As a follow up to a previous article let's go into detail about how the foods we eat can or cannot influence our blood cholesterol levels. The previous article about what you eat was influenced by watching a television program by which the host has to devour enormous amounts of food in a certain time period and often these foods have an extremely high in calories and fat among other things. You are left to wonder, "That can't be healthy!" Hopefully that young man is not shaving years off his life for the benefit of our entertainment and TV ratings, but is he?
The scientific community has long debated over how dietary cholesterol (the foods we eat) affects the cholesterol our body naturally produces (also known as serum cholesterol). Numerous studies have concluded that in adult men the serum cholesterol level is essentially independent of the cholesterol intake over the whole range of natural human diets. It was noted that it is probable that infants,children and women are similar. Serum cholesterol is a term that includes the total level of cholesterol that is found in the bloodstream. Measuring the level of total cholesterol includes identifying all types or classes of cholesterol that are found in the system. This helpful measurement makes it possible to determine if the balance between the HDL or good cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol is within acceptable limits. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products in the diet, such as butter, meats, egg yolks, and dairy products. Blood cholesterol is the fatty substance that occurs naturally in the body and which is necessary for hormone production, cell metabolism, and other vital processes.
There are 2 main types of blood cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) as was previously mentioned. It is generally considered desirable to have high levels of HDL cholesterol and low levels of LDL cholesterol. Another component to add to this puzzle is triglycerides which are the chains of high-energy fatty acids that provide much of the energy needed for cells to function.Your liver produces your body's cholesterol in fact your body needs cholesterol. However, there is a difference between the cholesterol made by the body and dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol that the liver produces is vital to strengthening the membranes of each and every cell in the body. The liver also processes the saturated fats and sugars we digest.
What does all this mean and what does all of that have to do with what we eat? Well, dietary cholesterol does contribute to your blood cholesterol levels. Excess amounts of foods high in saturated fats will raise blood cholesterol levels in some people, and contribute to the build up of plaque on the walls of the arteries and lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). These fats from the foods you eat make it to your blood stream and by extension to your liver for processing. One of the main jobs of the liver is to make sure all the tissues of the body receive the cholesterol and triglycerides they need to function. Whenever possible (that is, for about 8 hours after a meal), the liver takes up dietary cholesterol and triglycerides from the bloodstream. However the relationship between cholesterol and the concentration of blood cholesterol is not linear. For every additional 100mg of cholesterol consumed up to a total intake of 500mg per day, there is a 2-3% increase in the concentration of blood cholesterol. In contrast further increases in cholesterol intake beyond 500mg per day have little additional effect on the blood level. But remember it is the bad cholesterol that will lead to a heart attack or stroke so it is important to maintain a healthy diet. If you have cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") blood cholesterol level, you should limit your dietary cholesterol intake to less than 200 mg a day. Your diet directly affects your heart health, especially when the diet consists of foods high in fat and cholesterol. Your body uses cholesterol for certain functions, but an excess can build up in arteries, restricting or even blocking blood flow to the heart or brain.
Now that young who entertains us by consuming a grilled cheese sandwich with 15 different kinds of cheeses or eating a 10 patty cheese burger with 3 lbs. of fries undoubtedly know what he is doing to his body and more than likely has a plan for offsetting all calories and fat he is ingesting, but don't do that at home. That would be like attempting to drive the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 200 mph three days after you got your driver's license, it is not advisable. Foods that are high in calories and fat taken in their recommended portions are not necessarily a bad thing, but like all things they should be consumed in moderation. Remember you are what you eat, so maintaining a healthy diet along with exercise can keep your cholesterol levels in check, healthy cholesterol equates to a healthy heart and that means a long and healthy life.
Ray Thompson is a health and wellness consultant who promotes life-changing alternatives to prescription medication. Visit the author's website: mopwaterenterpises.com mopwaterenterpises.com and get your FREE Report to learn more about natural supplements, antioxidants and how to achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
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