Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance.
firs the good stuff about it:
- helps determine the properties of cell membranes
- helps the smooth flow of nerve impulses through the body
- is used to produce vitamin D
- is used to produce sex hormones progesterone and testosterone
- it is important to the normal, smooth functioning of the human body
- without i, we would die
Cholesterol is vital, but that does not mean we should eat a lot of it.Body can arrange to get all the cholesterol it needs by itself.The liver synthesizes between 3000 and 4000 milligrams every day. When we eat large amounts of cholesterol, the liver produces less, and when we eat smaller amounts, the liver makes up the difference.
Keeping your cholesterol low is valuable because:
- you don’t want to get a cholesterol problem
- foods that are high in cholesterol are very likely high in unhealthy saturated fats
Is your cholesterol level high?
You can find out by getting a blood test. It is recommended that every person 30 years of age and older should have his or her blood tested for cholesterol.
The chart below shows guidelines for cholesterol:
Total Cholesterol Levels (in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood)
Below 200 – Desirable
Between 200 and 239 – Borderline
240 and above – High
Cholesterol LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein, also labeled as “bad” cholesterol
Most of the cholesterol in the bloodstream is combined in low-density lipoprotein molecules.
LDLs play an important role as the transportation mode for getting cholesterol to cells throughout the body. Problems arise when there is more LDL than there is need for cholesterol in the cells. In such cases LDLs drop their load in wrong places – such as arterial walls.
You want as little LDL cholesterol in your blood as possible:
LDL Cholesterol Levels (in milligrams of LDL cholesterol per deciliter of blood)
Below 130 – Desirable
Between 130 and 159 – Borderline high risk
160 and above – High risk
Cholesterol HDL – High Density Lipoprotein, also known as “good ” cholesterol
HDLs move around the body too. But instead of discharging cholesterol, HDLs pick up excess cholesterol from cells and cart it back to the liver. There, the cholesterol is containerized in the form of bile acid, shipped to intestines and eliminated.
A high level of HDL protects against heart disease by pulling cholesterol out of the arteries. The more HDL there is, the better.
Normal HDL levels are 45 to 50 for men and 50 to 60 for women. An HDL level below 35 is another risk factor for developing coronary heart disease.