Fiber may help teens avoid cholesterol problems

Many adults are diagnosed with high cholesterol and forced to buy Lipitor to manage their heart health. While this may be the best way to treat high cholesterol in adulthood, it may be easier to simply avoid the cardiovascular problem earlier in life.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that teens who eat more fiber are three times less likely than those who consume less to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by unhealthy cholesterol levels, as well as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and a large waistline.

The findings are based on a study of more than 2,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19. Young people who consumed less than three grams of fiber per 1,000 calories developed metabolic syndrome at a rate of 9 percent. Comparatively, only 3 percent of those who ate 11 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories had the condition.

Numerous studies have shown that young people who are overweight and have cardiovascular risk factors tend to carry these problems into adulthood. Therefore, while a prescription to buy Lipitor may be effective, preventing high cholesterol in the first place may be the best bet.