Stillwater Living Magazine February 2014 | Page 8

living well A healthy lifestyle helps to lower both cholesterol and triglycerides. You have heard this all before but it bears repeating: -Control your weight -Cutback on sugary calories and highly processed foods such as frozen prepared dinners. Learn to read the nutrition information on packages. -Limit the cholesterol in your diet. Dairy products, milk, cheese sour cream, butter and ice cream are major offenders. Look for “No Fat” milk, cheeses and sour cream. Several excellent butter substitutes are available. Try sherbet in place of ice cream. Olive oil, safflower oil, and canola oil are excellent for cooking. They have no cholesterol but, they are very high in calories. We all know the rules, but feel they just don’t apply to us. They do apply to each of us!! We have to take control of our own risky behaviors to improve our own lives. The new cholesterol guidelines are just guidelines. They are not absolutes. If you take cholesterol medicines of any type, discuss them with your physician and NEVER stop a prescribed medicine without first contacting your physician. 8 FEBRUARY 2014 | STILLWATER LIVING MAGAZINE