What Is The Effect Of Fats And Cholesterol

Fat and cholesterol receive bad press, there is no doubt. If you hear fat or cholesterol mentioned in a sentence it is often preceded or closely followed by some way to reduce or lose it in some ingenious fashion. The truth is that fat and cholesterol are essential for the overall health of the body. Fat is needed in two cases. There is essential fats that keep vital systems like the nervous system and brain running and storage fat that is can be converted to energy when the body cannot get nutrition from the environment.

Cholesterol is essential to the walls of cells membranes and keeps the body's cells robust and healthy. We take these functions for granted and only talk about fat and cholesterol when there is too much in the body. This is when fats and cholesterol can become harmful to the body. This article will discuss the harmful effects that fats and cholesterol have on the body despite being essential, in moderation, to the overall health of the body.

Despite fats, like olive and omega 3 oil being good for the brain function, the broad categories of fats, known as saturated and trans fats are not good for the health. Saturated fats are things like butter, lard, fatty meats, potato chips or full fat milk and dairy products. Trans fats are man made additives that are used to enhance the flavors of biscuits, cakes and many other processed foods.

These types of fats are known to increase the amount of cholesterol in the body. Specifically, they increase the amount of LDL cholesterol in the body. LDL cholesterol is considered to be bad cholesterol because it tends to stick to the artery walls when it is being transported throughout the body. As more LDL cholesterol sticks to the arteries the person can develop atherosclerosis or thickening of the arteries. This can lead to range of other problems, but particularly heart disease.

Thickening of the arteries can cause high blood pressure. This can lead to heart disease. Pieces of the hardened LDL cholesterol on the walls of the arteries can become loose. In the worst case scenario, these loosened pieces can form blood clots. Blood clots can lead to strokes.

Thus it is essential that fats and cholesterol are consumed in moderation. In truth, most of the body's cholesterol is made naturally by the liver so there is little need to consume foods that will increase your cholesterol. Avoid foods that are high in trans and saturated fats. Eat fresh foods, particularly vegetables and fruit.

Find out lowcholesteroldieting.com what is a normal cholesterol reading and ideas to lowcholesteroldieting.com/Low_Cholesterol_Food.html reduce fat and cholesterol intake diet at lowcholesteroldieting.com lowcholesteroldieting.com Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to reducing cholesterol and how to monitor cholesterol levels.