Now a days i hear many people have this Cholesterol? Do you know What is Cholesterol ? We should know ... so that we can maintain our body and prepare diet as per that . Just read complete article if you really like kindly share it ,and stay healthy ...
What is cholesterol?
Causes of high cholesterol
High cholesterol symptoms
Less Cholesterol in foods
How to lower Cholesterol: 5 Best Exercise For Lowering Your Cholesterol Please check the video
Levels and ranges
Preventing high cholesterol
What causes high
cholesterol?
Cholesterol is both good and bad. At normal levels, it is
an essential substance for the body. However, if concentrations in the blood
get too high, it becomes a silent danger that puts people at risk of heart
attack.
Cholesterol is found in every cell of the body and has important
natural functions when it comes to digesting foods, producing hormones, and
generating vitamin D. It is manufactured by the body but can also be
taken in from food. It is waxy and fat-like in appearance.
There are two
types of cholesterol; LDL (low-density lipoproteins, bad cholesterol) and HDL
(high-density lipoproteins, good cholesterol).
In this article,
we will explain the role of cholesterol. We will also discuss the causes of
high cholesterol, and its symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
Fast facts on cholesterol:
·
Cholesterol is an essential substance that is produced by the
body but is also ingested from animal-derived foods.
·
The greatest risk factors for high cholesterol are modifiable
lifestyle choices - diet and exercise.
·
Having high cholesterol does not usually produce any symptoms.
·
If lifestyle changes are unsuccessful or cholesterol levels are
very high, lipid-lowering drugs such as statins may be prescribed.
High cholesterol has a number of
causes, including dietary choices.
Cholesterol is
an oil-based substance and does not mix with the blood, which is water-based.
It is carried around the body by lipoproteins.
Two types of
lipoprotein carry the parcels of cholesterol:
·
Low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) - cholesterol carried by this type is
known as "bad" cholesterol.
·
High-density
lipoprotein (HDL) - cholesterol carried by this type is
known as "good" cholesterol.
Cholesterol has
four primary functions, without which we could not survive, these are:
·
contributing to the structure of cell walls
·
making up digestive bile acids in the intestine
·
allowing the body to produce vitamin D
·
enabling the body to make certain hormones
High
cholesterol is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease and a cause of heart attacks. A build-up of cholesterol is part of the
process that narrows arteries, called atherosclerosis, in which plaques form and cause restriction
of blood flow.
Reducing intake
of fat in the diet helps manage cholesterol levels. In particular, it is
helpful to limit foods that contain:
·
Cholesterol -
from animal foods, meat, and cheese.
·
Saturated
fat - found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked
goods, deep-fried, and processed foods.
·
Trans
fats - found in some fried and processed foods.
Being
overweight or obese can also lead to higher blood LDL levels. Genetics can
contribute to high cholesterol - very high LDL levels are found in the
inherited condition familial hypercholesterolemia. Abnormal cholesterol levels
can also arise due to other conditions, including:
·
diabetes
·
liver or kidney disease
·
polycystic ovary syndrome
·
pregnancy and other conditions that increase levels of female
hormones
·
underactive thyroid gland
·
drugs that increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol
(progestins, anabolic steroids, and corticosteroids)
Having high
cholesterol levels, while a risk factor for other conditions, does not itself
present any signs or symptoms. Unless routinely screened through regular blood
testing, high cholesterol levels will go unnoticed and could present a silent
threat of heart attack or stroke.
Oily fish like salmon has been shown to
actively decrease cholesterol.
A report from
Harvard Health has identified "11
cholesterol lowering foods" that actively decrease cholesterol
levels:
·
oats
·
barley and whole grains
·
beans
·
eggplant and okra
·
nuts
·
vegetable oil (canola, sunflower)
·
fruits (mainly apples, grapes, strawberries, and citrus)
·
soy and soy-based foods
·
fatty fish (particularly salmon, tuna, and sardines)
·
foods rich in fiber
Adding these to
a balanced diet can help keep cholesterol in check.
High Level cholesterol, including:
·
red meat
·
full-fat dairy
·
margarine
·
hydrogenated oils
·
baked goods
In adults, total cholesterol levels less than 200
milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered healthy.
·
A reading
between 200 and 239 mg/dL is borderline high.
·
A reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high.
LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL.
·
100–129 mg/dL is acceptable for people with no health problems
but may be a concern for anyone with heart disease or heart disease risk factors.
·
130—159 mg/dL is borderline high.
·
160–189 mg/dL is high.
·
190 mg/dL or higher is considered very high.
HDL levels should be kept higher. The optimal reading
for HDL levels is of 60 mg/dL or higher.
·
A reading of less than 40 mg/dL is considered a major risk
factor for heart disease.
·
A reading from 41 mg/dL to 59 mg/dL is borderline low.
Four changes to
lifestyle are recommended for all people with high cholesterol or who wish to
ensure their levels remain normal. These changes will reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease and heart attack:
·
eat a heart-healthy diet
·
regularly exercise
·
avoid smoking
·
achieve and maintain a healthy weight
