The Student Health Center will be conducting cholesterol screenings Tuesday through Saturday for the next two weeks as a service to the Ames and Iowa State communities.

Randy Mayer, evaluation and research coordinator for the Student Health Center, has been in charge of the program since last year. He said he’s seen increased interest due to its incorporation in the Employee Wellness program.

“We get about 100 participants each year; many of them are in a group who do it regularly,” he said.

Also, he said many ISU dietetics classes recommend cholesterol screening.

Mayer is surprised, nonetheless, with the number of younger people taking part in the screening. According to a survey he conducted last year with 422 ISU students, 10 percent said they have been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, an usually high number for young people.

However, students who are concerned about college-related weight gain shouldn’t necessarily worry about their cholesterol, he said.

“Your cholesterol level is not directly related to weight gain, but that should not stop you from getting screened,” Mayer said.

The test not only checks cholesterol levels, but it also checks glucose levels.

Abnormally low or high levels of glucose may indicate a risk for diabetes, Mayer said.

Sarah Dent, graduate assistant for food sciences and human nutrition, said there are ways to lower one’s levels of LDL (low density lipoproteins), the cholesterol believed to cause plaque buildup, blocking blood flow in the arteries.

“Try to limit meat and dairy products in your diet as well as added fats, such as butter and mayonnaise,” she said. “Also, limit your fast-food intake to less than three times a week.”

It’s also a myth that red meat raises cholesterol levels, Dent said, adding that it’s usually OK if the meat is lean.

In addition to changing diet, Dent also said certain lifestyle changes will help lower levels of LDL. Such changes include exercising more, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake.

“It is better knowing your cholesterol levels when you’re young because it is easier to make lifestyle changes,” she said.

Cost for the service is $9, and it requires a 12-hour fasting period before the procedure. For more information, call Mayer at 294-2722.