Venison is good for high cholesterol.

Venison is low in cholesterol and is fat-free.Right?Over the years, we have all been telling ourselves that, and for the most part it is true.

You need to trust me here.You are talking to a guy who has eaten so much venison over the past 25 years that it is second only to oxygen in his daily/weekly intake.I have a family that is also addicted to this.My family of four have eaten more than 150 white-tailed deer in the time that I have been here at Deer & Deer Hunting.It's become so common on our dinner plates that friends have more than once pulled out that Forrest Gump shrimp and said, "This is totally you!"

Back to cholesterol.I learned the hard way what good red meat can do to a body if you aren't careful.For a long time, my annual physical was good.I have never had to worry about elevated cholesterol levels or high blood pressure because I carry a few too many pounds on my midsection.When I had my blood work last summer, I found out my cholesterol level was over 200.

If you're wondering, total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter are desirable for adults.A reading between 200 and 239 is considered borderline high, while a reading of 240 and above is high.My levels have always been in the 180 range.

I asked my doctor how this could be since my family eats a lot of wild game and vegetables that we grow and store with care.

It was a wake-up call.This was in July of last year.I went on a strict diet that limited my fat intake as well as sugar and processed food.The venison meals were reduced to less than two per week.Fast forward to December.I had dropped 25 pounds and was feeling good.I went back for some follow-up blood work because I knew I wasn't out of the woods.

TheCholesterol level was 184.Awesome news, right?Yes and no.I was one of the lucky people who could turn it around quickly.My doctor told me that sometimes lowering cholesterol levels can't be achieved without taking medication.The good news is that I know I can't just eat venison for breakfast, lunch and dinner without putting myself at risk of going back to those unhealthy levels.

Saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are the three basic forms of fat.Fat from meat is dangerous.Lean ground venison has less cholesterol than 3.5 ounces of ground beef, but it has more calories, fat and cholesterol.In one serving of venison, there is approximately 100mg of cholesterol.For 3 ounces, you'll get 83 pills.72 calories for just 3 ounces of ground meat.There are different cuts of muscle meat.

The recommended daily intake of cholesterol for a healthy person is 300 milligrams per day, with less than seven per cent of calories coming from saturated fat.

Will I continue to eat venison with my family?I will bet you the best tree stand.Everything is in moderation.

A strategic alliance has been formed between the Pursuit Channel and the WILD Television Network.

The hunt-fish-shoot manufacturing community serving the United States, Canada and several key European markets will benefit from the new alliance.The re-branding of the Pursuit Channel in Canada will combine 25 years of international broadcasting expertise with tens of millions of households.WILD was launched in 2004.Pursuit is entering its 11th season as a leading distributor of outdoor content.

"This super-synergized, seamless coalition creates world-class competencies for our continent's most important, most active conservers," said the CEO of the Pursuit Channel.

Next week at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, there will be more big news from the Pursuit Channel, including the creation of WILD Pursuit to serve Canada.The National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), as well as Cox Communication and Centurylink, are active in HD home delivery via the Pursuit Channel.4 million households have been added since January of last year.There is free viewing for hundreds of episodes through PursuitUp.