Cholesterol is a fat-like substance which is made in the liver. It is found in the blood and in all cells of the body. Cholesterol is also consumed from foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products.
Cholesterol is important for health as it contributes towards the formation of cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D. However, although cholesterol serves an important role in the body, too much cholesterol is unhealthy. This is because high levels of cholesterol are a main contributor towards the build-up of fatty deposits in your blood vessels (atherosclerosis). A build-up of these deposits can eventually cause severe narrowing of the arteries, leading to high blood pressure. It’s possible that these large fatty deposits can be dislodged from the artery wall and can cause a blood clot which can cause a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol can be inherited, but most of the time it is caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as an unhealthy diet, a lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity.
Cholesterol and other fats are contained within lipoproteins when transported into the bloodstream. There are two major types of lipoprotein: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
LDL’s are described as “bad” cholesterol and can contribute to the formation of fatty deposits. As mentioned earlier, this is connected towards a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. You ideally want your LDL below 70 mg/dl.
HDL’s are described as “good” cholesterol because it collects cholesterol from around the body and transports it back to the liver. HDL levels should ideally be 50 mg/dl.
Some ways to lower you LDL levels and raise your HDL levels include: exercise, quitting smoking, losing weight and avoiding saturated fats.
Some examples of food which can be eaten to lower cholesterol include: oats, wholegrain, beans, eggplant, nuts, citrus fruits, soy (e.g. soybeans, tofu, soy milk) and fish (which are rich in omega-3 oils).
How to check cholesterol?
See your doctor, who will be able to check cholesterol levels with a lipid profile blood-test. Your doctor should inform you which actions are best to take if your cholesterol levels are not healthy.
Bibliography:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/ heart-health/11-foods-that-lower-cholesterol
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