Lower Cholesterol

After your doctor warned you about your cholesterol that doesn't mean you need to cut your fat intake, it may not be the best prescription for you, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition. People with normal or low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, did see greater improvement in their cholesterol levels while on a lowfat diet (i.e., 31 percent of their calories came from fat). Those with high CRP levels experienced a bigger cholesterol drop when they ate a little extra healthy fat (36 percent of calories). Researchers suspect inflammation may interfere with the body's absorption of cholesterol. Unsaturated fats such as those found in certain oils and nuts, have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about getting a CRP test.