Harvard health discusses in a special report that there are actually 5 main types of cholesterol and how you may reduce your cholesterol without medication. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks and high life insurance rates.
Managing your cholesterol, from Harvard Medical School, discusses the following:
- Three easy ways to improve the accuracy of your cholesterol test,
- The type of cholesterol that is good for you and why some people
- What to do when high cholesterol runs in your family
A major analysis years ago showed several controlled trials involving hundreds of men and women that found dietary changes reduced LDL and total cholesterol while exercise alone had no effect on either. However, adding aerobic exercise did enhance the lipid-lowering effects of a heart-healthy diet.
Both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids help lower LDL. Most plant-derived oils, including canola, safflower, sunflower, olive, grape seed, and peanut oils, contain both. Fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, trout, herring, and mackerel), seeds, nuts, avocados and soybeans are also great sources.
Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body but high cholesterol, can lead to higher insurance costs. While the liver naturally produces cholesterol for normal body function, elevate-ted levels can lead to serious problems.
Most life insurance companies will ask when evaluating your rates for life insurance your levels of cholesterol when determining your insurance costs. They will also ask how much you weigh and your height. Most doctors recommend a cholesterol level below 200 and a low density lipoprotein level below 100.
But a history cholesterol isn’t necessarily a huge problem if it is treated and in good control without complications. And it is not the total cholesterol, it is also the ratio. The life insurance companies don’t only look at your total cholesterol but they look at your HDL ratio.
Proper preparation before the paramedical exam is key to getting an adequate fasting cholesterol level. Don’t eat a lobster tail the night before the paramedical exam as shellfish is high in cholesterol. A high lab test is not recommended, however, the insurance underwriting will include the lab results with your recent medical records. If the customer doesn’t have any recent doctors labs, they can go to there doctor to get re-tested, at their expense, and then they can send those results in for reconsideration. They’ll never discard the original lab results but they will average the two and will sometimes give you the benefit of the doubt.