Creatinine is a breakdown of creatine and is used for energy production.

Why is it important for a person to have his or her creatinine levels checked regularly?
The reason a person needs to have his or her creatinine levels checked regularly is because the amount of creatinine in the blood is an indication of how well the kidneys are functioning.

What are normal creatinine levels?
Normal creatinine levels fall between 0.6 to 1.2 milliliters in males, and 0.5 to 1.1 in females.


What can cause a person’s creatinine levels to be to low?
Malnutrition, weight loss, and certain illnesses can cause a person’s creatinine levels to drop below normal.

What can cause a person’s creatinine levels to be elevated?
When there is something wrong with a person’s kidneys, it can raise his or her creatinine levels. Illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure can contribute to this.

Are there any symptoms associated with high creatinine levels?
Some individuals have no symptoms at all, but when there are symptoms present the following are the most common: dehydration, fatigue, shortness of breath, and confusion. If a person has any of those symptoms, it is important that he or she see a doctor immediately.

What exactly are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a measure of the amount of fat in the blood.

What are normal triglyceride levels?
Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. Bordeline high is 150-199, high is 200-499, and very high is over 500.

What causes a person’s triglyceride levels to be elevated?
Obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and a diet that is high in fat may cause a person’s triglyceride levels to be elevated.



What are some of the symptoms that may be present when someone has high triglycerides.
A person who has high triglycerides is usually asymptomatic. If a person does have symptoms, he or she will see fatty deposits underneath the skin.

How will I know If I have high triglycerides?
Since a person with this condition rarely shows any symptoms, the only way to know for sure is to see one’s doctor and get a blood test.

What are some things that can be done to lower triglyceride levels?
A doctor may prescribe a medication that will lower triglyceride levels, but there are quite a few things that a person can do that will reduce his or her triglyceride levels. Eating healthy and exercising can help a person reduce his or her levels.

Why Should I be Concerned about the Cholesterol Content in Food?
The reason people should be concerned about the cholesterol in their food is because foods certain foods can raise cholesterol. High cholesterol is linked to numerous health conditions including heart disease.

Does cheese have a lot of cholesterol in it?
It depends on the type of cheese. Some types of cheese are not only high in cholesterol, but also high in saturated fat. Saturated fat is something that can also raise blood cholesterol levels.



Does cheddar cheese have less cholesterol than other types of cheese?
It depends. A person should opt for low fat cheddar cheese because it contains much less saturated fat and cholesterol than other types of cheese.

It seems like it is best to reduce the intake of cheese in general, what are some ways that I can do that?
There are several ways that a person can reduce his or her cheese intake. One way is to hold the cheese on burgers and sandwiches. Another way is to opt for cheese free dishes, such as pizza and spaghetti. Additionally, eating more fruits, grains, and vegetables will also help a person reduce his or her cheese intake.

What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin is the yellow by product of the liver’s waste.

What causes levels the level of bilirubin to rise?
An increased breakdown of red blood cells can raise the levels of bilirubin slightly. The use of drugs can cause a moderate rise in bilirubin levels. Chemotherapy, Cirrhosis, and hepatitis can raise the level of bilirubin to a dangerously high level. Additionally, frequent alcohol use also raises bilirubin levels.



Is there any long term damage associated with a high bilirubin level?
A high bilirubin level can lead to a condition called jaundice. This is a liver disease that is characterized by yellow eyes and yellow skin.

What are some of the symptoms of high bilirubin levels?
The symptoms of a high bilirubin level include: yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, vomiting, and fatigue.
How can high bilirubin levels be treated?
The treatment depends on what is causing the high bilirubin levels. Some possible treatments are prescription medication and a liver transplant.

How long does it take bilirubin levels to go down?
It depends on how well the individual responds to the treatment. Doctors will continuously monitor the patient until his or her levels return to normal.

Read to find out some truths about lowering cholesterol naturally..

1) What can be the causes behind high cholesterol?
- Stress
- Bad Diet
- Lack of Exercise
- Weight
- Smoking and Consumption of alcohol.

2) Is it possible to lower cholesterol naturally?
- Yes, it is possible to lower cholesterol naturally without the help on any medication.

3) Why is lowering cholesterol naturally always better than the prevention medications that are
prescribed to lower the cholesterol?
- These prescribed medicines can lead to many side effects like tiredness, loss of memory, weakness in muscles, liver inflammation and abnormalities. So in order to avoid such damage, it is always wise to adopt natural methods to lower cholesterol.



4)What are some of the simple ways in which cholesterol can be lowered naturally?
- Avoid eating fat food and trans fat. Instead eat high fiber foods.
- Exercise regularly and try to maintain a normal and healthy body weight.
- Cut off caffeine and alcohol and have lots of water.
- Limit yourself while having sweets and refined food.

5) How long does it take for these natural methods to work?
- Depends upon how strictly one follows these methods regularly.

This is a question asked by many people after they check their cholesterol levels through a blood test. The blood test gives them numbers, of course, but most people have no idea what these numbers mean or represent. They could have a too high or low LDL level and not even know it, which is why it is beneficial to know what terms such as LDL and HDL mean.

Before you find out what the proper LDL level should be, it helps to know the meaning of it first. To begin with, the lower the LDL level you have, the better it is for you. LDL is the bad cholesterol floating in your bloodstream.



This type of cholesterol has the potential to cause blockages by setting the stage for mineral and fat deposits. This type of fat can also damage your arteries. LDL stands for low density lipoprotein or, more easily understood, bad cholesterol.

The type of cholesterol you want hanging around your arteries is HDL, which stands for high density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol. Increasing this type of cholesterol and decreasing LDL is defintely the way to go.

Finally, the normal amount of LDL cholesterol in a person should be less than 130 mg/dL. As for HDL, it should be greater than 30 mg/dL.

Cholesterol is one of these weird things that until about twenty years ago no-one bothered about.  However, over the past few years many of us have been told that we need to reduce our cholesterol levels.  To confuse matters more there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol but doctors will normally refer to an overall figure.

It is important to keep the cholesterol levels within safe limits, and even more important if there is a history of heart problems.

Cholesterol Levels

In the United States cholesterol figures are based on milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dl) of blood.  The figure which should be aimed for is 200 mg/dl which is the preferred level.  If the figure is up to 239 mg/dl that is a little high and over 240 mg/dl is too high.

Most European countries accept that a good overall cholesterol figure is 5.2 millimoles per liter.  Anything above 6.0 is considered to be high and requires medical intervention.

Red Wine and how it can Improve Cholesterol Levels

I only mention the European figures because I had a problem with cholesterol levels and mine escalated to 9.8 for no particular reason.  The doctors tried giving me cholesterol reducing tablets which caused a problem with other tablets and I was, after a short time, taken off them.

I didn’t drink much wine until one day the doctor suggested that I tried a couple of glasses of red wine every evening to see if it would help. As instructed I did imbibe two glasses of red wine from my lovely wine decanters during the course of each evening and after four weeks the doctor checked the levels again, and they had reduced to 8.2 mmol/l.   This was the only difference I had made.  I didn’t change my diet at all – I eat fairly healthily anyway.  After six months my cholesterol had reduced to 4.8 mmol/l which was absolutely fantastic.

Other Benefits

A moderate intake of wine does help to protect against heart disease.  Some of the benefits come from the ethyl alcohol content, but antioxidants and flavonoids will also assist.

Alcohol may prevent or reduce blood platelets from sticking together.  This may then reduce the chances of clots forming which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.  No-one is sure whether wine alone reduces the risk or if it’s a combination of the wine plus a reasonably healthy lifestyle.  Obviously, if those people during clinical trials also ate quantities of fruit and vegetables and lower saturated fat these are factors which also reduce the risk of heart problems.

Everything in Moderation

Although a moderate amount of alcohol can assist in reducing cholesterol levels there is caution which needs to be taken.  Overdoing the recommended daily amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage and of course, wine is a source of extra calories which should be saved elsewhere.

Make sure that plenty of fruits like blueberries and grapes are eaten regularly.  If you are at risk of heart problems or stroke your doctor will probably have suggested a daily aspirin tablet and you should always consult your doctor before deciding to drink wine to reduce cholesterol.

They say that it is important to have a well-balanced meal, but sometimes some aspects should be fewer than others. Fat, for example, is a great source of energy to fuel our bodies. However, this is not the main source of energy that our body can get.

If you have too much fat found in your system, this will do more harm than good. Having too much fat is very bad for the body’s circulatory system. It raises our level of blood cholesterol, making us more susceptible to heart attacks or strokes. What you need is a diet that is low in cholesterol to reduce the fat you have in your system.

Basically a low-fat diet has five goals. First is to decrease the total amount of dietary fat which consists of Trans fat (also known as hydrogenated fat) and saturated fat. Second, it is supposed to decrease your total amount of dietary cholesterol.



A low cholesterol diet is also about limiting your sodium intake. Fourth, it is supposed to increase your intake of fiber, most especially prebiotic fibers and complex carbohydrates. And finally, a low-cholesterol diet is supposed to help decrease overall calories so you can reach and maintain your healthy body weight.

The task of the heart is to pump blood all over our system by way of the arteries, carrying nutrients and oxygen vital to the well-being of our organs and tissues. The heart is also supplied with plenty of blood vessels which are called coronary arteries. Should the level of your cholesterol rise beyond what is considered normal and linger there, there will be some of this cholesterol left in your system. Over time, it will build plaque which will block up your arteries and limit the flow of blood in your system. When this happens, a stroke or a heart attack is inevitable.

We can trace cholesterol in the body from two different sources. A good lot of the cholesterol is located in the liver, made from ingested fats and various nutrients. The liver juices out as much cholesterol as our body will need. We can also get some more cholesterol by eating animal food since animals themselves also produce their own cholesterol.

Examples of cholesterol-laden animal foods include egg, poultry, meats and organ meats, milk products and whole milk. The intestines in the body will absorb this and add it to what’s already in the liver. This is what you call having a diet that is high in fat. What is needed here is to keep the levels of cholesterol down to the normal range and reduce our intake of cholesterol.

If you have a family history of high cholesterol, want to reduce your heart disease risk and would like healthy convenience foods in a meal plan, you should consider getting a meal plan that is cholesterol-lowering.

If you want to eat more often and looking for a low carb plan, you might want to look elsewhere because this cholesterol-lowering type of meal plan is designed to reduce heart disease risk. Its basic approach is to provide you with flexible and balanced meal plans that will lower the intake of many high cholesterol foods. At the same time, it will also up your intake of foods that are rich in fiber.

For this meal plan, you are saying good bye to high cholesterol and fatty foods, especially foods that are high in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. An array of alternatives that are low in fat like low in fat dairy products or lean meats are part and parcel of the meal plan. It also has a lot of high fiber foods which will lower your bad cholesterol, or LDL.

Examples of these LDL-fighting foods include vegetables, whole grains, oats, fruits, beans, cereals and breads that are made from whole grains. These have low saturated fat and no cholesterol.

Fats from avocados, nuts and olive oils are included because the monounsaturated fats and the polyunsaturated fats are heart-healthy. This is also based on the recommendations made by the AHA or the American Heart Association as it will give you fifty to sixty five percent’s worth of calories from carbs, twenty to twenty five percent from protein and less than thirty percent from fat. You get three meals and a snack each day.

Here is a starting meal plan for a day:

Breakfast: One bowl of whole-grain cereal with one cup of non-fat milk, and a piece of fruit.
Lunch: delicious Mediterranean salmon salad, a slice of whole grain toasted bread, a piece of fruit and a small cup of fat-free or low-fat frozen yogurt.
Dinner: One grilled turkey burger on toasted bun, a small handful of healthy baked fries, a bowl of chilled fruits and lettuce salad.
Snack: two cups of air-popped plain white popcorn and fresh-squeezed juice (whatever is in season).

This meal plan keeps you active and energized throughout the day while also giving you the feeling of fullness. This way, you do not feel deprived and you get to enjoy a yummy dining experience thanks to a well-thought of meal plan such as this.

If you are a pizza lover, you should add a creative spin to your pizza-gorging days try arugula and goat cheese pizza.

What you need: one fourth cup walnuts, two teaspoons olive oil (divided into two), one cup red onion, one pizza crust that is of the whole wheat variety, one cup of grape tomatoes, one fourth teaspoon of salt, one fourth teaspoon of pepper (freshly ground, of course), one and a half ounces of goat cheese and three fourths cup of baby arugula.

First, chop the walnuts until they are in coarse bits. Slice the grape tomatoes into half and wash and tear the baby arugula leaves into small pieces. The goat cheese should be sliced into small squares. Next, preheat your oven to 450°. On a baking sheet, toast the walnuts for three to four minutes.

Next, heat a teaspoon of the olive oil into your nonstick skillet. Add your onions and sauté it until the onion is golden in color. After this, prepare the crust by putting it onto a baking sheet that has been coated with olive-based cooking spray. Sprinkle the walnuts, sliced grape tomatoes and onions. Season it with a bit of salt and pepper and top with goat cheese before baking it for seven minutes. Scatter a bit of arugula on top and some splashes of olive oil before serving.

Another good one is lemon and arugula pasta. For this heart healthy dish, you need the following: eight ounces of uncooked pasta, preferably the angel hair kind, two cups (roughly one inch slices) of fresh asparagus, three tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, two teaspoons-full of lemon rind, two whole garlic cloves (minced), a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.

Boil the pasta in a pot. While it is still hot, you can then add on the chopped asparagus. Mix it slowly but thoroughly, ensuring that the asparagus is cooked and softened by the heat. Next, get your remaining ingredients and add it to the pasta.

And finally, you can never go wrong with Mediterranean stuffed tomatoes. You will need the following: two large, ripe tomatoes, one half cup of packaged garlic croutons, one fourth cup goat cheese, one fourth cup of pitted kalamata olives (thinly sliced), two tablespoons of Italian salad dressing or reduced-fat vinaigrette, and two tablespoons of chopped fresh basil or thyme.

While your broiler is heating up, cut the tomatoes in half crosswise. Grab a paring knife and cut out the remaining pulp so you are left with two tomato shells. Put the pulp in a medium bowl and set it aside. Next, get your tomatoes and cut the sides down. Place it on a paper towel so the juices will drain out. After five minutes, stuff it up! Add the goat cheese, croutons, sliced olives, thyme and basil, and dressing. Scoop out the mixture onto your hollowed-out tomatoes then broil it in your oven for five minutes until the cheese melts.

And what about dessert? Did you know that scientific studies over the last several years have shown that dark chocolate, in moderation, can have many great health benefits, including lowered cholesterol? Look here for more about dark chocolate cholesterol benefits.