Dietary guidelines for lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) disorders

Information about risk factors for heart disease has focused attention on the unhealthy eating habits that have developed in the United States. We now know that an elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and a reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) identify patients at higher risk for heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.

Although we have terrific medicines to improve cholesterol profiles, they are not the first step. Every major health organization recommends dietary intervention as the first step.

To calculate your risk of developing heart disease, visit this site and see how you measure up:
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=prof (Remember, this is a screening tool and is not the solitary tool by which we make assessment of cardiovascular risk.)

If you are willing to make dietary modifications that may make medications unnecessary, visit these sites to get more information:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.pdf (National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) recommendations. These are a must for patients who would like to avoid medications at all costs.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/index.htm (Guidelines to prevent heart disease or manage heart disease if already present.) Here is an excellent site explaining heart diseases in detail: http://cardioconnection.org/

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1088 (The American Heart Association website is an outstanding resource for information about lifestyle modification.)

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4644 (Mediterranean diet - to which I may have specifically directed you!) And for variety: http://www.mediterrasian.com/

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3010801 (Answers questions about the Atkins diet.)

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/inside.asp?AID=651&UID= (If you are way the heck out there, you will definitely like this very technical article about the evolution of the eating habits of our species. This is as good as it gets - I personally try to eat this kind of diet.)