Mark’s Total Cholesterol is below 186mg/dl and that is good, as it is under the 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less that is a desirable level. His HDL cholesterol that protects against heart disease is 45mg/dL under the 60 mg/dL considered optimal but above the 40 mg/dL considered low. However, it is close and he needs counseling to raise it. His LDL cholesterol of 119mg/dL is within the near optimal range of 100 to 129 mg/dL This LDL level is higher than the American mean level of 115 md/dL and Mark should work to reduce it. His Triglycerides at 112mg/dL are below the optimal level of less than 100 mg/dL but within the normal range of less than 150 and less than the American meal level of144.2 mg/dL..
People concerned with maintaining good heath should select a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, with a moderate fat intake. . People who suffer fron high blood pressure or diabetes “should limit their sodium intake to no more than 2,300–2,400 mg a day. People with heart failure or kidney disease are advised to keep their sodium intake under 2,000 mg a day.” . Mark’s diet, including the home cooked meals, is high in processed foods that customarily contain high levels of sodium and unhealthy fats. There is no specification as to whether or not the turkey in the turkey sandwich is commercially prepared, but the turkey bacon certainly is. Other meals feature Prego sauce, Tombstone Pepperoni pizza, and Hamburger helper all of which can be sneaky sources of sodium and unhealthy fats. That they are part of a homemade meal deflects attention from the fact that they may contain dietetically harmful ingredients. Unfortunately, that tends to make people more casual when choosing restaurant selections such as the two Bojangles Sausage Biscuits or a Cinnamon Roll at Panera Bread along with beer and peanuts on the weekends. .
“The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) dietary pattern is recommended by the
American Heart Association and the National Cancer Institute.” . The Colorado State University System maintains a web site based on the DASH Diet Plan that includes a full fact sheet on diet. . (See: Addendum A).
Bibliography
Harvard Heart Letter. (2006). Watching daily sodium intake is important for some. Retrieved from Harvard University Health Beat: http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/daily-sodium-intake
American Heart Association. (2014). Sodium and Salt. Retrieved from American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Sodium-Salt-or-Sodium-Chloride_UCM_303290_Article.jsp
American Heart Association Staff. (2013, 11 12). What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean. Retrieved from American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/What-Your-Cholesterol-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp
Bellows, L., & Moore, R. (2014). http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09318.pdf. Retrieved from Colorado State University: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09318.pdf
Bruso, J. (2014). Recommended Daily Allowances of Fats, Sugars, Sodium for Adults. Retrieved from SFGate: http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/recommended-daily-allowances-fats-sugars-sodium-adults-2976.html
Health.Gov. (2014). Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat. Retrieved from Health.Gov: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2000/document/choose.htm
