Most of us know heard of Cholesterol and most commonly, it has a bad reputation with regards to health but actually, Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is an important part of the outer membrane of cells in the body of animals and is also found in the blood circulation of humans. Cholesterol assists the body by creating new cells while helping in the output of hormones, and insulating the numerous nerves that operate throughout the system.
The cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Organ meats, such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.
There are many types of cholesterol. LDL or Low-density lipoprotein is the "bad" cholesterol, as it blocks the arteries. HDL or High-density lipoprotein is the "good" cholesterol, as it protects the arteries from clogging. The "good" cholesterol aids in bile salts output and vitamin D formations. In fact, cholesterol is an essential substance for balancing hormones especially among women.
A healthy meal should contain less than 30% calories from fat, less than 8% from saturated fat, and enriched in marine or plant omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid high saturated fats, like diary fats (ice cream, butter) and palm and coconut oils. Limit high cholesterol foods, like eggs and organ meats (liver). Eat higher fiber foods, fruit and vegetables. Eat more fish and skinless chicken breasts. Avoid fried foods and frying which soaks up the fat. Choose low fat and non-fat dairy products, avoid hard margarines which have trans-fatty acids, and try to use products made from plants instead.
Blood cholesterol level is greatly affected by diet, since cholesterol is present in certain foods and is manufactured in the body from digested fats. High levels of cholesterol in the blood are associated with hardened arteries or atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and stroke and linked to diabetes and high blood pressure. High levels of blood cholesterol are one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, and it is a risk factor you can modify. Knowing your total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels is an important first step in determining your risk for heart disease. Left undiagnosed or untreated, a high blood cholesterol level, as well as other coronary risk factors, can lead to possible serious cardiovascular problems in the future.
Medications for cholesterol are most often long-term medications. They have to be taken every day, often for the rest of your life. Drugs that are most often prescribed are the statins. Statins help the liver remove LDL cholesterol, and reduce production of cholesterol.
Doing regular physical activities and exercises more often can lower your blood cholesterol levels. The wonders of exercise are indeed very important in lowering high cholesterol levels. Doing regular physical activities can also help raise the good cholesterol levels and shed some extra weight was well. There's really no need for high-intensity workouts, regular walking or jogging can help the body boost HDL cholesterol and can also boost your heart.
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Author: OweEng2
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