What do I really need to know about Diet and Cholesterol?
No discussion about diet, fitness and weight loss can be considered complete without talking a little about cholesterol. You hear the word a lot. “Good” Cholesterol, “Bad Cholesterol”. But what exactly is Cholesterol, and why should you be concerned about it?
Cholesterol in and of itself is not “bad”. In fact it is a naturally occurring substance within the body that serves a very specific and necessary purpose. Basically cholesterol is a fatty substance found among the lipids in your bloodstream and within all of the cells of the body.
Cholesterol is necessary for a healthy body because it is fundamentally essential to the formation of cell membranes and the manufacture of some hormones. But the body only needs a small amount of Cholesterol to carry out these functions. Too much Cholesterol in the blood is one of the main causes of Coronary Heart Disease, which can lead to stroke or heart attack.
Cholesterol and other fats cannot dissolve in the blood stream. They need to be transported in and out of cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. Cholesterol is carried by two of these, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is the primary carrier of Cholesterol. It has become known as the so-called “bad” cholesterol because when there is too much of it in the blood stream it tends to build up along with other substances on the arterial walls forming a plaque.
These thick hard deposits clog the arteries in a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of heart attacks and stroke. If a clot caused by plaque blocks an artery leading to the heart a heart attack can occur, if it blocks an artery leading to the brain, a stroke is the result.
HDL has been dubbed the so-called “good cholesterol” because it seems to actually aid in removing cholesterol from the body.
Current medical thinking is that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Research also seems to indicate that HDL actually breaks up plaque or at least slows its growth by latching on to, and removing cholesterol from plaque deposits.
There are two sources of Cholesterol, what you body makes, and what we take in by ingesting fatty foods. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs for normal functioning, so it is recommended that everyone restrict their fat intake. Certainly it is imperative that those already suffering from heart disease, or at risk for heart disease, do so.
There is no doubt that high cholesterol can lead to stroke or heart disease, and has a negative impact on our overall health. The good news is there are many ways to reduce and mange our cholesterol levels, many of which do not require any medication. Simple lifestyle changes like restricting fats, eating more whole grains and vegetables, exercising more and quitting smoking can all help lower “bad” cholesterol numbers, and increase the “good”.
There is also a very effective group of medications called Statins that have proven very effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The first step toward a heart healthy lifestyle is to see your doctor and find out your Cholesterol level.
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