides.
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Liver
The largest organ in the body, the liver is important in helping the body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
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Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - often known as bad cholesterol - carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells and, if supply exceeds demand, can cause harmful build-up of cholesterol. High levels of LDL are a risk factor for heart disease.
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Monounsaturated Fat
An unsaturated fat found in plant oils such as olive, canola and peanut oil as well as avocados and certain nuts. Monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. Eating more monounsaturated fats (instead of saturated fats such as butter and lard) can help lower cholesterol and heart-related health risks.
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National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)
Launched by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 1985, the NCEP works to reduce the incidence of high cholesterol and heart disease in the US by establishing guidelines and recommendations on cholesterol management and promoting them to health care professionals, patients, and the general public.
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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The federal government's centralized source for health information and research.
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Natural Health Product
Health Canada and the Natural Health Products Directorate have defined the term Natural Health Product (“NHP”) as naturally occurring substances that are consumed for the purpose of diagnosing, treating or preventing illness or maintaining or promoting health. Natural health product substances include plant, algal, fungal, or animal materials or extracts thereof; vitamins; minerals; amino acids; essential fatty acids and probiotics. Natural health products are usually sold in dosage form (capsule, pill, tablets or liquid extracts).
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Niacin
A member of the B-Group vitamins, Niacin helps process protein, carbohydrates, and fat and promotes healthy nervous and brain function. Niacin has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
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Nutrition
The food and liquid needed to maintain life and health.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A substance found in fish oil that is helpful in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
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Plant Sterols
Plant sterols (also known as phytosterols), are found in all plants including fruits and vegetables, and work to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the foods you eat.* In fact, studies have shown that daily phytosterols can lower these cholesterol measurements by an average of 10% to 14%. Because of these strong findings, the National Cholesterol Education Panel issued a new recommendation in 2001 that plant sterols be added to cholesterol-lowering regimens, along with the more traditional cholesterol-fighting tools, such as regular exercise, weight loss, and a low-fat diet.
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Plaque
A substance that accumulates in coronary arteries, clogs these arteries, and may eventually lead to heart disease and heart attack. Plaque is formed when excess cholesterol is deposited in the artery walls as it travels through the bloodstream. Special cells in the artery wall envelop the excess cholesterol, forming a bump in the artery wall. A hard coating, or scar, then forms over the cholesterol/cell mixture, creating plaque.
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Policosanol
Policosanol is natural extract derived from sugar cane. A number of scientific studies suggest that policosanol may lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The mechanism of action of cholesterol-lowering activity is not completely understood, however, some animal studies suggest that policosanol may by inhibit cholesterol production in the liver.
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Polyunsaturated Fat
An unsaturated fat that includes the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in vegetable oils, such as corn, safflower, soybean and sesame; Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in cold water fish, including salmon, mackerel and tuna. Polyunsaturated fats are liquid or soft at room temperature. Eating more polyunsaturated fats (instead of saturated fats such as butter and lard) can lower cholesterol and heart-related health risks.
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Protein
Protein is composed of a chain of amino acids. Our muscles, organs, and glands are largely made of protein. Our bodies can produce 13 of the 20 or so amino acids we need to make proteins, but the others (about 9) can be gotten only from food. There are 4 calories in each gram of protein.
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Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
The RDA is the average daily intake that will meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all healthy people in a specific age and gender category. In the past, the RDA of most nutrients represented the levels needed to prevent deficiency diseases such as rickets (lack of vitamin D) or scurvy (lack of vitamin C). Now, an RDA also includes the goal of preventing chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease, where applicable. The RDA of a nutrient is computed using the Estimated Average Intake (EAR), which represents the average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirement of half of the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.
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Saturated Fat
Saturated fat is generally solid at room temperature and is usually from animal sources. It's found in lard, butter, hard margarine, full-fat dairy products and anything that contains these ingredients, such as cakes, chocolate, biscuits, pies and pastries. Coconut, palm, and palm kernel oils also contain saturated fats. These fats are the biggest dietary cause of high LDL cholesterol.
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Soluble Fiber
Dietary fiber is found in plants, has no calories, and cannot be digested by humans. It makes us feel full and helps with digestion. There are two types: insoluble and soluble. Soluble fiber attracts water during digestion and slows the rate of nutrient absorption. It's found in oat bran, seeds, beans, and certain fruits and vegetables.
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Starch
Starch is a type of carbohydrate. It is found in plant-based foods, especially cereals, bread, potatoes, legumes (beans), pasta and rice, which are all classified as "starchy carbohydrates." Starch is also found in some fruits and vegetables.
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Stroke
When part of the brain suddenly loses circulation, cells in that area of the brain die from lack of oxygen, causing a loss of function.
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Total Blood Cholesterol
The total amount of all cholesterol in your blood. It is made up of three types: LDL, VLDL and HDL.
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Trans Fat
Trans fat is a type of processed fat that does not occur in nature (also called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat/oil) that is usually found in processed foods such as baked goods, snack foods, fried foods, shortening, margarine, salad dressings and certain vegetable oils.
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Trans-Resveratrol
Trans-Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in red wine that researchers believe may partly explain the "French Paradox": the observation that France has one of the world's lowest rates of heart disease despite relatively high levels of saturated fat and cigarette smoking. A series of epidemiologic and clinical studies suggest that one of the compounds in red wine, resveratrol, might provide additional protection from heart disease due to its ability to raise HDL cholesterol and prevent LDL cholesterol from forming.
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Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a kind of fat that is carried through your bloodstream in packages called lipoproteins. They also make up the majority of the fat that's stored in your fat tissue. Lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides are also rich in cholesterol, which has been shown to contribute to heart disease. So high triglycerides may be a sign of a cholesterol problem.
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Unsaturated Fats
Unsaturated fat comes primarily from plants and are liquid at room temperature. Eating more unsaturated fats (instead of saturated fats such as butter and lard) can help lower cholesterol and heart-related health risks. There are two main types of unsaturated fats: monounsaturated (such as olive and canola oils) and polyunsaturated (such as corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oils).
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Vegetable Sterol Complex, Phytosterols, Plant Sterols
Vegetable sterols (also known as phytosterols), are found in all plants including fruits and vegetables, and work to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the foods you eat. In fact, studies have shown that daily phytosterols can lower these cholesterol measurements by an average of 10% to 14%. Because of these strong findings, the National Cholesterol Education Panel issued a new recommendation in 2001 that plant sterols be added to cholesterol-lowering regimens, along with the more traditional cholesterol-fighting tools, such as regular exercise, weight loss, and a low-fat diet.
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Vitamin D
Vitamin D, calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is found in food, but also can be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralization in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, soft, or misshapen. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults -- skeletal diseases that result in defects that weaken bones.
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VLDL
Very Low Density Lipoprotein. VLDL transports triglycerides manufactured in the liver to fat tissue in the body; it eventually becomes low-density lipoprotein (LDL) after the triglyceride has been removed.
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