Cholesterol 101
Allow me to open up with a question:
Does the body need cholesterol to survive?
The answer is YES!
In this quick start guide, you will discover why cholesterol is important for your health and gain insight regarding which healthy foods you can eat and which you should avoid to lower cholesterol levels fast and naturally.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol can be defined as a waxy, kind of fatty substance that is found in all the cells in your body. And this little substance is essential for human life!
Your body needs cholesterol to work properly. For example, it’s needed to make certain hormones, vitamin D and it is an important building block for cell walls.
In fact, your body makes most cholesterol by itself in the liver. The bloodstream transports cholesterol from the liver and out to other organs and tissues in your body. If your system is working correctly, the HDL cholesterol will remove excess cholesterol from your tissues and blood vessels and bring it back to your liver, where it can be safely excreted from your body.
Two different kinds of cholesterol:
“LDL” Cholesterol
(remember “L” for Lethal)
LDL stands for “low-density lipoprotein.” High levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which is why it is referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
“HDL” Cholesterol
(remember “H” for Healthy)
HDL stands for “high-density lipoprotein.” High levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and is also called “good” cholesterol.
What Happens If Cholesterol Is Too High?
Although cholesterol is needed for your body to function well, you can also have too much of it.
In this case, high cholesterol may lead to:
• Increased risk of cardiovascular and heart diseases,
• Type 2 diabetes,
• High blood pressure,
• Atherosclerosis and developing fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Sometimes, these deposits can break and form a clot that causes a heart attack or a stroke,
• Fatty liver.
Healthy Cholesterol-Rich Foods
Cholesterol-Rich Foods to Avoid
Just like with fried foods, fast foods have a high content of cholesterol. People who eat fast food on a regular basis tend to have higher cholesterol, more belly fat, and higher levels of inflammation.
Cookies, ice cream, cakes, and desserts tend to be high in cholesterol, as well as added sugars, saturated fats, and calories.
Fried foods like deep-fried meat or French fries as well as processed meats, like bacon and sausages are all very high in cholesterol. For example,
3.5-ounces (100g) of bacon contain 110mg of cholesterol. These foods are also loaded with calories and often contain trans fats and increase the risk of heart disease and obesity.