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For these reasons, diet and lifestyle should be your first defense against high cholesterol and medications should only be used to complement or supplement these positive changes in your life. For example, the process of pasteurization eliminates some of the harmful elements in milk that can make us sick. Always be sure to tell your doctor about all medication, herbal treatments, vitamins, and over the counter products you are taking. In some cases, processed foods are treated to eliminate bacteria or make foods healthier. Take your children food shopping - especially when you are shopping for fresh produce. Many pharmacists have a vast knowledge of cholesterol and heart medications, conditions, and treatments.

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If you can make low-fat alternatives easier to reach for than fast food, you are more likely to reach for meals and foods that are good for you as well as schedule-friendly. This is because many restaurants add lots of fat and salt to their foods in order to cheaply add texture and taste. This isnt hard to do, even if you are lost in the kitchen. Soy milk, a much better alternative, has 1 gram of saturated fat in a two cup serving, making it much lower in saturated fat.

Good Cholesterol Resources

There are a number of places you will want to check in order to find more help with lowering your cholesterol. Consider the following resources:

1) Your library. Your library will have many resources that can help you with lowering your cholesterol. From library books about cholesterol to cookbooks that feature heart-friendly recipes, the library should be one of your first stops when you are looking for resources

2) Your hospital or clinic. Whether it is research studies that allow you to try new treatments for cholesterol-lowering, pamphlets about cholesterol, or experts that can answer all your questions, clinics and hospitals are a great place to find the information you need to stay healthy.

3) Professional groups. You can contact the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics of the American Dietetic Association if you need a registered dietitian to help you in choosing the right foods. You can also contact groups such as the American Heart Association or the Canadian Heart and Stroke Association for Cholesterol-healthy tips and eating guidelines and for more information about cholesterol and heart health.

These organizations also host fund-raising efforts to help raise awareness of heart issues and to raise funds for research. This can be a great way to get involved in helping to improve the lives of everyone affected by high cholesterol levels.

4) Internet newsletters and support groups. You need to take the advice you get here with a grain of salt, but these groups are invaluable for giving you tips, recipes, and support that can make lowering your cholesterol bearable.

5) In-person support groups. These often meet at libraries or other public places and can be a good way to get support and find out how others deal with high cholesterol and cholesterol-lowering treatments and medications.

6) Computer programs. There are computer programs and planners you can buy that can prompt you to take your medication, allow you to create a computer cholesterol log, and keep track of your daily calories, fat grams, sodium intake, and cholesterol.

7) Food guides. These handy guides are sold at many bookstores and can tell you exactly how much cholesterol, sodium, fat, and other elements are contained in each food. This can make it easier for you to calculate what you are eating.

8) Medical supplies. There are counters and monitors that can help you keep track of your blood pressure and cholesterol at home. These can be handy in the long run for keeping track of your progress.

9) Cholesterol clinics. As cholesterol becomes a bigger issue, many pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics offer free workshops, information sessions, and even free cholesterol testing. Often free, these can be great resources for learning more about cholesterol and for having your cholesterol tested.

10) Pharmacies. Many pharmacists have a vast knowledge of cholesterol and heart medications, conditions, and treatments. Many pharmacies have pamphlets, booklets, and even videos that can inform you about cholesterol treatments and options. Your local pharmacy can be a great place to learn more about keeping your heart safe.

11) Medical Alert bracelets. These bracelets tell health care professionals of you have heightened cholesterol, other serious conditions, or are on cholesterol medication. If you are injured or unable to speak for yourself in a medical emergency, these bracelets can tell health care professionals which treatments can help you and which can harm you. If you have been told you have elevated cholesterol, you may consider getting these inexpensive bracelets at your local pharmacy.

If you make most of your diet fresh fruits and vegetables, you will enjoy lower cholesterol. In general, you do not want to think of foods as bad or good, as most foods can be part of your diet, however if you have high cholesterol, you will want to be careful about your consumption of eggs or switch to egg whites only. Your cholesterol will fall even more quickly if you eliminate them entirely.