Cholesterol - Care Guide

Cholesterol exists in each and every cell in our body. It is composed of lipids found in the blood. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and is obtained from certain foods that we ingest that contain saturated and trans fats. Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is essential to maintaining a healthy body. It is vital in the production of sex hormones, sustaining vitality, energy, fertility, building muscles and strong bones, improving mental alertness, keeping cell membranes together, controlling sugar levels, aiding in digestion, maintaining the proper functioning of the nervous system and a lot of other bodily functions. However, excess cholesterol in the blood may put you at risk to coronary heart disease that may later on lead to a stroke or heart attack.

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Cholesterol Levels

Aside from dietary cholesterol, cholesterol levels can also be influenced by inactivity, family history, unhealthy body weight, and liver disorders. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins. Like many fats, cholesterol too comes in good and bad cholesterol. LDL or low density lipoprotein is referred to as bad cholesterol because it is what causes the accumulation the clogs up the artery walls of the heart and brain to eventually narrow the passageways that may later on cause a stroke or heart attack. HDL, the good cholesterol works for the body by picking up excess LDL in the blood that has built up in the arteries and brings it to the liver so that it can be processed and eliminated from the body. Hypercholesterolemia or high blood cholesterol occurs when the liver over produces cholesterol resulting to the body’s difficulty to move out the existing LDL from the blood or cholesterol from your diet.

There are simple tests that can be done to check cholesterol levels. Since cholesterol cannot dissolve in blood, it is carried to and from the different cells by the lipoproteins. A fasting lipid test is a lipoprotein test is normally performed as part of a medical exam. This test measures lipid levels and breaks them down into four major groups:

In general, LDL levels should be kept low because these build up in the artery walls and cause atherosclerosis while HDL levels should be kept high because they help eliminate fat and cholesterol from the arteries and carry them to the liver so that they could be broken down and removed from the body.

Triglycerides or TG are the chemical forms of fats that exist in most foods. They are also found in the blood together with cholesterol.  Triglyceride levels rise as a result of the ingestion of foods that are high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, fat and alcohol. Eating in excess can also elevate triglyceride levels due to the excess calories that are converted to fat by the liver and then to triglycerides. Elevated levels of triglycerides contribute to the increased risk diabetes and heart disease. There is a possibility for triglyceride levels to be up even when cholesterol levels are normal. This is why it is important to get yourself checked regularly. Generally, triglyceride levels can be controlled through proper diet and exercise.

There are a lot of ways to lower LDL and raise HDL levels naturally.  By following a healthy and balanced diet combined with regular exercise, this can be achieved.  Making lifestyle changes and taking supplements may also help. But in some cases, medication is a necessity.

If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol levels you should read this book - How to Prevent and Even Reverse Heart Disease. It is a 200-page special eBook written by a former cardiologist/surgeon that gives you all the facts and simple to follow instructions on how to reverse or prevent heart disease.

Signs and Symptoms of High Cholesterol

There are no outward or visible manifestations of elevated cholesterol levels and if left untreated, it can slowly build up as plaque along the artery walls, better known as atherosclerosis. The passageway becomes narrow thus reducing the amount of blood flow to the heart. This may result to chest pain and a higher risk to heart disease. The plaque can also rupture to form a clot. This blood clot can also block the flow of blood going to the heart resulting to a heart attack. If the blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain it will result to a stroke.

High Cholesterol – Risk Factors

Cholesterol Diet

Learn about Low Cholesterol Foods and High Cholesterol Foods to avoid. By maintain a healthy diet you’ll bring down your cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. It starts by making you understand how some foods can be detrimental to your health while others can bring positive benefits to the heart.

Recommended Supplements

Hypercet Cholesterol Formula is a specially formulated supplement designed to support the body safely as it maintains healthy levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol. It also acts as an overall heart tonic and supports the body’s natural way of dealing with the elimination of free radicals.

You may also try other supplements such as Niacin or Vitamin B3, stanols and sterols, fish oils, soluble fiber, coenzyme Q10 and garlic extracts.

You may include foods such as vegetables, fruits, cereals, grains, vegetable oils, seeds and nuts and other foods that do not contain cholesterol.

Avoid foods that contain dietary cholesterol coming from animals like poultry, meat, dairy products and seafood. A few of the top sources of dietary cholesterol are beef liver, beef, squid, egg, shrimp, milk, cheese, ice cream, beef sweet breads, pork, lamb and a whole lot more.