 Cholesterol
is a substance that is commonly misunderstood, yet it has a direct bearing on
weight loss and your health. Many people do not have a firm grasp on what it means,
and what are the implications of our cholesterol levels. Typically, people tend
to believe that cholesterol is bad, and to be avoided. The effects of high cholesterol
include heart disease and stroke, as well as many other afflictions that can result.
These claims are true, but only to a certain extent. What many people do not realize
is that there are multiple forms of cholesterol, and that we need to ensure we
have a healthy balance of good and bad cholesterols to maintain good health.
Cholesterol can be found in many of our foods. There are two forms of cholesterol,
LDL and HDL, which each posses very different properties; LDL is considered the
"bad" cholesterol, as higher amounts of it traveling through the bloodstream
can cause a plaque that prevents blood from flowing through the arteries properly.
This clogging can accumulate over time, putting major stress on your heart and
raise your chances of developing heart disease. HDL cholesterol, considered the
"good" cholesterol, is thought to remove the plaque from arteries, reducing
the risk of heart attack and stroke associated with LDL cholesterol. A lack of
HDL cholesterol increases the risk of these problems.
When getting cholesterol checked at your doctor's office, you should be aiming
to have your overall cholesterol under 200, with LDL being below 110 and your
HDL being over 35. Anything beyond these recommended levels should be looked in
to by your doctor, who will be able to explain the ins and outs of what your levels
mean about your lifestyle. If you are at risk due to high cholesterol, you will
need to modify your lifestyle and eating habits, and may even require the use
of a cholesterol medication. Cholesterol readings are meant to be taken at least
every 5 years, usually along with a regular physical check-up. If your cholesterol
is below 200, you are considered to have a low risk of heart disease. Anywhere
between 200 and 240, and you are borderline or at risk, and should begin taking
steps to stabilize your cholesterol under 200. If you are over 240, you are in
trouble, and need immediate help to prevent life-threatening heart problems.
A major method for reducing cholesterol is increasing your exercise and overall
activity level. Good cardiovascular exercises can help keep your cholesterol
under check. There are also a wide variety of medications that can aid, although
these are usually only used in threatening cases, or when a change in diet and
activity level won't do enough to help. These medications, such as Lipitor,
Crestor, and Zocor, help reduce your LDL cholesterol. They have a low occurrence
of some mild side effects that can include indigestion, gas, etc. However, the
main and most beneficial method for reducing cholesterol is diet and activity.
There are many foods that can affect your cholesterol, in positive and negative
ways. It is important for us to understand the connection between diet and health.
Certain foods can help by increasing the amount of good fats and cholesterol
in your body, others which are high in saturated and Trans fats can quickly
add to the bad cholesterol in your body.
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