Mejia is a board-certified internal medicine specialist who provides care to patients throughout the community, in addition to being an assistant professor of medicine at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine.

Diet plays a key role in high cholesterol, Mejia says. But the 鈥渃holesterol bad guys鈥� aren鈥檛 just eggs and fatty steaks.

Highly processed, sugary foods, like breakfast cereal, snack cakes and cookies, also contribute to elevations in cholesterol. In fact, Mejia says patients can often be misled into thinking that prepackaged 鈥渓ow-fat鈥� foods and snacks are healthy.

Yes, these foods may be lower in fat and contain no cholesterol, but they can be high in simple sugars and low in fiber.

鈥淭hese foods are designed to keep you snacking,鈥� he says. 鈥淓xcess sugar in the body is turned into triglycerides, and these in turn stimulate the creation of new LDL particles.鈥�

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a time to raise awareness about high cholesterol as a major risk factor for heart disease, the importance of screening and ways to manage it.

About 120 million American adults have cholesterol higher than 200, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mejia鈥檚 advice: 鈥淓at foods that are as close as you can get to how they appear in nature. Foods you can pick off a tree or pull from the ground,鈥� he says. “Choose fibrous greens. Spinach is a superfood, kale [is great] and I am always a big fan of broccoli.鈥�

You don鈥檛 have to drive all over town to find a specialty market. You can buy unprocessed, fresh, or frozen fruits and vegetables (no sauces) at any grocery store.

If you are a meat eater, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. Eat more chicken (without the skin) and fish.

However, Mejia says recent research has found that heart disease doesn鈥檛 come just from eating high-fat foods.

Inflammation plays a key role in cardiac disease and other lifestyle-related diseases, like Type 2 diabetes, obesity and autoimmune conditions.

Highly processed, sugary foods, such as those containing high-fructose corn syrup, lead to insulin spikes and insulin resistance, which, along with high LDL cholesterol, contribute to inflammation and the formation of plaque in vital arteries.

The second step in reducing cholesterol is exercise.

Work up to 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, Mejia says. Start with 30 minutes a week 鈥� for example, a brisk, 10-minute walk three days a week 鈥� then gradually work up to 60 and 90 minutes, and increase from there.

鈥淟owering cholesterol boils down to two recommendations,鈥� Mejia says. 鈥淔ix the diet and exercise. They鈥檙e milquetoast, but they hold true.鈥�

Some people may be genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, and if lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower their levels, a physician may consider treatments such as prescribing statins.

鈥淔or the vast majority of people, changing how you eat and exercise can make a huge difference,鈥� Mejia says.

麻豆原创 Health Faculty Physician Practice has two locations: one in East Orlando, just blocks from 麻豆原创’s main campus, and another in Lake Nona. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the .

What are the signs and symptoms of the flu that patients should watch for?

The flu likes to make a big entrance when it comes in 鈥� a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches like a truck just ran you over. And for some children, even nausea and diarrhea.

When should flu sufferers contact their doctor?

You should see a doctor if you鈥檙e having any concerning signs 鈥� if you start developing chest pain, shortness of breath, if you have high fever that won鈥檛 come down. You should also contact your doctor if you are a high-risk individual which includes children under five and adults over 65. Patients that have chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and pregnant women should go see the doctor right away. They鈥檙e at the highest risk for complications.

How can you reduce your risk of getting the flu?

Wash your hands often. Cover your mouth when you cough. Stay away from sick people. Clean the surfaces in which you regularly come in contact. Wear masks.

How can patients boost their immune system to avoid the flu?

Easy. Eat your fruits. Eat your veggies. Eat your fiber. These foods are full of vitamins C, D, E and B6, which are necessary for the appropriate functioning of the immune system. Also, drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated. Sleep. Get up to eight hours of sleep so your body is well rested.

Everybody wants to know a magic supplement that鈥檚 going to boost the immune system. But, your immune system is not separate. It鈥檚 a part of your body. It鈥檚 a part of you. It鈥檚 one piece of the whole. Think about the immune system like a country鈥檚 military. You need to keep it strong. So staying healthy, that鈥檚 the key. Now there is some growing evidence that probiotics can modulate intestinal immune cells and that can cause a positive effect on your immune system homeostasis. So it鈥檚 not a bad idea to be sure that you get some probiotics in the form of yogurt, or maybe even a supplement.