National Cholesterol is recognized during the month of September, and the Dallas County Health Department strategizes ways to keep it in check.

Community Health Educator Natalie Peters tells Raccoon Valley Radio that cholesterol is a waxy substance in a person’s blood stream that is needed for the body to function, but too much causes inflation in the arteries. She explains that high cholesterol can ultimately lead to heart disease due to arteries blocking blood to the heart and other organs. Peters highlights that the two types of cholesterol are LDL and HDL.

“LDL is the bad cholesterol. Foods that are high in saturated fat, like processed meats, fried foods, butter, things like that, those can increase LDL levels, which is what you don’t want. But on the other hand, HDL is the good cholesterol because it actually removes that LDL from the blood. You want to eat foods that are high in unsaturated fats, healthy fats, and fibers. Those would be fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts, and fish.”

Peters outlines that making lifestyle choices of eating healthier, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking products will assist in strengthening cholesterol levels. She recommends getting a blood test to check cholesterol status, and should be done about every five years for most people, with the exception of individuals 65 years and older that should be done once a year. For more information, contact the Dallas County Health Department at (515)-993-3750.