Cholesterol - Effects in the Onset of Heart Diseases

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is an important part of the outer lining of the cells in our body. It can also be found in the blood circulations in humans. The two source of cholesterol are dietary intake and the liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes from the foods like meat, poultry, fish, and dietary products. Organ meat like liver contains high level of cholesterol. Foods that plant in origin contain no cholesterol. Our liver is responsible in removing the cholesterol in the blood circulation and also manufacturing and secreting into blood circulation. After a meal, our liver removes the chylomicrons ( cholesterol-protein coat complex). In between meals, the liver manufacture and secrete it back to the blood circulation.

There are kinds of cholesterol these are the LDL also called " bad cholesterol" and HDL "good cholesterol". LDL stands for low density lipoprotein of LDL can increased the risk of coronary heart diseases. It is deposits on the wall of the artery, which cause the plaque. This plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries. This is the process called atherosclerosis. HDL is considered good because it prevent the atherosclerosis by extracting the cholesterol from the wall of the artery and disposing them to the liver.

The liver is not only responsible in manufacturing and secreting the LDL into the blood, it also remove remove the LDL from the blood. A high number of active LDL receptors on the liver surface is associated with the rapid removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood and low blood LDL levels. The deficiency of LDL receptors is associated with high LDL cholesterol blood levels.

Diets that are high in saturated fats can raise the level of LDL I the blood. The fats can classified as saturated and unsaturated it will depends on their chemical structures. Saturated fats can be found in meats and dairy products and it can raise the blood cholesterol levels, some some the vegetable oils are also saturated like coconut, palm, and cocoa.

Most of the health care provider (doctors) believe in the benefits of lowering LDL these are:

Reducing or stopping the formation of new cholesterol plaques on the artery walls
Reducing existing cholesterol plaques on the artery walls
Widening narrowed arteries
Preventing the rupture of cholesterol plaques, which initiates blood clot formation
Decreasing the risk of heart attacks
Decreasing the risk of strokes

There are ways to reduce the level of LDL in our body like losing excess weight, regular exercise and good diet, a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Doctors can prescribe medications if lifestyle changes cannot change or reduce the LDL to the desired levels.. statins is the most effective drugs used to lower the LDL. Other medications that can be used are nicotinic acid ( niacin), fibrates (gemfibrozil), resins ( cholestyramine), ezetimibe.

Awareness in the level of cholesterol in your body is very helpful, it can help us to prevent the development of diseases especially cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.

Charles Wainwright is an acknowledged expert in the field of Heart Health. He focuses especially on the effects of cholesterol on diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system including high blood pressure, strokes, coronary heart disease and heart attacks. For more information please visit foodshighincholesterol.info Foods High in Cholesterol and foodsthatlowercholesterol.net Foods That Lower Cholesterol.