Healthy Levels of Cholesterol the Natural Way

There has been a lot of publicity about the role of cholesterol in health. High levels of cholesterol have been linked to heart disease and other circulatory problems. The role of cholesterol in the body is actually quite complex. We will be looking at some of its possible effects on your health, and at how to achieve healthy levels of cholesterol the natural way.

Some level of cholesterol is essential for the normal functioning of the body. It is an essential component of cell membranes, and has other key functions. Some of your cholesterol comes from diet, the rest is internally synthesized.

The health risks from cholesterol seem to be related to the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Since cholesterol is not soluble in blood, it is transported in the form of lipoproteins, which are a combination of cholesterol and protein.

High density lipoproteins (HDL) have relatively more protein and less cholesterol, and low density lipoproteins (LDL) have relatively more cholesterol and less protein. Research indicates that a combination of lots of LDL and relatively little HDL is dangerous and can lead to the buildup of deposits in the arteries. This then can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

The opposite combination of high LDL with low HDL is healthier. It may even be able to reduce existing deposits in the arteries. This then is a very desirable condition.

So, how can we achieve this healthy condition of high LDL and low HDL? There are drugs available that can be effective at moving towards this. It is prudent to have blood tests performed which can determine your LDL and HDL levels, and to discuss the results with your doctor, who may recommend drug therapy.

In many cases, dietary changes may also be able to improve your LDL HDL balance. Any food containing animal fat, including dairy fat, will contain cholesterol. At one point, reduction of dietary cholesterol was recommended as a method of reducing blood cholesterol. Eggs in particular were seen as unhealthy. More recent research has brought this into question.

Lots of saturated fat in the diet, rather than cholesterol in the diet, seems to be a risk factor for for a bad LDL HDL balance. A primary source of saturated fat is animal fat, so it should be eaten in moderation.

Trans fat, also known as partially hydrogenated oil or fat, has recently been identified as a major risk factor for bad LDL HDL balance. This is ironic since trans fat was viewed as a major breakthrough in food chemistry when it was developed a few years ago. It does not appear in natural foods, and seems to be something to be avoided as much as possible. It is found in margarine and lard, and is very common in snack foods and fast foods, though manufacturers have begun to reduce or eliminate it.

Some plant products, including peanuts contain cholesterol like substances that may help build a healthy LDL HDL balance. Since most natural plant products do not include saturated fats, they at least do not have a negative effect on the LDL HDL balance.

I hope this clarifies the health situation on cholesterol. For some people medical intervention may be needed. However others may be successful at reaching healthy levels of cholesterol the natural way.

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