Waushara County Health News

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National Cholesterol education month

September is National Cholesterol education month. So, what is cholesterol? 

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that travels through your blood. Your body makes its own cholesterol and you also get cholesterol from the food you eat. Too much cholesterol is not good for you, so constantly eating foods like full-fat dairy products, fried foods, and fatty meats is really bad for you. Cholesterol is not bad, but having an excess of cholesterol can become really bad really fast.

This is because when you have a buildup of cholesterol, it will start to build onto the inner walls of your arteries that carry blood to your heart. This can cause your arteries to narrow, which is called atherosclerosis. This is a major cause of heart disease. The plus side of all this is that high cholesterol can be treated and is preventable. Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and sometimes taking medication can help lower your cholesterol and help your heart health.

September is also National Food Safety Education Month. This is an important topic for all people to know and understand because practicing food safety can help prevent foodborne illnesses. For information regarding how to handle foods safely and store them properly to prevent illnesses and create less food waste, visit WIC Works Resource System for some helpful resources.

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