Diet Changes You Need To Make To Control Your Cholesterol

You would have all heard about cholesterol and the recommendations of changes in diets and prescribe medication associated with it. But the truth is that many people don’t understand cholesterol and its purpose in our body. To control your cholesterol you first need to know how it works.

Cholesterol is a lipid (fatty acid) that resides in the cell membranes of the human body.  Most cholesterol is actually synthesized in the body, but a good proportion of it is ingested as a section of food.

You have good cholesterol and bad cholesterol and the two kinds need to be differentiated between: Bad cholesterol, or LDL, has been associated to cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke if consumed at unhealthy levels.Good cholesterol, HDL, is responsible for important bodily functions.  HDL cholesterol helps to construct and maintain cell walls and performs other cell maintenance.

Controlling Cholesterol Through Diet: What Can You Do About It?

There are quite a few ways you can control your blood cholesterol levels.Cholesterol is not soluble in blood, so it sometimes takes a helping hand.  Most of these are basic routine changes that can have an enormous and helpful result on your cholesterol levels. The first is to look at controlling cholesterol through diet.

The most apparent ways are to select your diet carefully.  Foods that are high in fat have an inclination to lift cholesterol.  Do not cut out fats totally from your diets.  Look at selecting specific foods that are low in saturated fat but have a good amount of unsaturated fat.  The body physically requires a small amount of fat for key body functions.

Lean red meat and fish are both good choices and should be incorporated liberally into your diet.  They are high in protein, which helps to build muscle, and relatively low in fat content.Controlling your cholesterol can be as easy as selecting low fat dairy products.

If after changing your diet or your cholesterol levels are often too high then it is advisable to consult your doctor. There are also a number of drugs used to control cholesterol currently available.  And remember that with any new drug, it’s important to notify your healthcare professional about any additional medications that you are taking at the time.

The side effects of controlling cholesterol through drugs tend to be relatively mild, and will generally cease after your body adjusts to the new medication.

Learn More About Auctions

Today it is hard to imagine anything that is not sold at auction.  A personal property auctioneer helps people dispose of items that can be picked up and moved, like antiques and collectibles. 

If you have not tested the waters and attended an auction, let me ask you, Why Not?  Auctions are fun and are currently a popular way to sell goods and make some great buys.  Here are some tips to make your day at the auction a good experience.

If the name of the estate being auctioned is advertised, the auction is probably a bonafide estate sale offering interesting items coming to the marketplace for the first time.  But, sometimes the auctioneer can be asked not to advertise the estate name.  If the words “with additions” are found in the ad, this would indicate that other consignment items have been added to the estate sale items.  The auction house may post pictures of auction items on their website.  In fact, on-line Internet auctions can be combined very successfully with the live auction.  If you have any questions about the set up of the auction, call the auction house for further information.   

Is the auction advertised as an absolute auction or an auction with no minimums and no reserves?  That means that if the auctioneer takes a bid he must continue auctioning the item finalizing the sale at the highest level he can attain.  On the other hand, a reserve auction indicates that there is a minimum bid that the seller will accept.  Is a buyer’s premium advertised?  If so, there will be a percentage added to your bill when you check out.  The typical buyer’s premium is 10%.   Note what forms of payment are accepted and understand that state sales tax will be added to your bill unless you have a current dealer’s resale certificate to present. 

Go to the auction preview to examine the condition of auction items.  The auctioneer may point out the condition of an item but it is the bidder’s responsibility to take advantage of the preview.  Register early to be ready to hear the auctioneer’s comments before the sale begins on how the auction is to be handled.  See if there is a list of the items to be auctioned.  Make notes on the list, marking items that you may wish to bid on. 

The auctioneer will be on the “block”, meaning he is in front of and higher than the crowd.  The clerk works with the auctioneer recording all bids.  If the live auction is combined with an Internet auction, there will also be an Internet administrator.  There are usually spotters that help the auctioneer see everyone that wishes to bid.  A director works with the ground crew and determines the order that items are brought up for sale.  In the Internet/live auction pictures of items up for bid may be projected on a screen for the audience to see.

A good auctioneer wants you to understand what he is saying.   The auctioneer’s chatter is only a series of filler words that join the bid that he has on an item with the bid he is looking for on that same item.  Position yourself so that the auctioneer can easily see you and don’t be tentative about bidding.  Help the auctioneer know when you are bidding.  He is not going to hold you responsible for a bid if you scratch your head.  If a bid is made inadvertently, speak up immediately saying that you were not bidding.  The auction firm may issue you a bid paddle instead of a bid card.  The paddle is usually larger and can help avoid any confusion about bidding. 

It’s a good idea to bring a folding chair in case seating is limited and boxes and packing can help you protect any small treasures on which you might be the successful bidder.  Food might not be available so bringing water and a power bar will keep you going if you find you simply cannot leave the auction until a certain item is offered or you wish to stay to the very end.   Items for auction can be brought up in listed order or randomly brought up.  If items are being brought up randomly, you may be able to request that an item be brought up for auction.

Who knows, you might enjoy the auction experience enough to become a regular!

Logan and Richard Adams are the owners of The Specialists of the South in Panama City, FL.  Richard is an Auctioneer.  They hold auctions in Panama City regularly and also hold Online Auctions.