Triglycerides are a form of fat carried in the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat in the form of triglycerides is stored in fat tissue. Only a small segment of triglycerides is in the bloodstream. High triglyceride levels alone do not cause atherosclerosis. However, lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides also contain cholesterol, which causes atherosclerosis in some people with high triglycerides. You should aim to keep your triglycerides low. Usually high triglycerides is also associated with high cholesterol levels.

What are the factors that make cholesterol high or low? Heredity plays a large role in determining your LDL –cholesterol levels. One form of inherited high cholesterol affects 1 in 500 people. It is called familial hyercholesterolemia, and often leads to early CHD.

Diets high in saturated fat, mainly from foods that come from animals, often cause of LDL-cholesterol levels to increase. Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet is a significant step in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Weight, in excess, tends to increase LDL-cholesterol levels. If you are overweight (please refer to the Body Mass Calculator found on the Advanced Diet page to determine your ideal body weight) losing weight may help lower triglycerides and raise HDL.

Age affects LDL-cholesterol levels, especially in women. Prior to menopause, women most often have lower cholesterol levels than men of the same age. As women age, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about the age of 60 to 65. Menopause often increases LDL-cholesterol and decreases HDL-cholesterol. After the age of 50, women generally have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

Alcohol intake increases HDL- cholesterol but does not decrease LDL-cholesterol. While drinking in moderation may help, too much alcohol can damage the liver, heart muscle, increase blood pressure, and raise triglycerides.

Stress has been shown to raise blood cholesterol levels. Many times, people under pressure console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to high LDL levels (Please read about the benefits of the Stress Free Formula).

Why the Complete Cholesterol Formula?

The most important approach to lowering high cholesterol is a healthy lifestyle and diet. This ideal, however, does not work for everyone and medication or herbal supplementation is required. Many cholesterol lowering medications are toxic to the liver, and may be carcinogenic (cause cancer).

The M.D. Healthilne Complete Cholesterol Formula supports healthy cholesterol levels without the side effects of many prescription medications. Clinical studies have shown that the unique ingredients found in the Complete Cholesterol Formula result in a dramatic decrease of LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), decrease triglycerides, and increase HDL (the "good" cholesterol).