Cholesterol is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Cholesterol can be good or bad for us. Since our body produces most of our cholesterol, it can’t all be bad. The rest of the cholesterol in us comes in the form of food consumption.
Heart disease, heart attacks and strokes are often associated with cholesterol; however, there is good and bad cholesterol. If the levels aren’t within the norms, the above results often happen.
A waxy, soft substance that is located in the bloodstream and in cells is a basic description of cholesterol. The occurrence of cholesterol is completely normal. Cholesterol is used in the manufacturing of certain hormones and cell membranes. If too much cholesterol is present it presents major risks.
Cholesterol can either be consumed or produced by your body. One quarter of cholesterol from the food you eat. Your cells and liver produce the remaining three quarters of it.
The type of cholesterol that we are constantly warned about is LDL, or bad cholesterol. This is the cholesterol that clogs the arteries if too much is present.
Genetics play a role in your cholesterol levels. Your body may create too much LDL because of your genetics. The foods you eat that have high quantities of trans or saturated fats will raise your cholesterol levels. If your family has a history of high cholesterol, watching what you eat may not be enough to lower your cholesterol levels.
Your blood cannot absorb cholesterol. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol to and from cells. These lipoproteins are known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL the bad cholesterol. The good cholesterol or lipoproteins are called high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. These types of lipids in conjunction with cholesterol and triglycerides are what your cholesterol count is made of.
If there is too much bad cholesterol in your blood it eventually starts to build up in your arteries. When this combines with other substances, plaque forms making the arteries become less flexible.
Good cholesterol, or HDL, is thought to protect your heart from heart attacks. If these levels are too low, your risk for a heart attack increases.
There are some common misunderstandings about cholesterol.
Some believe that exercise and diet are what control cholesterol levels. These two do affect the good cholesterol in your body; however, the bad cholesterol levels are controlled by your liver and intestines.
Using margarine instead of butter is not going to lower cholesterol. Both of these are high in certain kinds of fat. Since trans and saturated fats determine what your cholesterol levels are do not over use food high in these fats. Just changing to margarine is not going to help.
Regardless of your weight or size, anyone can have high cholesterol.
Ultimately, you are responsible for your health. If you are worried about your cholesterol levels, ask your doctor if they believe it should be tested.
Just because a nutrition label says there is no cholesterol, it doesn’t mean that the food is a healthy option. A lot of foods that claim to be low in cholesterol contain high amounts of saturated or Trans fats.
Just because you take medication for high cholesterol, doesn’t mean that you don’t need to watch what you eat.
If you are going to eat eggs, keep in mind that they are good for you as long as take into consideration the cholesterol that you consume from other food as well.
High cholesterol is as much as woman’s problem as it is a man’s. Once women reach menopause, they have to take estrogen which increases your cholesterol levels. Increasing levels also happen naturally with age.
Don’t wait until you are middle aged before having your cholesterol levels checked. As a matter of fact, having it checked regularly in your early twenties is a good idea.
Would you like to learn more about how to lower cholesterol? Read other article at cholesterol diet
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