Cholesterol is a word that many people fear. It is actually really simple to understand. Cholesterol is a lipid that has many necessary functions in the body. It is a critical component of cell membranes, the semipermeable membranes that surround cells. Cholesterol also produces bile acids that aid in the digestion of fats. In addition, cholesterol plays an important part in producing hormones. Our body produces about 75% of the cholesterol that we need in the liver. We also obtain cholesterol from the food we eat. Cholesterol can be found in all cells of our body. It is transported in small packages called lipoproteins. They consist of fat on the inside and protein on the outside. There are two kinds of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in our body.
Ever heard of the "good" and the "bad" cholesterol? To many, the "good cholesterol" is really High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). The "bad cholesterol" is really Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). This is a myth. HDL and LDL are both necessary for our body to function and serve important roles in the facilitation of cholesterol.
Foods that have saturated fats can raise your LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in animal products and processed foods. Meats, dairy products, and pastries have tons of saturated fat. It is best to avoid these types of foods because they can raise your cholesterol and they are not healthy for the heart. Another type of fat is unsaturated fat. These are healthier for your body and are found primarily in fish, olives, and nuts. They are healthy for your heart and they can raise HDL cholesterol. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats lower LDL cholesterol. These healthy fats can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease too.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can be attributed to many factors. Diet is a major cause of high cholesterol. Eating too much saturated fats and trans fats can raise cholesterol. Another cause of high cholesterol is lack of physical activity. Also, being overweight can lead to high cholesterol. In addition, smoking and taking certain medications can cause high cholesterol. Finally, high cholesterol can be attributed to your family history. It can run in families.
Ever heard of the "good" and the "bad" cholesterol? To many, the "good cholesterol" is really High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). The "bad cholesterol" is really Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). This is a myth. HDL and LDL are both necessary for our body to function and serve important roles in the facilitation of cholesterol.
Foods that have saturated fats can raise your LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in animal products and processed foods. Meats, dairy products, and pastries have tons of saturated fat. It is best to avoid these types of foods because they can raise your cholesterol and they are not healthy for the heart. Another type of fat is unsaturated fat. These are healthier for your body and are found primarily in fish, olives, and nuts. They are healthy for your heart and they can raise HDL cholesterol. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats lower LDL cholesterol. These healthy fats can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease too.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can be attributed to many factors. Diet is a major cause of high cholesterol. Eating too much saturated fats and trans fats can raise cholesterol. Another cause of high cholesterol is lack of physical activity. Also, being overweight can lead to high cholesterol. In addition, smoking and taking certain medications can cause high cholesterol. Finally, high cholesterol can be attributed to your family history. It can run in families.