The Problem of Elevated Ldl Blood Cholesterol and It's Solution by a New Diet

Missy has a family history of heart disease, so she chooses to live an active lifestyle. She runs almost every day and lifts weights 3x per week. During her annual doctor’s appointment, Missy discovers that she has high LDL cholesterol; her doctor explains that this is a risk factor for heart disease. Confused by the news, Missy’s doctor explains that her elevated LDL blood cholesterol is likely due to her diet.

When asked about her diet, Missy explains that she eats beef, poultry or pork nearly every day for dinner. She eats a salad (with shredded cheese, onions, cucumbers, Ranch dressing, and croutons) and another side dish such as buttered potatoes or rice, vegetables sautéed in coconut oil or hard stick margarine made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, cheesy broccoli, creamy coleslaw, or Alfredo pasta. She typically cooks her meat with a pat of butter and explains that the fat provides more flavor. Her other dietary staples include fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. She drinks whole-milk with her breakfast which may include eggs and a doughnut. She typically eats ice cream or cheese cake for dessert. Missy doesn’t usually buy fish because she did not eat it growing up, but she orders it at restaurants occasionally. She likes to snack on hard-boiled eggs, protein bars, pre-packaged muffins, cheese and crackers made with partially hydrogenated oil, or full-fat yogurt with granola.

1. Explain why Missy’s diet may cause an elevated LDL cholesterol. What type of fat is responsible for this? What types of fats are the “good” fats, and which are the “bad” fats?

Missy have too much “bad” fats in her diet.Her diet contains a lot of fatty foods and she eats them frequently.She has a lot of saturated and trans fatty acid in her system. The “good” fats are called unsaturated fats while the “bad” ones are called trans-fat which Missy has a lot of. That is why she has a risk of high blood cholesterol.

2. List the foods Missy is eating that can cause high LDL levels?

Missy eats beef and pork cooked in butter. Fired chicken and mac and cheese. She also eats buttered potatoes/rice, cheesy broccoli, creamy coleslaw and alfredo sauce way to frequently. All these foods have a high level of blood cholesterol.Way too much oil and saturated fat.

3. Explain to Missy why eating fish may be beneficial to her health. What type of fats are found in fish?

Fish contains a lot of proteins such as omega 3’s.

4. How much fish should she be eating each week?

Due to her lack of poor diet and a lot of trans-fat in her system she will need to eat fish about 3-4 time a week to help reduce her high blood cholesterol. She should also bake the fish instead of frying it. When frying she will lose majority of the proteins

5. If Missy is unwilling to give up her largely carnivore diet, what are some ways that she can prepare her meat and poultry to reduce the amount of saturated fats in her diet?

A couple of ways she can help reduce her saturated fats is only eat a small amount, too much is not good. Instead of frying her food she should back them. Add more vegetables in her dishes. She should also cut down on the butter and oils, too much is no good.

6. If Missy is willing to make some changes in her diet, give her some suggestions as to what she could substitute for the foods she is eating to lower her risk for heart disease.

Instead of fry chicken she should eat bake chicken or bake fish. Switch the butter potatoes for squash or asparagus. Substitute rice for quinoa. She should also cut down on the sweets and go fruits.

7. Missy asks if she should be on a fat-free or very low-fat diet. What do you tell her?

In her conduction I think it will be hard for her to go on a fat free diet especially since her body is not going to be used to sudden changes. It’s best for her to switch to a low-fat diet. When it comes to your diet it’s better to take baby steps or her body may not react in a good way. Low fat is the best way to go. Start of small by reducing all the trans-fat.

8. Explain to Missy which poses more of a risk for heart disease, dietary cholesterol or saturated fat.

She may exercise like every day but that means nothing if your consuming a lot of trans fat in your system. If she continues to eat the way she is now she may have a heart attack or a stroke. She’s eating a lot of trans fat foods and not a lot of vegetables and fruits. Her diet is imbalance.

9. Missy shows you a food label that has 18% saturated fat and asks if it is ok for her to eat this product. What do you tell her and why?

I will tell her that is not a good product for her to eat Too much saturated fat in one product is a red flag. Each product should not have more then 10% of saturated fat in my opinion.

10. Is Missy eating any foods with trans fat? If so, list them.

Pretty much anything that is fried have a lot of trans fat. Some foods she’s eating that have trans-fat is fired chicken, mac and cheese, doughnuts, cheesy broccoli, creamy coleslaw and the anything she cooked with too much butter and oil.

Keep in mind:
This is only a sample.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay
11. What role does trans fat play in the risk for developing heart disease?

Trans fat is hard to burn off. They pretty much sit there and build up. They clog up your blood cells and increase your cholesterol.