Understanding Cholesterol
What you may not know about cholesterol
It is important to understand cholesterol for the benefit of your health. Although you’ve heard all about
cholesterol and different cholesterol products, you may not know how each product impacts your health. Below are a
few clarifying points that help you make sense of information about cholesterol and how it affects you.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is defined by medical experts as a lipid (fatty substance) that is produced in our liver and also found
in our diet. Normally, the body produces all the cholesterol we would need. Cholesterol is important to our body
for several reasons. It helps form and maintain cell membranes, it helps form sex hormones, it produces certain
bile salts that aid in digesting food, and it also produces Vitamin D.
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are actually the chemical form of fats found in the body and in the food we consume. In other words,
the fats we consume on a daily basis are converted into triglycerides by our body. Triglycerides then stay stored
in the body until we need energy.
Why is cholesterol unhealthy?
Your doctor can perform blood tests that measure how much cholesterol and triglycerides are found in your blood.
For many people, dietary choices, medications, and other factors lead to a cholesterol or triglyceride level that
is too high. High cholesterol results in negative effects on the body, including heart disease, peripheral vascular
disease, stroke, and pancreatitis. These diseases and problems occur because the cholesterol blocks passages in
your arteries and inhibits healthy blood flow.
What is the difference between good fat and bad fat?
Cholesterol can be broken down into two types-high density lipids and low density lipids. Good cholesterol, which
is high density lipids, actually carries away fatty deposits harmful to the body away from cells and tissues and
puts the unhealthy deposits in the liver for excretion. Bad cholesterol, on the other hand, carries cholesterol to
the tissues and vessels in the body, which results in clogged arteries. A high level of bad cholesterol increases
your risk of heart disease.
What is responsible for raising my cholesterol levels?
Here are a few major things that contribute to high cholesterol levels: a high-fat diet, lack of physical activity,
HIV medication, or genetic predisposition.
Lower your risk of heart disease by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Limit your intake of foods high in fat.
Of the fat you consume daily, make sure you consume mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Guidelines for
fat intake read as follows: consume no more than 30% of your daily calories in fat, and consume no more than 7-10%
of your fat intake on saturated fats. Try eating more whole grains, legumes, and five or more servings of fruits
and vegetables every day.
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