The body handles two types of cholesterol; the good cholesterol (HDL) and the bad cholesterol (LDL). The LDL or low density lipoprotein is called bad cholesterol because of its tendency to build up through the arterial walls, thereby increasing the risk of heart diseases such as atheroma. Atheroma, otherwise known as atherosclerosis, is a condition caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. This condition also causes “fat streaks” as fatty materials build up through the arterial walls. As the fatty material harden and thicken and form calcium deposits, they will eventually block the arteries.
Cholesterol is often linked to diseases like diabetes, hypertension and other heart health problems, which are common among older individuals. Hence, people are given the assumption that cholesterol problems or high cholesterol only happens to old people. You will seldom hear cholesterol being discussed by teenagers or by children as they babble. This is actually not the case. In fact, children, teenagers as well as young adults are also at risk of suffering cholesterol problems.
As young as five years old, people can also develop high cholesterol symptoms. When children follow a diet of high cholesterol foods, such as the greasy and salty foods you see in fast food menus, they are bound to suffer the diseases linked with high cholesterol levels. What’s dreadful about this condition is that since it not expected to develop among children or younger people, high cholesterol problems are often discovered at the onset of stroke or heart attack, which may lead to disability or death. In this light, cholesterol problems are tagged as “silent killers”.
Apparently, bad cholesterol is a serious medical concern as it can cause a number of life-threatening diseases. The bothersome point of cholesterol problems is that they can happen to seemingly healthy people. It is highly likely for people to have high cholesterol levels without them knowing it. This perhaps explains why cholesterol problems are only determined too little too late, when they already caused heart health problems. The only way to determine high cholesterol levels is through diagnostic tests, which include blood work and other lab tests.
So how do people build high cholesterol levels? The answer is no mystery. Favoring processed foods, fast foods, canned goods and pre-packaged snacks and meals over fresh vegetables and fruits result to high cholesterol diet. Most of the packed products you see in your local grocery are high in cholesterol. You can see the proof in their label and ingredients list.
One way of controlling your bad cholesterol intake is by educating yourself on how your body metabolizes food and processes cholesterol. Contrary to the common belief, cholesterol is not only sourced from the food you eat, but also in the biochemical processes within the body. As the body metabolizes food, your digestive system produces bile and uses up good cholesterol (HDL) in absorbing and regulating food nutrients such as fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
Aside from food digestion, good cholesterol plays crucial role to the maintenance of normal hormone levels. The body handles excess fat from the food you eat by delivering them to the liver and gall bladder. The fat is then processed and circulated over and over, converting them into bad cholesterol (LDL). In truth, the body can handle only minimal quantities of this bad cholesterol. People with normal metabolism will not have any problem eliminating bad cholesterol. However, the case may not be the same for someone who lives on high cholesterol foods.
One effectively solution to how to lower cholesterol naturally is by watching the food you eat. When cholesterol is a staple of animal meats, especially pork and beef, as well as dairy products, you need to control your portions of this food group in your diet. Make it a habit to watch the back labels of the food products that you buy to efficiently control your cholesterol levels. Eat healthy to live healthy. This is the key to safeguarding heart health from high cholesterol.
For more information about heart health and cholesterol related issues, visit Cholesterol Page.
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