Cholesterol - Intro

Cholesterol is a type of fat which is mostly poduced by the liver. Our body needs small amounts of the choresterol to produce and support neuron and hormone production.Cholesterol comes from fat, carbohydrate and protein which we consume. It can also be obtained from animal products such as meat, eggs and milk.

Therea are 2 measurements of choresterol in the blood.

1. LDL deposits cholesterol and sediment lipid on vessel walls. Too much build up of this sediment may lead to heart disease.
2. HDL acts to clean up the vessel walls and therefore can reduce the risk of heart disease. Therefore, it is better to have low LDL and high HDL in your bloodstream.

High LDL cholesterol levels are known as hypercholesterolemia. The primary cause of hypercholesterolemia is the consumption of foods with high unsaturated lipids and cholesterol. The other possible cause are metabolism disturbances and diseases that increase the cholesterol level (eg. diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and hypothyroid).

hypercholesterolemia is asymptomatic, which means it is a silent disease until it cause other problems such as heart disease. Sufferes may experience chest pain when they remain stationary, or are exercising. This is caused by blockages of the coronary artery.

Level of LDL

<100 mg/dl is normal

100-130 mg/dl is borderline high

>130 is high

Level of HDL

>60 mg/dl decreases the risk of heart disease

<40 mg/dl high risk for heart disease

The goal is to decrease LDL levels and to increase HDL levels. A 1% decrease of LDL level will reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 1%. This can be achieved by:

1. Dietary changes, such as consuming foods that are high in fibre and low in lipids and cholesterol.
2. Exercise regulary-especially aerobic.
3. Reduce body weight when overwieght.
4. Avoid smoking
5. A regular medical checkup is recommended.