Family matriarchs love secret family recipes that have been passed down from generation after generation. “My grandmother had some of the best recipes,”Vivienne Halpern MD is a member of Society for Vascular Surgery. “Yet, I know if she were with us today, she would adjust those recipes to provide her family with healthier meals.”

These time-tested recipes tend to be high in saturated fats like butter, cream and buttermilk. Some family favorites feature fried foods or foods sautéed in fat.

High cholesterolAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three Americans are affected. Even though cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, the bloodstream can be enriched with cholesterol from foods such as eggs, cheese, and meat.

Over time, extra cholesterol and plaque in blood vessels can cause narrowing of the vascular passageways. According to the 2010 National Vital Statistics Report, stroke is the fourth leading cause for death in America. Strokes claimed the lives of 137,000 Americans last year.

Dr. Halpern recommends substitute ingredients such:

* Butter or margarine — replace these ingredients with trans-fat free tub spreads

* Milk — avoid whole milk; use skim or low-fat milk

* Mayonnaise — use cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt instead

* Canned soups — use the low-salt canned soups only

* Breads — select fiber-rich whole grain bread, not highly processed white breads

* Cheese — use the real thing in moderation. Avoid high-sodium processed foods “cheese foods.”

Lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on your vascular health. A 10 pound weight loss can lead to a 5-8 percent decrease in bad cholesterol. Lifestyle changes may also be made:

* not smoking

* participating in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily

* consuming 1,000 to 1,200 calories daily for women; 1,200 to 1,600 calories daily for men to maintain a healthy body weight.

If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, a specialist in vascular medicine can prescribe medication to lower cholesterol. For vascular health information, visit: VascularWeb.org.