Cholesterol in the body comes from two sources: we produce it and eat it. Our liver manufactures about 75% of it from various nutrients and especially from fats.
That is why a Low Cholesterol Diet Plan is the bedrock not just for people who want to reduce cholesterol naturally but also for those who want to control their cholesterol levels or want to prevent it from rising. I shall return to this point shortly.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood and plays a vital role in how cells work in our body. There are two types of protein that carry cholesterol in the bloodstream:
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, carries cholesterol from the liver into the body and HDL, the “good” cholesterol, takes the excess cholesterol from the body for disposal back to the liver.
Abnormal cholesterol levels (known as “hypercholesterolemia”) — that is, higher concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations of HDL — are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease because these promote the deposit of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis, a narrowing of the blood vessels.
This process leads to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. It is important to not just lower overall cholesterol levels but more specifically to reduce high blood LDL, especially high LDL particle concentrations and smaller LDL particle size, as these, more than the cholesterol content of the LDL particles, are the main contributors to cardio vascular diseases.
These balances are mostly genetically determined but can be modified by following a healthy diet plan, by including cholesterol supplements, exercise and, when advised by a health professional, medication.
That is why following a Low Cholesterol Diet Plan and doing regular physical exercise is a healthy choice for anyone, even if you don’t suffer from high cholesterol.
As I mentioned before, the liver makes just about all the cholesterol the body will ever need.
Because all animals can make their own cholesterol, some cholesterol in the human body comes directly from eating a high cholesterol diet, that is, eating animal foods. These foods include meats, poultry, egg yolks, organ meats, whole milk, and milk products.
Cholesterol obtained from the food we eat is absorbed through the intestines and added to the cholesterol the liver makes. It is also known that a diet high in saturated fat increases cholesterol production in the body.
Therefore, reducing dietary cholesterol and fats helps to keep blood cholesterol levels within a healthy range. Most important of all is to significantly reduce the amount of red meat, saturated fats and trans fat in our diet.
A low cholesterol diet plan is not only good for people with high cholesterol levels, but it is a healthy diet plan for everyone. Most doctors and nutritionists recommend a low fat diet as part of an overall healthy eating plan. People who have high cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease by following a diet that helps reduce high cholesterol. This is to say, they should pay special attention to . A low cholesterol diet can benefit everyone and is one of the healthiest diet plans to follow.
How do you lower cholesterol if a diet for high cholesterol is not enough, or if you find it too restrictive or difficult to follow to reach safe cholesterol levels? In these cases you should consider safe and proven natural cholesterol supplements.
Sometimes healthy lifestyle choices, including foods to lower cholesterol and cholesterol supplements, simply are not sufficient. If your doctor prescribes medication to reduce cholesterol, take it as directed while you continue to focus on a healthy lifestyle. As always, if you decide to take a cholesterol supplement, be sure to tell your doctor. The herbal supplement you take may interact with your medication.
In further articles on this site, you will find more detailed information about what goes into a low cholesterol diet plan. Specifically, these articles cover topics such as Foods To Lower Cholesterol, Cholesterol Supplements, and for those who need to check up, Home Cholesterol Tests.
View the original article here
No comments:
Post a Comment