Not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, cholesterol in general isn’t bad. Cholesterol is manufactured by our bodies to help keep us healthy. Our bodies produce some of it while the food we eat provides the rest.
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.
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 is created by the body and consumed through food. Food is responsible for about 25% of the cholesterol in the body. The cells and liver create the rest.
LDL, or bad cholesterol, causes strokes, heart attacks and heart diseases. These issues are caused by cholesterol causing your arteries to clog up.
The bad cholesterol is manufactured by your body. There is a chance of inheriting genes that cause your body to produce much LDL. If you eat foods that contain saturated fats, or trans fats, your cholesterol level will increase. Having a family history of high cholesterol may not help to keep the levels low enough even if you make changes to your lifestyle.
Blood is not capable of sucking up cholesterol. Because of this, it it the job of lipoproteins to distribute cholesterol to cells. LDL, or low-density lipoproteins, is often referred to as the bad type of cholesterol. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein is the good type of cholesterol. When testing is done for cholesterol levels, lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides affect the outcome.
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.
Heart attacks can be prevented by HDL, or good cholesterol. The downside is that if your HDL levels fall below the normal levels, you are placed at higher risk for heart attacks.
Many people hold to common beliefs in regards to 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.
Controlling cholesterol levels cannot be done by simply changing from butter to margarine either. Both are high in fat. Saturated and trans fats contribute to bad cholesterol. Making this small change won’t have an effect.
Your weight has nothing to do with cholesterol levels either.
Your health is in your hands. Ask your doctor about being tested if you are concerned.
Most food that is low in cholesterol is more than likely going to be high in fat. Read the food labels before buying it.
Watch what foods you eat even if you take medication.
Eggs are healthy for you as long as you remember to consider your cholesterol consumption from all the food you eat.
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.
It is wise to start having the levels tested starting in your 20’s. Middle age is not the time to all of a sudden start worrying about it.
Would you like to learn more about how to lower cholesterol? Read other article at cholesterol diet
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