Cholesterol is known to be a fatty substance, also called a lipid, that is produced by the liver. It is also found in foods which are high in saturated fats like fatty meats, shellfish, dairy products and egg yolks. It's an essential part of functioning and the structure of our cells. However, high level of cholesterol in blood may result in slow plague development in the arteries and with time, a severe progressive disease known as artherosclerosis.
Total cholesterol which is a combination of HDL, VLDL and LDL in the blood is one among the most generally viewed measurements on the lipid's profile. The total cholesterol measurements can be obtained easily and can provide you with an idea of the level of cholesterol.But is it the only reading which you are required to look at? The answer is no.
The total cholesterol level can be capable of alerting you if there is a problem with your lipid - and a bigger risk of contracting any heart disease, but that doesn't tell you the entire story. For example, if the total cholesterol is higher, it may be because of your HDL, VLDL, LDL, or else a blend of such factors. If the total cholesterol level is high due to your LDL levels, this can indicate that you not only have high cholesterol but can also be at risk of heart disease in the future if it isn't addressed right away. In such a case, depending on how high the LDL levels really are, you may be prescribed some medication or require to make modifications to your lifestyle. But if the total cholesterol is high because of your higher HDL levels, it is not necessarily a bad thing - higher HDL cholesterol may be protective against heart disease.
Therefore, a question that arises here is, how can something which your body requires be dangerous? Well, not all cholesterol is considered harmful. There are three major components doctors assess when you take a blood test in order to check the cholesterol levels. They evaluate the HDL (good) cholestrol, LDL(bad) cholestrol, and other substances known as triglycerides. Having accurate levels of each in the body is healthy.
However, the fact also remains that cholesterol can be injurious to your health if there is too much in your blood. The levels of your cholesterol depend on your lifestyle. Consuming lots of fats and then not doing sufficient amount of exercise can lead to high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is also a result of genetic makeup. People with a high cholesterol level need to keep it under control, and it can be even more vital for those who have extra risk factors. These risk factors include:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Family history of heart disease
Smoking
Age
Obesity
If you fall in any of the above groups, you can be at bigger risk of plaque upsurge in your arteries. Since plaque builds gradually, it can cause the arteries to narrow down. So your doctor might want you to obtain lower cholestrol levels in comparison to someone having high cholesterol alone. It is important to talk about all the risk factors when thinking about a cholesterol-management plan.
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<a href="http://www.womenscenter.com/">http://www.womenscenter.com/</a>
Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women's Center in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women.
Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Controlling Your Cholesterol
Newspapers have reported on the drawbacks of having a diet high in fat. High-fat diet has been linked to high cholesterol and ultimately to heart attacks. Hence, people have started avoiding beef and eggs. But cholesterol is not bad. Our body needs it to protect nerves and build new cells and hormones. It is only when we include foods like pizzas, burgers, ice creams, steaks or any food containing animal product that the problem starts. Excess cholesterol settles along the walls of the arteries and can clog them thus, restricting blood flow. This gives rise to angina, heart attack or stroke. It has also been shown that high cholesterol leads to gallstones. There are two types of cholesterol called good cholesterol or HDL and bad cholesterol or LDL. LDL is the cholesterol that clogs the arteries and should be lower while HDL scours the artery walls and removes the harmful LDL and should be higher.
Doctors recommend reducing and avoiding high-fat diets containing meat, eggs and dairy products. But you can use the following home remedies for treatment:
• Increase the intake of Vitamin E: It is advised to increase your intake of Vitamin E to 400 international units to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol where the cholesterol hardens into the arterial plaque thus giving rise to heart attack. It also raises the level of HDL. You can include Vitamin E as dietary sources or include vegetable oils, nuts or grains in your diet.
• Eat your breakfast: People who skip the breakfast have higher cholesterol levels than those who have breakfast everyday. This is because they tend to eat unhealthy foods which are high in fats.
• Eat small meals frequently: Large meals have been shown to release a large amount of insulin, which in turn stimulates the production of the enzymes that increases cholesterol production by the liver. But eating small frequent meals without increasing the total calories will limit the insulin production and thus controls the cholesterol and in turn heart diseases.
• Add Vitamin C to your diet: Though other vitamins and minerals play an important role in the cholesterol production, Vitamin C is the most crucial vitamin for cholesterol control. It increases HDL levels and is very beneficial if you get it from fruits and vegetables, since they have a special fibre called pectin. It surrounds the cholesterol and flushes it out of the digestive system before it gets into the blood. Include fruits like citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, apples and spinach which are rich in vitamin C and pectin.
• Increase garlic intake: Taking seven cloves of garlic a day will reduce cholesterol levels significantly. If you cannot stand the normal garlic, then you can opt for odorless garlic pills, which are available in local health stores.
• Skip decaf: Avoid decaffeinated coffee since it has been shown to raise LDL levels. This is because the beans used for decaf are far stronger than the normal beans.
• Munch grapes: Grapes and their products have a compound which lowers cholesterol significantly. So you can increase your intake of grapes, grape juice and wine to decrease your cholesterol level.
Doctors recommend reducing and avoiding high-fat diets containing meat, eggs and dairy products. But you can use the following home remedies for treatment:
• Increase the intake of Vitamin E: It is advised to increase your intake of Vitamin E to 400 international units to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol where the cholesterol hardens into the arterial plaque thus giving rise to heart attack. It also raises the level of HDL. You can include Vitamin E as dietary sources or include vegetable oils, nuts or grains in your diet.
• Eat your breakfast: People who skip the breakfast have higher cholesterol levels than those who have breakfast everyday. This is because they tend to eat unhealthy foods which are high in fats.
• Eat small meals frequently: Large meals have been shown to release a large amount of insulin, which in turn stimulates the production of the enzymes that increases cholesterol production by the liver. But eating small frequent meals without increasing the total calories will limit the insulin production and thus controls the cholesterol and in turn heart diseases.
• Add Vitamin C to your diet: Though other vitamins and minerals play an important role in the cholesterol production, Vitamin C is the most crucial vitamin for cholesterol control. It increases HDL levels and is very beneficial if you get it from fruits and vegetables, since they have a special fibre called pectin. It surrounds the cholesterol and flushes it out of the digestive system before it gets into the blood. Include fruits like citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, apples and spinach which are rich in vitamin C and pectin.
• Increase garlic intake: Taking seven cloves of garlic a day will reduce cholesterol levels significantly. If you cannot stand the normal garlic, then you can opt for odorless garlic pills, which are available in local health stores.
• Skip decaf: Avoid decaffeinated coffee since it has been shown to raise LDL levels. This is because the beans used for decaf are far stronger than the normal beans.
• Munch grapes: Grapes and their products have a compound which lowers cholesterol significantly. So you can increase your intake of grapes, grape juice and wine to decrease your cholesterol level.
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