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.
You should be aware that there is a difference between good and bad cholesterol. What hurts or harms you is the levels of each in your system. If the levels aren’t right, a stroke, heart attack or heart disease can occur.
Cholesterol is a soft substance that is wax like. Cholesterol can be found in the cells and bloodstream. Cholesterol occurs naturally in your system. It is used in the creation of some hormones and cell membranes. Risks involved with high cholesterol are extremely dangerous.
As stated previously, cholesterol is produced by your body and consumed through food. 25% of the cholesterol in your body comes from the food you eat. The rest of it is produced by your liver and other cells.
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 start to harden.
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.
Many people hold to common beliefs in regards to cholesterol.
Exercise and diet alone do not affect bad cholesterol. Your liver and intestines are in charge of creating bad cholesterol so diet and exercise do not help regulate it.
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.
Your weight has nothing to do with cholesterol levels either.
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.
Eggs are healthy for you as long as you remember to consider your cholesterol consumption from all the food you eat.
High cholesterol is not just a mans problem. Estrogen that is taken during menopause can actually increase your cholesterol levels. These levels increase naturally with age as well.
Have your cholesterol levels checked starting in your 20’s. If you wait until you are middle aged, it might be to late.
Would you like to learn more about foods that lower cholesterol? Read other article at cholesterol diet
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