cholesterol levels

Cholesterol levels – HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol

Cholesterol levels are an important issue. No matter what shape you are in, regardless of whether you are fit or unfit, it is important for everyone that they keep track of the amount of cholesterol in the body. Why? Simply because, as most people are aware, too much cholesterol and too high cholesterol levels can have disastrous effects on health. However, what most people do not know is that not all cholesterol is bad.

Is there such a thing as good cholesterol?

Simply put, yes. There are two main types of cholesterol that you will come across in your diet – HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Respectively, these stand for ‘high density lipoproteins’ and ‘low density lipoproteins’. Although the science of it is not important, what you should know is that these two types of cholesterol have almost polar opposite effects on the body.

High density cholesterol is what is commonly referred to as a ‘good’ form of cholesterol for you, something that you should strive to have more of when you are watching your cholesterol levels. This is because the HDL form of cholesterol has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, and hence has a good reputation. LDL on the other hand is what is known as bad cholesterol, as this is the kind that you will hear about again and again in the media – it increases obesity and increases the risk of heart related problems.

Getting the right cholesterol

Unfortunately, a lot of the food that we know and enjoy contains LDL forms of cholesterol, not the beneficial HDL that our body needs. This means it is up to you, personally, to make sure that you ingest foods that are beneficial to you, and contain more of the good kinds of cholesterol than the bad.

What you therefore have to realise when considering your cholesterol levels is that you have to get the right kinds. When talking about your levels of cholesterol in general, any professional will be considering both the HDL and LDL forms, it is your job to make sure that you have more of the HDL than the LDL.

Although this may not be easy, luckily more and more food companies are realising that people truly care about their body and their heart’s health. This means that if a food contains the better form of cholesterol, it is far more likely that the company will advertise this, making it easier for you to keep track of the kinds of cholesterol you are taking in.

How to do this

What can work for a lot of people is simply the image of cholesterol in your blood. Right now there are forms of cholesterol building up in your arteries, and if you eat too much food with the wrong cholesterol, this can easily lead to blockages and heart disease.

Therefore, it is your job to make sure you keep your levels of cholesterol down, and that you go to your GP for advice.

Cholesterol Ratio – The Important Cholesterol Number

Cholesterol is measured in many numbers. One of the most important ones is the cholesterol ratio. Since many people suffer from high cholesterol, two different approaches were devised to measure the condition. Scientists are on opposite sides of the fence.

The first theory accommodates the idea that only cholesterol numbers matter. Opposite that, scientists believe that the most important is the parameter ratio.

What is the ratio number?

The total cholesterol number adds high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) together. HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol because it takes on the role of collecting fats from the organs and transferring them to the liver. From there they are excreted.

LDL is the “bad” cholesterol because it is the reverse of the process that HDL does. It zaps the cholesterol from the liver and sends it back to the organs and blood vessels. With high levels of LDL, a person is at risk for multiple life threatening issues. The master plan of LDL is to irritate the outer walls of the vessels. When this happens plaque builds inside the vessel preventing proper blood flow. This could lead to high blood pressure all the way to stroke.

VLDL is very low density lipoprotein. It works around the body until the main component, triglycerides are transferred to fat and muscle leaving the remains to be modified to LDL.

What are you reading when given a ratio?

Cholesterol ratio is easy to understand.  Once you are given your total cholesterol after a blood test, you will have three sets of numbers. First will be your total cholesterol, second will be your HDL level and lastly your ratio. Example, you have a total level of 300mg/dl and a HDL of 100mg/dl. Your final ratio is 3.1. This is a great ratio to have. This method of calculation is considered to be most important for cardio-vascular predictions.

100 mg/dl is an outstanding number to have. The norm is over 60mg/dl. Anything under that and you are putting yourself at risk. Your total cholesterol levels will normally be high due to levels of HDL or LDL. You want the first scenario always.

Studies have surmised that if your cholesterol goes up so does your risk of cardiac problems. The ranges normally used are: 3.3-4.4:1 is low risk, 4.4-7.1 is the norm, and 7.1-11.0 is upper borderline while over 11.1 are very dangerous.

The above is only part of what you need to know about your cholesterol ratio. To learn more ask your doctor.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease – The Facts

A lot of people will commonly associate the words cholesterol and heart disease. Cholesterol will commonly conjure up thoughts of obesity, heart attack and overly high blood pressure. Interestingly, however, people often do not realise how certain forms of cholesterol do not change their normal blood pressure. Whilst high cholesterol levels are an important issue of the day, an urgency that should not be ignored, it is also important to know the ins and outs of it, and realise that not all forms of cholesterol have been proven to be negative. In fact, some cholesterol could even be good for you.

It is important to know the two main types of cholesterol – HDL and LDL, high density lipoprotein and low density, respectively. What must be known is that it is not both of these that cause the link between cholesterol and high blood pressure. HDL is often known as ‘good cholesterol’, and LDL as ‘bad cholesterol’. This is simply because high HDL levels have been found to be associated with decreased risk of heart disease, with LDL being the opposite, increasing risk of heart disease and increased blood pressure.

Then again it is often the case that people will panic overly much, and assume that having cholesterol and high blood pressure in their system means the two are linked. However it is important to realise that the individual cholesterol levels for men and cholesterol levels for women are extremely different. In general, men have higher levels of cholesterol, and women have lower, ideally. However this varies from person to person, and the best way to find out what is the ideal level for you, is through asking your local GP. Also through monitoring your weight and blood pressure, you can find out what is the norm for you.

As said, it is important not to panic. Too many people will assume the worst, without going for expert advice. Through simply asking an expert that you trust, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary worry and panic. If you do your own research, then ask your local practitioner, you can be sure that you are following the course of action best suited to you.

You must also remember, that high levels of LDL show the link between cholesterol and heart disease, whereas HDL is meant to lower the risk. Hence, if you can find foods with only, or primarily, ‘good’ cholesterol, then you are taking a major step towards better health. It is also important not to get taken in by advertising, and rather look for yourself and attempt to find out the facts about what you should and should not be eating, especially for you as an individual. If you can tailor your own diet, and make sure you read up on the different types of cholesterol that can help and hinder you, you can avoid any false advertising and help your body.

Alcohol and Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a wax like lipid produced in the liver to sustain balance and health .The liver manufactures just enough cholesterol that the body needs. The level of cholesterol in our bodies is a result of what we add to it with the food we consume.

Consumed cholesterol is both beneficial and detrimental to our body and the difference between good and bad is down to the density of the lipids:

• When the body consumes high density lipoproteins (HDL) then all is good.

HDL which we call the “good cholesterol” is a vital function of the body and its processes. The HDL has a major friend called RTC. This is reverse transport cholesterol. This component actually removes excess cholesterol through fecal matter.

• On the flip side, if that cholesterol is low density lipoproteins (LDL) the body starts to have negative reactions.

LDL, aka “bad cholesterol” likes to build up in the blood stream and block blood flow increasing risk of cardio-vascular diseases.

The reaction of cholesterol to alcohol

An oddity of cholesterol is the attraction to alcohol. It has been studied that people in France have a long life expectancy and cholesterol levels are lower; all this while they eat a lot of food containing fat. Most of the residents of France drink some form of alcohol.

Alcohol in moderation and regularly consumed can actually help raise your HDL level. The beverage also appears to help the body increase resistance towards insulin.

Are all types of alcohol a cholesterol reducer?

Not all alcoholic beverages have the same qualities. Red wines are particularly high on the list of “medicinal” beverages for the body. Any other type of alcohol will have a minor effect to reduce cholesterol levels.

On the other hand, too much alcohol use can cause very harmful issues such as heart disease, cancer, damage to the liver and non-health related problems. The issue boils down to personal responsibility and only using red wine in moderate servings, perhaps a few ounces a day to help up your level of “good cholesterol” and reduce “bad cholesterol”.

As well as the effects alcohol has on the cholesterol, it can also help your blood vessels improve elasticity which in turn will reduce blood pressure. Overall the effects can be favorable.

To sum it all, the use of alcohol in reducing HDL is a good start. The key is moderation and the type of alcohol. Used in excess, alcohol can severely damage your body by hampering the functionality of your liver, including upsetting one of its key processes – the manufacture and regulation of cholesterol.

What is cholesterol – Science Explained

Cholesterol has been cited many times as one of the most important small molecule in biology, and especially in cell function. It was first isolated in the 18^th century, however, it was initially a tricky molecule to work with, and took until the 20^th century before specific insight was gained on its structure and action. It wasn’t until the 60’s, that cholesterol was first synthesised, by Robert.B.Woodward, who earned the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his efforts.

Cholesterol, like many organic compounds present in the body, is a complex organic molecule, and primarily holds its importance as a constituent of cell membranes. It is classed in the subgroup of steroids, and is the major sterol synthesised by animals. Structurally it is formed with rigid carbon rings, and a hydrocarbon tail. Its composition is such that it is a lipid, and is so hydrophobic, apart from a hydroxyl at one end, making it amphipathic. Cholesterol is synthesised from acetic acid, by using enzymes, which are crucial in selectively speeding up chemical reactions in the body.

 Its role in cell membranes sees it placed adjacent to the tails of phospholipids, and the hydroxyl group forms hydrogen bonds with phospholipids, preventing the close packing in the spaces in between of fatty acids. Cholesterol therefore prevents the transition to the crystalline phase at body temperature – crucial for cell mobility and survival.

Cholesterol is also important for digestion. Bile acids, are a broken down polar form of cholesterol, which are generated from cholesterol in the liver, and subsequently secreted into the gall bladder, and eventually pass into the intestine and play their role in the breaking down of fats. This is the only method of cholesterol excretion in the body, and most is reabsorbed in the small intestine, to be eventually re-secreted again by the liver (enterohepatic cycle).

Cholesterol serves a number of other important functions, including its role in the synthesis of Vitamin D3, steroid hormones (processed in the adrenal gland) and sex hormones. They are therefore important in stress regulation due to the production of these hormones.

Aside from its importance, Cholesterol can also cause problems in the body. Too much LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) can cause thickening of the arteries over time, causing heart problems. Cholesterol is also known to crystallise in the gall bladder, causing gallstones. The links to heart disease give cholesterol a bad press, but it is important to note its significance and role in healthy cell production.

What is Cholesterol – Health Overview

Cholesterol is at the forefront of the public health consciousness, and keeping your cholesterol low seems to be a very important part of staying healthy. However, cholesterol is crucial for survival, and understanding its function in the body is a very useful.

So what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a steroid, forming a component of fat, produced naturally in the liver, and as such is found in any foods containing fat. It is a vital part of healthy cell – and therefore bodily – function and due to this we could not survive without it After all, it is the trillions of specialised cells which make up our bodies. There are many things which cholesterol helps our bodies achieve, including:

• The building and repair of cell membranes
• The production of vitamin D
• Digestion, by producing stomach acids to digest food

So, it is far from being the stigmatised product that the public consciousness seems to impress upon us, since we need it, and produce it ourselves.

However, as with most things, too much cholesterol intake can over time become detrimental to your health, especially with older people. The reason, is that if your body intakes too much cholesterol, this can and line the walls of your blood vessels and thicken them, causing the constriction or even blocking of healthy blood flow. This, alongside vessel damage, can cause cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and relating to blood flow, like the ‘silent killer’, strokes.

It is always a good idea to monitor your cholesterol, and if you haven’t before, or in the last 5 years, to get it checked out, since you could be one of the estimated 50% of Americans that have high cholesterol levels. It is only a quick trip to the doctors, or you can invest in one of many easy to use home cholesterol testing kits.

It is important to your enemy, but also important to know your allies, since not all cholesterol is bad for you. LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is the cholesterol that may thicken your arteries, and is bad. HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is actually beneficial to you, and helps remove the LDL in your bloodstream. It is the LDL cholesterol that you want to reduce, and the LDL that can be a beneficial aid in your diet.

Most importantly in the dietary fight against LDL, is to monitor the types of fat you eat. These are much more significant than the cholesterol itself present in foods. Saturated fats (fried meats, chips, fast food) raise the cholesterol level in the blood, whereas unsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, oily fish) help lower blood cholesterol. It is therefore a great idea to get less saturated, and more unsaturated fat in the diet. This method of lowering cholesterol naturally is for many the most effective option.

Of course if you find you have a severe problem, medication is always at hand from your doctor, and so is any expert information you should need, such as what should be a healthy cholesterol level for you.