What is cholesterol?

What is Cholesterol?

Many people are aware that high levels of cholesterol are dangerous to their health because of the increase risk of heart disease and stroke.  But what is cholesterol? And is it really bad for the health?

What is cholesterol? It is a combination of fatty substances and steroid naturally produced by the body. In fact, cholesterol is in every cell of our body.  It makes cell membranes less fluid and holds it together without the need for a cell wall. It basically keeps the cell in the body stable. Cholesterol is also a source of energy. The liver produces 80 percent of the cholesterol but it can also be from dietary source. It also helps in digesting fats and in vitamins absorption.

There are good and bad cholesterol. Bad cholesterol of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is produced by our body and is also needed but high level of bad cholesterol as mentioned can cause heart disease and clog the arteries.  LDL are usually found in animal meat, ice cream, eggs and butter so limit the intake of these food. There is also the good cholesterol or High density lipoprotein (HDL) which protects you from heart disease by lowering the bad cholesterol in the body. Foods high in HDL are sea foods like salmon and tuna. Foods high in fiber like fruits and vegetables also helps raise the HDL level in the body. Eating more vegetables and high fiber food and limiting red meat, eggs and sweets can definitely help lower your bad cholesterol.

Cholesterol is not really bad for the body; it only becomes a threat if increases beyond the normal level. The truth is what is cholesterol is an essential substance which our body needs to work properly. We won’t be able to function without cholesterol. The most important is the need to maintain a proper diet and exercise to make sure the good cholesterol is in a healthy level. You should also visit your doctor regularly so that you can monitor your cholesterol level and if you might need medication or a change in your diet for your cholesterol.

What is cholesterol is basically what you take in your body. If you eat unhealthy food then you’ll get bad cholesterol if you eat a balanced diet coupled with exercise you’ll have higher good cholesterol. It’s a good lifestyle that will ensure a good health and a good level of cholesterol.

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What is High Cholesterol

What is High Cholesterol and How Can You Avoid It?

If you want to define what high cholesterol is, you will need to start with the different kinds of cholesterol that is found in the body. There are two kinds of cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins or HDL which are known as good cholesterol and low density lipoproteins or LDL known as the bad cholesterol. It is important that there is more HDL in the body but LDL is to be totally eliminated but to just reduce to acceptable levels. Both HDL and LDL are needed by the body to function well.

High LDL levels are often associated with heart ailments. There are foods that you can add to you diet to increase your cholesterol levels, though the main source within your body is the liver. Doctors have often pointed out that the main causes of increased levels of cholesterol are obesity, lack of exercise, and eating foods rich in saturated and trans fats.

LDL cholesterol are those that easily oxidize and has the tendency to build up in the arterial walls. As LDL builds up in your arterial walls, plaques form causing a condition termed as atherosclerosis. Blockage in the arterial walls can cause strokes or heart attacks.

Having high cholesterol levels in your bloodstream makes you a likely candidate to develop heart disease. It is considered to be the number killer disease today.

If you are obese, chances are you have high cholesterol levels. What you need to do is to have your cholesterol level checked with a few tests. If it is confirmed that you have high LDL levels, the first thing you should do is lose weight.

So how do you reduce high cholesterol levels? First things first, add exercise to your routine. It doesn’t mean, though, that you need to go to the gym regularly. If you can’t afford going to the gym, there are alternatives that you can do to get some exercise. You can try brisk walking or running around the neighborhood every morning. Exercising doesn’t mean slaving all day into a treadmill. You just need to be moving around more often, stop from being a couch potato.

You can ask your doctor on what foods to avoid so that you can decrease your LDL levels. You will have to stay away from foods that have too much trans fats. One surefire way to cut down on trans fats is to skip eating in your favorite fast food restaurants. Add fruits and vegetables into your diet and cut down on the meat, or eat lean meat instead.

So if you want to reduce your high cholesterol levels start an exercise regimen and start eating healthy!

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What Are Foods Low in Cholesterol?

What Are Foods Low in Cholesterol?

Foods low in cholesterol are those that come from plants, i.e. legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These are usually the main food components of low-fat diets, which can be used to reduce weight or even lower one’s cholesterol level.

It has been noted that obese or overweight people have a greater chance of being diagnosed with high levels of cholesterol. Low-fat diets are commonly perceived as the best way of solving 2 problems in one go. However, before plunging head-on with any low-fat diet, there are a few myths that one needs to know.

First, it is believed that drinking red wine would help lower cholesterol. Yes it may help, but if one drinks too much red wine he/she is actually increasing the levels of triglyceride in his/her body. An occasional glass of red wine would do, as well as eating foods low in cholesterol.

It is natural for a person to think that he/she should only be concerned on removing or cutting down on saturated fatty foods to decrease his/her cholesterol level. This, however, is a myth. Diets that include foods low in cholesterol should also have fiber, which can be found in whole grain food and fruits. Reducing cholesterol levels doesn’t mean that one has to focus solely on removing fat in his/her diet; having a healthy lifestyle is also important.

The third myth concerning diets with foods low in cholesterol is related to the second myth. People seem to believe that they should mostly focus on the cholesterol content. There are 2 kinds of cholesterol: serum cholesterol and dietary cholesterol. Serum cholesterol is located in the bloodstream, while dietary cholesterol is located in the foods people eat.

Serum cholesterol levels are increased whenever a person eats food rich in saturated fats, such as bacon and butter. Foods with a lot of trans fat (e.g. fast food, cookies, ramen noodles, etc.) also help raise the levels of serum cholesterol.

With regards to this myth, some people believe that removing fatty foods would help in lowering cholesterol. Although there are some fatty foods that should be removed from one’s diet, foods with polyunsaturated fats can actually help. This type of fatty food can assist in decreasing the levels of LDL, which are also considered as “bad” cholesterol. Olive oil, avocados, and omega-3 fatty acids are some examples of foods with polyunsaturated fats.

These are just 4 of the many myths that surround diets with foods low in cholesterol. Hopefully these would help you avoid making mistakes that could keep you from lowering your cholesterol level.

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Top 5 Causes

High Cholesterol – What are the Top 5 Causes You Need to be Aware of?

High cholesterol is often linked to atherosclerosis, a condition wherein the blood vessels are narrowed by fat deposits. Increased levels of cholesterol in the body causes blockage in the arterial walls that can lead to heart attacks that is why it is important that cholesterol levels in the body are regulated.

This article will give you the 5 known causes of high cholesterol, these are as follows.

1. Saturated Fat – This is considered as the single most important of the 5 causes of having high levels of cholesterol in the body. This type of fat is often found in large quantities in coconuts, processed meat, chicken and turkey skin, pork, sweetbreads, and high fat dairy goods.

2. Your health – Having some other types of disease can often cause high cholesterol levels. Diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can cause an increase in cholesterol levels. It is important that you maintain regular check ups to assess your risks.

3.  Being overweight – Studies show that even a 20% increase in an individual’s body weight increases their bad cholesterol levels or LDL and decreases their good cholesterol or HDL, which is not a good sign.

4. Age and Gender – Younger males usually have higher levels and as they age, the levels further rise. Men aged 50 will find their cholesterol levels to decrease, but not so much for women because menopause causes cholesterol levels to increase. While getting old is inevitable and you cannot change your gender, there are just a few things that you can do maintain cholesterol count to appropriate levels.

5. Inactivity – Researches show that more and more Americans are becoming obese. It is probably the signs of the times since most people are more glued to their computers or television sets these days. Everything seemed to have been modernized. You can flip through channels while watching TV with your remote control. There is not much to do since almost everything can be done in just a push of a button.

Not being active will cause you to be obese, thus causing you to develop high cholesterol levels. Get out of that couch and exercise. If you are in the office, walk around once in a while and do not just sit in front of your computer. There are a lot of activities that you can do, learn a new sport or try brisk walking around the neighborhood. Whatever you do, don’t let yourself go on with very little activity.

There you have it the 5 most common causes of high cholesterol. Now that you are aware of the causes of increased levels of cholesterol in your body, it will easier for you to avoid such causes to lead a healthy life.

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What foods high in cholesterol and fat?

What foods high in cholesterol and fat?

One of the main reasons of high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia is unbalanced diet. Cholesterol is already being produced by our body so if we eat too much fat then we will have high level of cholesterol which could lead to heart disease.

However not all fats are bad in fact it is needed by our body. It provides energy and helps builds healthy cells and protects our organs. There are first three basic types of fats: monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and saturated fats. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are good for the body and helps raises the good cholesterol. Foods high in monounsaturated fats are peanuts, almonds, avocados and canola and olive oil. Polyunsaturated fats are found in seafood like shrimps, salmon, mackerel, corn and sunflower oils.

The basic rule of avoiding foods high in cholesterol is not really correct. It should be avoiding food high in saturated fats or bad cholesterol. There are foods high in cholesterol but hardly affects your cholesterol level. One example is egg, back then people thought that eating eggs is not good for the health because of its high fats contents but experts say it does not affect your cholesterol or if it does its so minimal. What you need to do is avoid frying your egg. Coconut or palm oil contains saturated fats that can raise your bad cholesterol. Butter should also be avoided substitute it with canola or olive oil. Bacon, meat and poultry are also high in saturated fats so limit eating that type of food

Foods high in cholesterol that you should also avoid are food high in trans fat because it increases the level of bad cholesterol while decreasing the level of good cholesterol. This type of fat is found in fast foods and most commercially prepared products and baked foods. These foods have hydrogenated oil for increase shelf life and decrease the need for refrigeration. Read the nutritional label of commercially prepared food if it states hydrogenated then it contains trans fat.

As mentioned above, it’s okay to eat foods high in cholesterol or fats since its also needed by our body but be mindful of how much fat you are taking in. It’s recommended to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily so always check the nutritional label of food that you eat. You should also exercise regularly and ask for doctor’s advice so that you will be able to measure your cholesterol level.

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How to lower bad cholesterol?

How to lower bad cholesterol?

 Most people know the danger of having high level of cholesterol in the body. High level of bad cholesterol in your bloodstream can cause heart disease and could also lead to stroke. So it’s vital that you regularly check your cholesterol level and make sure to keep it in a safe or acceptable level.

Unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and genetic make-up cause high cholesterol. One way to lower bad cholesterol especially if it’s because of your genes is by taking medicine prescribed by your doctor. However, medications have many side effects like muscle pain, irritability, liver inflammation and even memory loss.

The best and natural way to lower bad cholesterol is still through lifestyle change. Unhealthy diet is still the main cause of many health problems and it’s the same with bad cholesterol. Foods high in saturated and trans fat like fast food or processed meat should be avoided. Change your diet or at least add more fruits and vegetables to your diet because this food helps in lowering bad cholesterol and at the same time raises your good cholesterol. Seafoods are also source of good cholesterol so instead of red meat you could eat salmon, tuna and other fish. It’s also important to watch your weight since obesity is also an indicator that your cholesterol is in a bad level.

Another way to lower bad cholesterol is rink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Smoking also raises cholesterol and hardens the arteries and is major risk factor for heart disease and cancer. Avoid smoking at all cost.

Stress and bad cholesterol are connected so it’s important that you learn to relax and avoid too much stress. Learn to meditate or go to yoga classes so that you can manage your stress effectively.

Regular exercise is also a must if you want to lower your bad cholesterol. Lack of activity or sedentary lifestyle contributes to bad health and obesity. Cardiovascular exercise not only lowers bad cholesterol it contributes positively to overall health. So make time to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

So if you have high cholesterol its time to change your diet and lifestyle. It’s the most effective way to lower bad cholesterol and improve your health. Bad cholesterol is an invisible killer if you take it for granted or if left untreated it could definitely lead to serious complications that can be fatal. Consult your doctor and ask for advice and dietary plan that can help you improve your health.

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Simple Ways in Lowering Cholesterol

Simple Ways in Lowering Cholesterol

Lowering cholesterol is vital for every person may he be a young child, a teenager, a middle-aged, an adult or even old. People who have been stroked or have experienced any form of heart disease must be more careful and more aware about the level of cholesterol in their bodies. Lowering cholesterol is the fundamental input in order to reduce the risk of triggering heart failures. Doctors advise that everyone should have cholesterol levels under 200mg/dl (milligrams of cholesterol in the blood per decilitre of blood). Lowering cholesterol is an easy thing to do. It doesn’t need to involve any drugs or surgery. All that has to be done is maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Lowering cholesterol is simple; it doesn’t even need a doctor to do so. Here is a list of simple tips to do to lower the cholesterol level. Overall diet and how food are cooked and served are important factors to someone’s cholesterol intake. It is better to use olive oil or vegetable oils because these oils lessen the harmful effects of low density lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol without affecting high density lipoprotein (HDL) or the good cholesterol. Consume margarine and butter containing plant sterols that are helpful in averting cholesterol from going into the blood. Limit intake of red meat into smaller portions and to two times a week to decrease the consumed amount of saturated fats and eat more fish. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables. Smoking should also be stopped. Yes, stopped. Smoking is bad for the cholesterol level since taking a puff increases LDL and lowers HDL. Exercising for thirty minutes everyday can also trim down cholesterol levels present in the blood. Some of the exercises that can increase HDL are jogging, walking, yoga and weight lifting. And lastly, it is important to lose weight because obesity and being overweight can increase the probability of having other health problems resulting to an increase in LDL.

Lowering cholesterol is the number one factor to in preventing and avoiding cardiovascular diseases. Maintaining lower LDL and higher HDL is the main purpose of lowering cholesterol. So when cholesterol levels start to reach a higher level than the recommended level, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor. He can prescribe medications that can lower and control the cholesterol level. But it should also be remembered that some medications have side effects. Lowering cholesterol is an essential means to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a healthy heart.  

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Diets for Lowering Cholesterol

Hope in Diets for Lowering Cholesterol

            More and more people are looking for diets for lowering cholesterol.  According to recent studies, cardiovascular or heart problems have ousted cancer as the number one disease that attacks Americans.  Because of this knowledge, more people want to go on diets for lowering cholesterol.  One thing to remember is that it is not good to completely eradicate cholesterol in the diet because cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions and processes.  So, lowering the cholesterol content is very helpful to keep the body healthy.

            Here are some things to do for diets for lowering cholesterol.  First, it is important to reduce the amount of high-fat food, especially those that have high saturated fat in them.  There are two kinds of dietary fat: saturated and unsaturated; saturated fat is considered to be the “bad” one, while unsaturated is considered to be the “good one”.  Saturated fat is one of the major culprits which help cholesterol levels to shoot up, so it is best to limit this kind of fat in the diet.  Sources of saturated fat include animal products, hydrogenated fats (which cause atherosclerosis or narrowing of blood vessels), and some vegetable fats (coconut oil and cocoa butter).

            The second thing to do is to substitute saturated fats with unsaturated ones.  Since unsaturated fats are considered the “good” fats, it is best to go for this kind, instead of the bad ones.  Unsaturated fats dominate in the likes of safflower, soybean, corn, sesame, and sunflower oils – which are also common kinds of cooking oil.  Another kind of polyunsaturated fat could be found in fish – more commonly known as omega-3 fatty acids.  They are heart-friendly oils and should be taken more than saturated fats. 

            These kinds of diets could also help a person to maintain a healthy weight.  Studies have shown that being overweight could also give rise to developing a cardiovascular disease in the future.  There may also be predisposing factors that could add to the risk of developing other diseases.  Another thing to learn is reading the nutritional labels of food before buying them.  This will be a perfect weapon against buying foods that contain a lot of harmful ingredients. 

            Going on diets for lowering cholesterol will help a person to steer clear of cardiovascular diseases.  More and more people are suffering from heart problems and it is very important not to join those people.  Having a healthy lifestyle with a regular exercise routine will go a long way to keeping a person healthy. 

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