Cholesterol is a waxy substance (a type of lipid) that our body needs for many functions, including the production of new cells.
There are two sources to get cholesterol,
- Internal: our body makes it
- External: we get it from the food we eat
For example, consider a chocolate which has caramel inside. Cholesterol is like caramel, in the center & the outer chocolate is a protein. Protein is the carrier that transports cholesterol through the blood, this molecular combination of Protein and Cholesterol it carries is called lipoprotein.
Cholesterol can be broadly classified between “good” or high density lipoprotein (HDL ) and “bad” or low density lipoprotein (LDL) & it may get ugly not balancing both.
What makes it good or bad is determined by the amount of the cholesterol in the center and outer protein shell. The good cholesterol would have more protein and less cholesterol, the bad cholesterol would have less protein and more cholesterol. The good cholesterol molecule prevents the buildup of cholesterol in arteries, but the bad cholesterol molecule builds up blockage in arteries.
THE PROBLEM WITH HIGH CHOLESTEROL:
If your diet is high in saturated fats and trans-fats, it will increase your bad cholesterol levels, It does not matter whether the person is heavy or skinny, either could be suffering with high cholesterol, There are other factors like hypothyroid and diabetes which are also responsible for the increase in blood cholesterol levels.
High levels of cholesterol cause a higher risk of serious cardiovascular diseases, In order, to reduce the risk of these diseases, the goal should be, to lower the total cholesterol, especially reduce levels of bad cholesterol.
One of the best way to lower high cholesterol is to have a diet that reduces cholesterol levels, Your doctor may prescribe you a cholesterol reducing medication based on your blood cholesterol profile, However, your target should be to reduce dependency on the medication and bring in lifestyle changes to achieve even better effects than medication. A proper determination could help achieve the said lifestyle changes by following a healthy diet, regular exercise and following a regimen that help you lose excess weight and be healthy.
A healthy diet would ensure a good amount of fiber, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids along with other healthy nutrients in your diet,
It’s never too late to take care of your heath and heart, let’s start today by taking the rights steps towards a healthier future, because
Pehla sukh nirogi kaya.
Heath is the prime wealth.
