WEIGHT LOSS Made Lighter!

A three part series video at the TIMES OF INDIA - EMPOWERING WOMEN, where I contribute a few pointers to women on weight loss and how we can help at the QUA NUTRITION CLINIC.

I do hope these three videos will inspire women around India to know that its never too late to get healthier. Nutrition is lead by women at home. Watch this 30 mins. You may be inspired to start a change. If you do, please do leave a comment for others to be motivated or call us to help us motivate you.


PART II PART III
 I DO HOPE I CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY EAT for a HEALTHIER YOU !!! CALL 080 3232 9292 to speak with my dietitians in India. International clients ( we work via skype) call +91 97 4343 0000 or email me at ryan@quanutrition.com

Do I need a Multivitamin and how do I select one for me?

Everyday I try to convince people to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. I try to do it, but fail most days due to my hectic counseling schedule.

" A Multivitamin is a Nutritional Convenience to your Nutritional Indiscipline". I myself have been taking one for about close to 8 years running. I skip a day or two here, but a Nutrition test a few years back had me looking at chronic deficiency in  Vit B 12 and D. So here is my 6 Secrets  to choose your multivitamin. 


Here goes 

You need to check if each of the vitamins and minerals listed on the label is present in the right amounts. For example, the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) set by the World Health Organization for vitamin C is 45 mg per day. That standard was set decades ago in order to prevent diseases such as scurvy, a deficiency disorder resulting from a lack of vitamin C in the diet. 

Most multivitamins claim they provide 100% of the RDI for vitamin C, but is that enough? Is your goal to avoid scurvy or to achieve optimal health? 

If you want to achieve optimal health, you must disregard the ‘% Daily Values’ listed on the product label (which are based on the RDI values) and instead look for a supplement that contains the optimal doses of each vitamin and mineral. For instance, in the case of vitamin C, the consensus of the medical community is that at least 200 mg are required daily for optimal health. 


Secret #1 to picking the right multivitamin is to disregard the RDI percentages listed on the label and look for supplements that contain the Optimal Daily Intake values of each vitamin and mineral. 

Did you know that many brands of multivitamin tablets are poorly absorbed by your body because their active ingredients are broken down by the acid in your stomach? 

So, how do you overcome this problem and get the active ingredients into your bloodstream? Not easily, but it is possible! The pharmaceutical industry has been doing this for years by covering the tablet with an enteric coating. 

First they develop a tablet that will disintegrate at a certain pH (acid level) within a specific time. This is based on the pH level found in the upper intestine. (Note: although the stomach is highly acidic, the upper intestine is slightly alkaline). Next they coat that tablet with a special acid-resistant enteric coating that can withstand the stomach acid for the period of time that it takes to pass through the stomach to the upper intestine. 

When a person swallows the tablet, it passes through the stomach intact. Then within 10 - 20 minutes of entering the duodenum (upper intestine), the enteric coating disintegrates, releasing the active ingredients. These ingredients then take another 30 - 60 minutes to fully dissolve so they can be absorbed in your bloodstream. 

By using an enteric coating, manufacturers are able to greatly increase the bio availability and absorption rates of their multivitamins. 

Secret #2 to picking the right multivitamin is to look for a multivitamin with an enteric coating. 
There are a number of things you should be on the lookout for when picking a supplement: 

• Preservatives 

Preservatives are a type of additive used to help extend the shelf life of the multivitamin. If the product boasts a shelf life of more than 2 years, it is a sure sign there are preservatives inside. Some preservatives are known to cause asthma, nausea, vomiting, and headaches in susceptible individuals. 

• Coloring 

Though some artificial food dyes have been banned because they are believed to cause cancer, there are still many artificial dyes in use in supplements today. They are also linked to allergies, asthmas, and hyperactivity. 

• Sweeteners 

Some multivitamins contain sweeteners, many of which are artificial sugar substitutes containing no natural sugars, such as saccharine and aspartame. Artificial sweeteners are linked to behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and allergies. 

• Flavorings 

The most common food additive is flavorings. These are usually comprised of a large number of chemicals. Artificial flavors are linked to allergic and behavioral reactions, yet these ingredients are not required to be listed on the label as they're generally recognized as safe. 

• Allergens 

Substances that are commonly associated with allergies include gluten, peanuts, soy, and dairy. If you suffer from any of these allergies, make sure you read the labels carefully and avoid products that can trigger them. 

Secret #3 to picking the right multivitamin is to choose multivitamins that do not contain preservatives, coloring, sweeteners, flavorings, and allergens. 



Some manufacturers cannot afford to give any money-back guarantee. As soon as the customer opens the bottle, no refunds are available. These manufacturers typically offer sub-par products that have low customer satisfaction. Such companies can quickly go out of business if they give consumers the option to return the products. 

A good company with a good product typically offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This gives consumers enough time to try the product over the course of several weeks to determine if it works for them. 

Companies that have very high levels of customer satisfaction can afford to offer even longer warranty periods without being affected negatively because their return rates are exceptionally low. 

There are companies that offer up to 12 months of unconditional money-back guarantee. If you see multivitamins with such a long warranty period, that’s a sure sign customers love this product and buying it is a safe choice. 

Secret #4 to picking the right multivitamin is to look at the length of the money-back period each manufacturer offers. 


Consumers have been conditioned to believe that the more expensive a product is, the better it must be. Shrewd supplement vendors take advantage of this popular belief and inflate the prices they charge for their products in order to create the perception of higher quality. 

Network marketing companies are notorious for doing that. They include one or two unique ingredients in their multivitamin formulas and market them as one-of-a-kind supplements in order to justify their high price tag. 

If you compare such supplements with similar products from regular vitamin manufacturers, you would discover that the composition and quality of the multivitamins offered are frequently the same. 

Do not assume that because one product is more expensive than another, it is better. 

Secret #5 to picking the right multivitamin is to disregard price as a criteria in your selection process. 

KIDS NUTRITION -Why we are the Rock Stars to your kids ?

Your child's Nutrition is important. At 1 year or at 16 years, children tend not to listen to parents. YOU ARE NOT THE EXPERTS as per your kid's Intelligence.

However Kids know that a DIETITIAN is an expert on food. Why not invest in a session like this?

A recent comment from a banker,  " My kid listens to your dietitian, she feels that whatever is said in the session is the highest science and truth. So she now eats Beetroot and half a dozen vegetables. She has started downloading recipes, enters the kitchen and gives advice to her mom. She is all of 7 years of age.Coming to you guys, was the best investment I ever made till date". Strong words from a Father.
What are you Doing to safe guard your child's future?

To speak to a PEDIATRIC CHILD NUTRITION EXPERT call +919743430000  or Click here or email ryan@quanutrition.com

Tennis players beware! Slower recovery will be your downfall.

Every game has TV ratings. Research shows people get bored watching games of any type of over 3 hrs. No wonder even cricket has gone to the short format.

Back to TENNIS. 20 secs is the official time of recovery between two points. Today's Grand slam has records of endurance. Watch the records here Tennis Records. AS a player the game has gone from 1 hr to over 3 hrs on an average even in Junior Leagues.
The world record at a Grand slam is over 5 hrs. ARE YOU READY FOR THAT PAIN?

5 hrs of tennis requires

1. Mental Aggression and not Blank zombie pursuit of the Ball
2. Hydration that has you feeling like a WATER TANK and not a wrinkled prune
3. Muscle Nutrition that has your muscles feeling like IRON MAN and not jelly



All the above 3 can be delivered by planning from a very young age SAY 12, to learn to eat for performance. During Practice you teach your stomach to hydrate and eat to deliver those nutrients that will take you through each point fresh.

When I worked on the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD of non-stop Aerobics of 26 hrs with a female athlete, our time strategies for insertion of both liquid and solid food was based on a simple premise; What is the body going to be doing for the next 1 hr. Accordingly we designed the nutrition.

Tennis is only going to get more demanding. A player today has to train for a quicker and faster format. Recovery between points, between games, between sets, between matches and between tournaments will shape your climb in international rankings.

At my nutrition clinic in Bangalore India, we have experts in Exercise physiology and Nutrition who have worked with me on the projects to deliver 2 Guinness records and 2 Olympic medals in Wrestling. POWER and ENDURANCE is what we can guarantee you!


For a Tennis player watch these videos to get to the next level and if you learn something please send me your testimonial on what changes you did to your diet and supplements. Click on the links below to watch videos to help you improve your nutrition strategies.

1. Why Invest in a Sports nutritionists?2. 5 Best foods for a travelling Athlete!3. Secret to Enhance your Performance - POWERBREATHE!4. How Sports Nutrition enhances an athletes performance?5. Importance of rehydration for a Tennis Player!

Our Annual nutrition plans start at $ 1500. To know more email me at ryan@quanutrition.com or call +91 9900009080.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SEMINAR in GOA on 15 Jan 2013

ALL GOANS block this date 15 Jan 2013.

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT? I will answer all your doubts to put you on track for a self help Weight management program. It will last for 3 hrs, but I promise not to leave the venue till I answer every question of yours.

Where?  CARPE DIEM Click to see location in GOA

View the Interview at the HERALD Newspaper in Goa Details about seminar in the Media


Nutrition Seminar for A Healthier YOU

Date: 15th January 2013
Time: 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
Resource Person: Ryan Fernando - Qua Nutrition
Venue: Carpe Diem Art and Learning Centre, Majorda Goa.

India's leading Nutritionist Ryan Fernando will teach you how to maintain a healthier lifestyle with good Nutrition. A 2 hr personalised Workshop on techniques and concepts directed at eating nutritiously for fat loss, maintaining a healthier weight and beating the bulge.
The Seminar will include as part of the package a healthy lunch for the participants. Early registrations will be offered discounted prices.

In this seminar you will learn

• How to calculate your Ideal body weight
• How to understand fat loss and accelerate FAT BURNING using 5 wonderful foods
• How to Eat and still loose weight
• Which Supplements which will help you jump start your metabolism
• How to ask for a blood test and what to do with your results
• Which exercise puts you in a secret FAT BURNING ZONE
• Why you will put on weight and what can you do to stay fit
• Who will Benefit form attending this workshop

Mothers who prepare meals for their family, Corporate executives, Business persons, Fitness inclined persons and Older people having Lifestyle diseases related to improper eating.

REGISTER with Daegal at +91 888862462

A Guide for a GOAN Christmas Eating

With Christmas and New Year around the corner, festivities have begun all over and with the number of parties and weddings that people attend it is not surprising that many find that their waist lines have expanded by the end of the season. View the Newspaper o HERALDO with the published print article on 24 Dec 2012.

5 Kgs by 1 January is what your worried and then you calm yourself saying you will take care of it in the new year.

Well YES YOU did just like last year and the year before and you are now 10-15 kgs heavier that you were in College...sign of prosperity....

The answer is sensible eating. 

Here are some tips to make your SWEETS healthier:

• Use Jaggery particular COCONUT palm jaggery or Madachem GODD instead of sugar to prepare sweets as it is more nutritious having valuable minerals such as Iron and calcium.

• Make cakes more nutritious by adding grated carrots, dates, prunes and dried figs along with nuts instead of plain TUTI FRUITY. Adding dry fruit also helps to cut down the amount of sugar that needs to be added. Most of Goan Christmas sweets are rich in ghee and coconut making them calorie dense. 

• BEBEINCA is rich in saturated cholesterol. Dodol is rich in saturate fat, but contains iron and calcium because of the Jaggery, that is used in its preparation.

• CHONER DOCE is rich in protein as well as FAT. Enjoy them in small portions.Use pure ghee or butter as a shortening instead of vanaspati or margarine to reduce the amount of Trans FAT in your sweets and savories items.

• Prepare savory items like NEVREOS, KULKULS, KORMOLAM, etc using wheat flour or multi grain flour instead of Maida and after frying them, drain them on absorbent paper to remove the access oil.

While planning the menu for Christmas lunch or dinner party, chose the main course dishes carefully. Remember, you do not need to deprive yourself and can enjoy all your favorite foods in small portions. Ensure that you eat a variety of food and restrict the amount of oil, sugar, alcoholic beverage, and soft drinks as they are high in calories.

Xacutti

Traditional Christmas dishes include pork preparations which are very rich in saturated fats and cholesterol- HENCE calories. Items like Chicken or Beef Xacutti are also prepared. As Xacutti is a coconut based dish its rich in saturated fats. My tips here are if you’re eating the same, Use the meats and try to limit the gravy you consume. Excessive amounts of saturated fats are bad for the heart. So keep portion size small.

It is best to serve plain Pulao, sanna’s or bread. Use brown Basmati Rice instead of White. Use Parboiled or brown rice too to make the RICE cake or Sana. As Sanna are fermented they make a very healthy meal along with other items.

Sanna's

Complement the non veg main course with Salads. Avoid mayo based salads.

Cook food using very little oils.

Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation. Dilute preferably with plain water rather than with SOFT DRINKS. Alcoholic beverages are calorie dense and also increase appetite and diluting them with Soft drinks pushes up the calorie count further. Sip your drink slowly and limit the consumption to 2 pegs.

Serve fruit juices instead of soft drinks. Go for the NO ADDED SUGAR versions of 100% pure fruit juice. Fresh is better if you have the help. They are rich in Vitamins.

Limit starters to 2 items. Go with Grilled or Tandoor rather than fried items.

Remember consumption of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks along with fried snacks contribute to a very high calorie intake. OVER 1000 Calories or 3 hours of walk time…so go easy. A healthy alternative is to serve a mixture of dry fruits and nuts instead of the regular fired stuff.

For deserts serve fruit salad. Prepare the custard using skimmed milk as it has lower fat content.

The traditional Christmas plum pudding is nutritious, but calorie rich because of rum or brandy used in its preparation. Portion control is really advised here.

Practice the principal of balancing Calories particularly when socializing. You need to accommodate the calories that come from beverages, snacks or starters, main course items and the desserts rather than simply adding them by OVER EATING.

Either Ways whatever you do if your a fit person you will be able to burn off the weight gain. Get in touch with my dietitians to help you burn off that fat in the NEW year. Book your time with a dietitian by Clicking here ....Talk to a Dietitian

WHY TEST FOR CHOLESTEROL & WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH THE RESULTS?

People know they have to test. People get results and get alarmed and then the test gets filed and the alarm bells fade away till next years blood test. So what should you do? From a Cholesterol point of view, let me break it down for you.

First Ask;

How much cholesterol you have floating around in your blood—and what types—can help you figure out your risk for heart disease?

Is it important to get your cholesterol tested periodically?

How often you should get tested depends on your risk for heart disease?

Are you at low risk for heart disease? Then you need a test every five years. If you're at higher risk, you'll need a test every two years. Ask your doctor which group you fall into.

Getting a cholesterol test is easy. All you need to do is have a tube's worth of blood drawn from your arm. Call us at +91 9743430000 and we can help a with home based sample collection.

The preparation, however, takes a little more effort. Food and drinks affect your cholesterol profile, so you have to fast for 12 hours to get accurate readings of your LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol), and triglyceride levels. You also need to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test.

Wait for the tests to be delivered.

Understanding your test results

Quick guide to cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Total cholesterol level                         Total cholesterol category

Less than 200 mg/dL                              Desirable

200–239 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

240 mg/dL and above                            High                YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

LDL cholesterol level                          LDL cholesterol category

Less than 100 mg/dL (less than 70 mg/dL for people at high risk)      Optimal

100–129 mg/dL                                     Near optimal/above optimal

130–159 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

160–189 mg/dL                                     High

190 mg/dL and above                            Very high                    YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

HDL cholesterol level HDL cholesterol category

Less than 40 mg/dL       Low (representing risk)                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

60 mg/dL and above     High (heart-protective)

Triglyceride level        Triglyceride category

Less than 150 mg/dL                Normal

150–199 mg/dL                       Borderline high                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

200–499 mg/dL                       High                                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

500 mg/dL and above              Very high                                 YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

When discussing your cholesterol test results with your doctor, be sure to tell him or her if any of these three things apply to you:

• Did you have the flu or another illness shortly before the blood test? These events can have a dramatic effect on your cholesterol levels.
• Was your diet very different than normal in the weeks leading up to the cholesterol test? If so, tell your doctor. High levels of alcohol or carbohydrates can raise triglycerides.
• Did you forget to fast or sneak something to eat or drink before the test? Don't be embarrassed to say so. Otherwise, you could end up on a medication you don't need.

What next?

If your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides are borderline high, high, or very high, you and your doctor will talk about how to get your levels lower. 

Treatment may include:

• Changing your diet
• Exercising more
• Taking a cholesterol medication
• A combination of all of the above.

Before deciding on a treatment plan, though, your doctor will want to get a good picture of your heart health. He or she will likely check:

• Your blood pressure, to make sure it is in a healthy range.
• Your pulse, to make sure that your heartbeat is regular and forceful.
• The size of your thyroid gland, which can be determined by feeling your neck. An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect cholesterol levels.
• The pulses of the carotid arteries in your neck. Listening to the blood flow there can rule out any blockages.
• The pulses in your legs, which can fade away if there are significant blockages in any of the arteries that go to the feet.

If your doctor is concerned about anything he or she sees during the physical exam, you may be sent for lab tests or imaging procedures. These could include:

• An electrocardiogram (ECG)
• A chest x-ray
• An echocardiogram (ultrasound picture of the heart)
• Tests of thyroid or kidney function
• Ultrasounds of the legs

With the results from your cholesterol test, your physical, and any lab or imaging tests you needed, your doctor will be able to recommend how you should treat your cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease.

DIET and NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION is one of the best and safest ways to reduce Cholesterol when the anomalies are caught early. Speak to our dietitians and they will help you Change the way you Feel!!

WHY TEST FOR CHOLESTEROL & WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH THE RESULTS?

People know they have to test. People get results and get alarmed and then the test gets filed and the alarm bells fade away till next years blood test. So what should you do? From a Cholesterol point of view, let me break it down for you.

First Ask;

How much cholesterol you have floating around in your blood—and what types—can help you figure out your risk for heart disease?

Is it important to get your cholesterol tested periodically?

How often you should get tested depends on your risk for heart disease?

Are you at low risk for heart disease? Then you need a test every five years. If you're at higher risk, you'll need a test every two years. Ask your doctor which group you fall into.

Getting a cholesterol test is easy. All you need to do is have a tube's worth of blood drawn from your arm. Call us at +91 9743430000 and we can help a with home based sample collection.

The preparation, however, takes a little more effort. Food and drinks affect your cholesterol profile, so you have to fast for 12 hours to get accurate readings of your LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol), and triglyceride levels. You also need to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test.

Wait for the tests to be delivered.

Understanding your test results

Quick guide to cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Total cholesterol level                         Total cholesterol category

Less than 200 mg/dL                              Desirable

200–239 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

240 mg/dL and above                            High                YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

LDL cholesterol level                          LDL cholesterol category

Less than 100 mg/dL (less than 70 mg/dL for people at high risk)      Optimal

100–129 mg/dL                                     Near optimal/above optimal

130–159 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

160–189 mg/dL                                     High

190 mg/dL and above                            Very high                    YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

HDL cholesterol level HDL cholesterol category

Less than 40 mg/dL       Low (representing risk)                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

60 mg/dL and above     High (heart-protective)

Triglyceride level        Triglyceride category

Less than 150 mg/dL                Normal

150–199 mg/dL                       Borderline high                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

200–499 mg/dL                       High                                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

500 mg/dL and above              Very high                                 YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

When discussing your cholesterol test results with your doctor, be sure to tell him or her if any of these three things apply to you:

• Did you have the flu or another illness shortly before the blood test? These events can have a dramatic effect on your cholesterol levels.
• Was your diet very different than normal in the weeks leading up to the cholesterol test? If so, tell your doctor. High levels of alcohol or carbohydrates can raise triglycerides.
• Did you forget to fast or sneak something to eat or drink before the test? Don't be embarrassed to say so. Otherwise, you could end up on a medication you don't need.

What next?

If your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides are borderline high, high, or very high, you and your doctor will talk about how to get your levels lower. 

Treatment may include:

• Changing your diet
• Exercising more
• Taking a cholesterol medication
• A combination of all of the above.

Before deciding on a treatment plan, though, your doctor will want to get a good picture of your heart health. He or she will likely check:

• Your blood pressure, to make sure it is in a healthy range.
• Your pulse, to make sure that your heartbeat is regular and forceful.
• The size of your thyroid gland, which can be determined by feeling your neck. An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect cholesterol levels.
• The pulses of the carotid arteries in your neck. Listening to the blood flow there can rule out any blockages.
• The pulses in your legs, which can fade away if there are significant blockages in any of the arteries that go to the feet.

If your doctor is concerned about anything he or she sees during the physical exam, you may be sent for lab tests or imaging procedures. These could include:

• An electrocardiogram (ECG)
• A chest x-ray
• An echocardiogram (ultrasound picture of the heart)
• Tests of thyroid or kidney function
• Ultrasounds of the legs

With the results from your cholesterol test, your physical, and any lab or imaging tests you needed, your doctor will be able to recommend how you should treat your cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease.

DIET and NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION is one of the best and safest ways to reduce Cholesterol when the anomalies are caught early. Speak to our dietitians and they will help you Change the way you Feel!!

WHY TEST FOR CHOLESTEROL & WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH THE RESULTS?

People know they have to test. People get results and get alarmed and then the test gets filed and the alarm bells fade away till next years blood test. So what should you do? From a Cholesterol point of view, let me break it down for you.

First Ask;

How much cholesterol you have floating around in your blood—and what types—can help you figure out your risk for heart disease?

Is it important to get your cholesterol tested periodically?

How often you should get tested depends on your risk for heart disease?

Are you at low risk for heart disease? Then you need a test every five years. If you're at higher risk, you'll need a test every two years. Ask your doctor which group you fall into.

Getting a cholesterol test is easy. All you need to do is have a tube's worth of blood drawn from your arm. Call us at +91 9743430000 and we can help a with home based sample collection.

The preparation, however, takes a little more effort. Food and drinks affect your cholesterol profile, so you have to fast for 12 hours to get accurate readings of your LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol), and triglyceride levels. You also need to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours before the test.

Wait for the tests to be delivered.

Understanding your test results

Quick guide to cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Total cholesterol level                         Total cholesterol category

Less than 200 mg/dL                              Desirable

200–239 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

240 mg/dL and above                            High                YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

LDL cholesterol level                          LDL cholesterol category

Less than 100 mg/dL (less than 70 mg/dL for people at high risk)      Optimal

100–129 mg/dL                                     Near optimal/above optimal

130–159 mg/dL                                     Borderline high

160–189 mg/dL                                     High

190 mg/dL and above                            Very high                    YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

HDL cholesterol level HDL cholesterol category

Less than 40 mg/dL       Low (representing risk)                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

60 mg/dL and above     High (heart-protective)

Triglyceride level        Triglyceride category

Less than 150 mg/dL                Normal

150–199 mg/dL                       Borderline high                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

200–499 mg/dL                       High                                        YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

500 mg/dL and above              Very high                                 YOU NEED A DIET CONTROL!

When discussing your cholesterol test results with your doctor, be sure to tell him or her if any of these three things apply to you:

• Did you have the flu or another illness shortly before the blood test? These events can have a dramatic effect on your cholesterol levels.
• Was your diet very different than normal in the weeks leading up to the cholesterol test? If so, tell your doctor. High levels of alcohol or carbohydrates can raise triglycerides.
• Did you forget to fast or sneak something to eat or drink before the test? Don't be embarrassed to say so. Otherwise, you could end up on a medication you don't need.

What next?

If your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides are borderline high, high, or very high, you and your doctor will talk about how to get your levels lower. 

Treatment may include:

• Changing your diet
• Exercising more
• Taking a cholesterol medication
• A combination of all of the above.

Before deciding on a treatment plan, though, your doctor will want to get a good picture of your heart health. He or she will likely check:

• Your blood pressure, to make sure it is in a healthy range.
• Your pulse, to make sure that your heartbeat is regular and forceful.
• The size of your thyroid gland, which can be determined by feeling your neck. An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect cholesterol levels.
• The pulses of the carotid arteries in your neck. Listening to the blood flow there can rule out any blockages.
• The pulses in your legs, which can fade away if there are significant blockages in any of the arteries that go to the feet.

If your doctor is concerned about anything he or she sees during the physical exam, you may be sent for lab tests or imaging procedures. These could include:

• An electrocardiogram (ECG)
• A chest x-ray
• An echocardiogram (ultrasound picture of the heart)
• Tests of thyroid or kidney function
• Ultrasounds of the legs

With the results from your cholesterol test, your physical, and any lab or imaging tests you needed, your doctor will be able to recommend how you should treat your cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease.

DIET and NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION is one of the best and safest ways to reduce Cholesterol when the anomalies are caught early. Speak to our dietitians and they will help you Change the way you Feel!!