Hi Guys! I'm soooo sorry for these long gaps in between my posts. I really am trying to do better, but I've been working like a slave! You will be happy to know that I am still working out 5 times a week, and I think that I really have made exercise a part of my lifestyle.

And yet...I have high cholesterol. I've had it since I was a teenager, and even though I eat vastly different than I did at that time...I just can't shake it. I'm not a HUGE meat eater, and when I do have meat, then it's rarely red meat. I do like the shellfish, though, so perhaps that's the problem. I'm not sure, but I do know that I'm going to have to do something different. A daily pill regimen is NOT what I'm trying to begin. That being said...I'm going to start a little series on diet and cholesterol.

Today we'll begin with 'What the hell is cholesterol?'

According to the American Heart Association: "Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it's used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other needed bodily functions. But too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and for stroke."

Apparently there are some 'good' and some 'bad' types of cholesterol. My good cholesterol is just as it should be, but my bad levels are a tad bit high.

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol: When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.

HDL (good) Cholesterol: About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.

Next time I'll talk more about what causes bad cholesterol levels and how to reverse it!