Cholesterol and triglyceride levels are just a part of the coronary heart disease (CHD) equation. Other important factors can be controlled with diet and exercise. The way cholesterol behaves in your body is affected by several factors.

Inflammation

Some researchers believe that heart disease is an inflammatory disease. That means that the walls of arteries and veins are irritated, or inflamed, by free radicals and other compounds like cigarette smoke and food preservatives and additives. Your doctor can actually gauge inflammation by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. High CRP levels along with high cholesterol indicate a dramatically increased risk of heart disease.

When LDL cholesterol is transported to the arteries, it may be acting as a steroid, trying to help reduce the inflammation. So having a high LDL cholesterol level may indicate inflammation in your arteries. Here are some foods and spices that fight inflammation:

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Blueberries

• Leafy greens

• Olive oil

• Fatty fish

• Curry powder

• Ginger

• Dark chocolate

• Green tea

• Nuts

Eating foods that help reduce inflammation may be one way to help prevent the risk of heart disease. Foods that contain antioxidants, phyto-chemicals, and that are high in fiber can all help reduce inflammation in your body.

Plaque

Inflammation can lead to the formation of plaque in the artery walls.

Plaque is a combination of fats, cholesterol, and components that clot blood. Over time, hardened (or healed) plaque can build up and restrict or even stop blood flow; this is what causes 30 percent of heart attacks.

Scientists have discovered that many heart attacks are caused by soft, or vulnerable, plaque. Other factors like high blood pressure can make the plaque covering burst or crack, causing an injury to the artery wall. The body responds by forming a blood clot, which can break free and cause a heart attack.

Soft plaque is filled with LDL cholesterol. Reducing LDL cholesterol, eating for good health, engaging in moderate exercise, and taking prescription drugs can all help slow plaque formation.

Oxidation

Research shows that cholesterol that has oxidized becomes much more dangerous. Oxidation occurs when free radicals, which are unstable molecules missing an electron, take an electron from a cholesterol molecule, creating oxysterols. These then attack blood vessels, promoting lesions and fatty streaks.

To fight this, consume foods high in antioxidants. These compounds, including beta-carotene and vitamin E, react or bind with the free radicals, stopping the oxidation reaction in its tracks. Foods high in antioxidants include:

• Berries

• Broccoli

• Tomatoes

• Garlic

• Red grapes

• Whole grains

• Cinnamon

• Carrots

Where do free radicals come from? Scientists think that pollutants like lead, pesticides, cigarette smoke, and alcohol all increase the production of free radicals. Basic chemical reactions in the body produce free radicals. Also, factors like stress, sunlight, pesticides, and food preservatives increase the production of free radicals.

Free radicals are present in every body, and they are produced in greater numbers as we age. Accumulation of free radicals is considered a major reason our bodies age and deteriorate over time.