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What You Need to Know About Cholesterol

  • Yasmin Coles
  • January 5, 2011

There are some negative connotations about cholesterol which needs to be corrected.  Cholesterol is actually a cellular metabolite that is an important part cell membrane among mammals.  Because it is part of a mammal’s cellular structure, its functions also include helping the effective production of fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, E and K; steroid hormones; and bile acids.  However, once serum cholesterol reaches high amounts, it can cause critical effects to the body such as heart disease.

It is initially important to know that there are good and bad cholesterols.   Your body produces about 75% of the blood cholesterol and the rest comes from the food you eat.  Generally, a cholesterol is considered “good”or “bad”depending on the determined screening through HDL and LDL measures.  HDL is the good cholesterol, and higher levels of HDL is needed to combat LDL levels can lead to getting lodged in artery walls. This is why it is important to maintain high levels of HDL and to keep LDL at bay.

LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein whereas HDL means high-density lipoprotein.  Cholesterol is not absorbed in the blood, hence a person can have a total cholesterol count which also counts in the triglycerides and Lp(a) Cholesterol.  Everyone has these components in their bloods, but it is in the matter of levels that indicate whether a person’s cholesterol levels are may create critical health issues.

In this case, how will you know if you are getting good ones and getting rid of the bad ones?  You are actually consuming cholesterol when you are eating animal products such as cheese and egg yolks, and cholesterol is also considerably present in beef, pork, poultry and shrimp.  Some plants have cholesterol as well but in smaller portions.  The important note is that these foods can affect blood cholesterol levels that can lead to an increase in LDL levels.  This is why many meat products have been underlined as potential causes of heart disease, but this is a fallacy.   There are other factors that need to be considered as well such as lifestyle and how these consumed cholesterol are absorbed in the body.

A body’s overall chemical composition influences how these cholesterols move through the blood and cells.  For instance, a person’s LDL may increase in level but when combined with other substances, this can lead to the formation of thick and hard deposits that can affect the arteries.   This can lead to heart diseases that ca n be triggered by a heart attack or stroke. On one hand, if there is a higher level of HDL, the body prevents itself from having a heart attack.  Some studies support this by looking at the possibility that HDL bring the cholesterol to the liver instead of the arteries.

Another component that is added to the total cholesterol equation is the triglycerides.  Triglycerides are produced in the body and are a form of fat.  An increase in the triglyceride level indicates overweight and/or obesity.  This is also evident in certain lifestyles such as smoking, excess alcohol drinking, and a high carbohydrate diet.  It is typical that persons with heart diseases and diabetes have high levels of triglyceride in their blood.  Last but not the least, the total cholesterol equation also include the genetic variation of the LDL called Lp(a).  It has similar effects as the LDL.

What You Need to Know About CholesterolTo maintain healthy cholesterol levels, the secret is in a well-balanced diet and an active lifestyle.  Even though meat is normally cited as the culprit in increasing cholesterol levels, meat can still be consumed in moderate levels.  It is also important to consume foods that are great to the heart such as those with Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, flaxseed, oatmeal), almonds, walnuts and black kidney beans.  It also generally helps to eat food with a significant amount of antioxidants such as berries, legumes, spinach and broccoli.  Staying away from tobacco smoke is also an important step in keeping the good cholesterol at high levels.  Lastly, consult your doctor and have some blood work done to check your cholesterol.  You can work with your doctor to combat any problems, but it is still important that prevention is key to avoid the need for a cure.

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