Cholesterol is Essential. Cholesterol is a wax like substance that is similar to fat, not soluble and is necessary for a good deal of your body's metabolic operations and also to assist your body use vitamin D. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream and is stored in body cells. It plays a major role in building the cell walls in heart, liver, brain, nerves, skin and muscles.
The body naturally makes in the region of 75% of all cholesterol, with consumed foodstuff responsible for the remaining 25%. Your body in fact needs cholesterol, but can make sufficient of it's own, without any help from the food you take.
Cholesterol is designated in 3 ways:
1. LDL- Meaning Low Density Lipoproteins - This is known as 'bad' cholesterol and is responsible for clogging our arteries when there is high amounts in our bloodstream.
2. HDL-Means High Density Lipoproteins - This is 'good' cholesterol. Good since it helps to eliminate excess cholesterol from our cells including the arteries.
3. VLDL-Means Very Low Density Lipoproteins
Arteries and veins are the conduits for blood circulation and this process can be done effectively only if they are flexible and unobstructed. LDL can cause atherosclerosis (also called arteriosclerotic vascular disease or ASVD) which is state that hardens and narrows the arteries because of the formation of plaque. This situation is possibly one of the key causes for heart attack and stroke. Alternatively, the HDL assists in stopping the built up of plaque on the walls of the arteries.
Cholesterol Checks
As with everything else, there is an acceptable range even for the bad cholesterol.
Everyone over 20 years of age, must check cholesterol levels in minimum every five years.
The way this is done is by a cholesterol blood test called as a lipid panel or lipid profile.
Prior to the check you can't eat for a minimum of 9 hours, preferably 12 hours. The test will then determine the levels of Total,LDL and HDL Cholesterol with with the amounts of triglycerides in your blood. The measurement is taken in mg per deciliter of blood (mg/dl).
Total cholesterol is a combination of LDL, HDL AND VLDL. It is better if your Total cholesterol is lower than 200
LDL levels must be below 100
In adult men a HDL level less than 40 is deemed to be a danger factor for cardiovascular disease as is a level below 50 for females
Triglycerides are the most common kinds of fat found in your body. Levels in excess of 150 can mean increased risk of heart disease and stroke. More than 200 level and your doctor will be dealing with you very severely.
Cholesterol Management
You most certainly do not require to eat food that contains cholesterol. Together with the cholesterol in food comes saturated fats. Once again a main cause of heart disease. Cholesterol comes from eggs and animal products, mainly meat and dairy products, not from fruit and vegetables.
Saturated fats can be eliminated by avoiding :
* Full Fat Dairy Produce
* Fatty Meats
* Deep fried foodstuff
* Cakes etc.
* Meat that has been processed
There's no need to cut out dairy foods, actually it's not at all good for you if you do, but you definitely have to go for low or 0% fat.
This article is meant only for information, if you suspect you have high cholesterol levels, then please call your doctor for testing. As I mentioned earlier, you should actually schedule regular cholesterol checks anyway.
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