Cholesterol is a lipid (fat) that is a vital part of the body cell and is considerably present all over the body. It is abundant in the brain, nervous tissue, adrenal glands and the skin. The word cholesterol conjures up in mind, blocked arteries and greasy fat, however, contrary to popular belief; cholesterol is an integral part of a healthy body. In fact, it is so important that a number of body organs and glands such as the liver, skin, intestines, and adrenal glands have the ability to produce it if necessary. 80% of the cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver and other organs. Only 20 percent of cholesterol in the blood is directly from the food you eat. If cholesterol is lacking in your diet, the liver will produce more of it to compensate.
What is the function of Cholesterol in the body?
Cholesterol is an important component of sex and steroid hormone. It is also the cholesterol that the body converts to Vitamin D when you are exposed to sunlight. It is also the source for the production of bile acids, an acid that plays a very important role in the break down of fats and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K). A short supply of bile acid can result to nutritional deficiency problems. If fats are not digested and absorb properly, it can coat other food particles, preventing them from being digested and processed properly.
Cholesterol is also important in memory, learning and other mental function. The brain, which is only about 2% of the body's weight, has 25% of the body's cholesterol. It is the most important element in the development of synapses, the foundation of learning and memory. According to the research conducted by Mauch et, al, published in 2001 on volume 294 of Science Magazine, without the cholesterol, the neurons develop less synapses and they are inefficient.
Good and Bad Cholesterol
It is a fact that cholesterol increases the risk of diabetes and heart diseases. However, it is important to know that there are two types of cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol (HDL) and the "bad" cholesterol (LD).
HDL, short for High-Density Lipoprotein, is the good cholesterol. A high count of "good" cholesterol is important because it carries bad cholesterol from the blood and takes it back to the liver to be re-used or flushed out from the body. Therefore, you need this to prevent heart diseases. If HDL is low, then "bad" cholesterol will increase and will consequently increase the risk of heart disease.
The healthy level of HDL for men is between 40 to 50 mg/dl and for women it is 50 to 60 mg/dl. Of course, the higher the HDL level, the better.
High LDL level, short for Low-Density Lipoprotein, is bad news. It slowly deposits plaque on the walls of the arteries, which results to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This condition is referred to atherosclerosis, a progressive condition responsible for most heart diseases. Since the arteries are narrow and less flexible, it is easy for a blood clot to block it, which then causes heart attack or stroke. The healthy level of LDL in the blood is 125 mg/dl or below for both men and women. It is advisable that once you reach the age of 30, you should have your cholesterol level checked once a year.
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