High cholesterol is bad for our health so it’s important to keep it low. But what is high cholesterol? As there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, it can be confusing as to what constitutes ‘high’ cholesterol.
Total cholesterol should be less than 5mmol/L (the measurement of blood cholesterol) while you should aim to keep your LDL cholesterol to less than 3mmol/L.
It’s always best to talk to your doctor about your cholesterol level and how often you should have it checked. You may wonder if you can consume foods with plant sterols and take cholesterol medication? If you are taking cholesterol lowering medication you should ask your doctor's advice on whether consuming foods with added plant sterols is suitable for you. It’s important to remember that products containing plant sterols are not a substitute for cholesterol medications prescribed by your doctor.
Foods containing added plant sterols are exclusively produced for people with raised cholesterol. These foods may not be nutritionally suitable for pregnant and breast feeding women or children under 5 years old.
To find out how to lower your cholesterol click here.
