Lower trans fats to lower cholesterol levels

March 19, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have a high cholesterol level that I have been trying to lower – rather unsuccessfully I might add. I’ve been told if I modify my junk food pattern consumption and additionally lower my trans fats, I will have an easier time keeping my numbers in line.

This brings me to my main question. What in the world are trans fats? I see food labels (to include those ingredients that are bad for me) that indicate “zero trans fats” on the label but are those trans fats hidden to make things taste better and how bad are they for me, anyway? I really need an education here.

DEAR READER: Trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil through a process known as hydrogenation. This is a good thing for the producer but a bad thing for the consumer. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , ,

The skinny on fats

March 17, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Although I’ve had high LDL and cholesterol readings for nearly 30 years and resisted taking statins, when I had an SCA caused by cardiomyopathy (a dilated left ventricle) the hospital’s cath lab reported that my arteries were “beautifully clear”.

I had heard that some of us are lucky (or blessed) to have bodies that don’t respond to high cholesterol by forming plaque, that the cholesterol in our bodies somehow doesn’t stick to artery walls. Short of having a camera running through the arteries, how can someone find out how seriously to take the usual advice about getting one’s LDL below a certain number?
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , ,