Cholesterol..?

If you’re reading this, you probably care about health and the role that cholesterol can play. That’s an important first step.

So, what is cholesterol? What does it do?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance. It’s not inherently “bad.” In fact, your body needs it to build cells. But too much cholesterol can pose a problem.

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. If you have other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes, your risk increases even more.

Cholesterol comes from two sources. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need. The remainder of the cholesterol in your body comes from foods derived from animals. For example, meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products all contain cholesterol, called dietary cholesterol.

Those same foods are high in saturated and trans fats. Those fats cause your liver to make more cholesterol than it otherwise would. For some people, this added production means they go from a normal cholesterol level to one that’s unhealthy.

Some tropical oils – such as palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil – can also trigger your liver to make more cholesterol. These oils are often found in baked goods.

Why cholesterol matters?

Cholesterol circulates in the blood. As the amount of cholesterol in your blood increases, so does the risk to your health. That’s why it’s important to have your cholesterol tested, so you can know your levels.

The two main types of lipoproteins are:

LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (LDL)

The ‘unhealthy’ cholesterol lead to blocked arteries and risk of heart disease. Current recommendations are to keep LDL cholesterol levels to <2.0mmol/L and <1.8mmol/L if at higher risk.

Since LDL is the bad kind of cholesterol, a low LDL level is considered good for your heart health. In the past, doctors relied on specific ranges for LDL. Today, doctors consider LDL levels as one factor among many when evaluating cardiovascular risk. (The latest American Heart Association guidelines endorse this more integrated approach.) Talk to your doctor about your LDL cholesterol level as well as other factors that impact your cardiovascular health.

A diet high in saturated and trans-fat is unhealthy because it tends to raise LDL cholesterol levels.

 HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (HDL)

The ‘healthy’ cholesterol helps protect arteries from a build-up of fatty deposits and help decrease heart disease risk. HDL cholesterol levels are recommended to be >1.0mmol/L.

Too much of the bad kind, or not enough of the good kind, increases the risk that cholesterol will slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

For many years, doctors used ranges to evaluate HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Today, doctors think about risk in broader terms. They evaluate HDL cholesterol levels in context, along with other risk factors.

People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower levels of the good kind of cholesterol, or HDL. Genetic factors, type 2 diabetes, smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can all lower HDL cholesterol. Women tend to have higher levels of HDL cholesterol than men do.

The total level of cholesterol in the blood is a combination of HDL (healthy) cholesterol and LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol. When having your cholesterol tested, ask your doctor to check both your HDL and LDL cholesterol. A low level of HDL cholesterol and a high level of LDL cholesterol in the blood will put you at risk of heart disease.

TRIGLYCERIDES???

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fats exist – in foods, as well as in our bodies. The Triglycerides are a measure of the amount of fat moving around the blood. They are often measured along with your blood cholesterol levels. 

The dietary recommendations to help lower your blood cholesterol will also help lower your triglyceride levels, with the aim of keeping levels < 2.0mmol/L.

Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL (bad) cholesterol level and a low HDL (good) cholesterol level. Many people with heart disease or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels. 

Several factors can contribute to an elevated triglyceride level, including:

·         Being overweight, or obesity

·         Physical inactivity

·         Cigarette smoking

·         Excess alcohol consumption

·         A diet very high in carbohydrates (more than 60 percent of total calories.

·         Some other changes that may help to lower triglyceride levels include:

             Drinking less alcohol

Consuming less refined flour products (like cakes and biscuits) and sugar-containing food and drinks core risk factors you have and the more severe they are, the more your overall risk is compounded. These factors can be addressed with lifestyle changes. Underlying diseases or genetic disorders can also cause high triglyceride levels.

Let’s stay healthy and awareness is required on our cholesterol levels. It’s key to know your numbers. Change your diet and lifestyle to help improve your levels. Control your cholesterol, with help from your doctor if needed, and Use our handy Check. Change. Control. Calculator. Lets watch together the below.....