*Screams*

I HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL!

I asked my doctor to order a lipid panel because I hadn't gotten tested in a few years. He laughed and said I had nothing to worry about especially because my last labs were perfect. But it couldn't hurt to get a baseline right? And guess what? My total cholesterol is 206 and my LDL is 133. When did this happen??? ARGH. I am getting OLD and I do NOT like it!

"Ms. Christine F Lin -Your cholesterol is elevated. Please follow a low fat diet and increase your daily exercise if possible. Please repeat a test in 2-3 months. Take care.

How can you care for yourself at home?

- Eat a variety of foods every day. Good choices include fruits, vegetables, whole grains (like oatmeal), dried beans and peas, nuts and seeds, soy products (like tofu), and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
- Replace butter, margarine, and "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils with olive and canola oils. (Canola oil margarine without "trans" fat is fine.)
- Replace red meat with fish, poultry, and soy protein (like tofu).
- Bake, broil, or steam foods instead of frying them.
- Limit foods high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks.
- Be physically active. Exercise increases your HDL, or "good" cholesterol level. Build up slowly to 30 to 60 minutes of activity on 5 or more days each week. You can do your exercise all at one time or spread out in shorter sessions. Pick an activity you enjoy.
- Stay at a healthy weight or lose weight by making the changes in eating and physical activity presented above. Losing just a small amount of weight, even 5 to 10 pounds, can reduce your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
- Do not smoke. Smoking can increase the chance you will have a heart attack. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good."

Which brings me to some of new year resolutions... I have a huge list for 2009 which I'll post up in a few.