What You Must Understand Regarding High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is technically called as lipids or fats. It looks like a waxy powder that looks like candle wax shavings. It is light yellow in color. All animals require cholesterol to survive. Lipids provide chemical energy as fuel for the cells that make up our body. Also it is responsible for the protective shell or covering of cells. It is also essential for digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.

One of the fastest growing health issues today is high cholesterol. High cholesterol is often associated with obesity, but even thin people can have high cholesterol readings. Changing your diet, whether you're fat or not, may be the answer to getting your cholesterol level down to a healthy level.

Cholesterol is essential for our sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen, and for vitamin D. Cholesterol is so vital that our body regulates it so closely that if you did not eat enough dietary cholesterol, your body would generate all it requirements on its own. Your liver has the ability to convert fats, sugars and proteins into cholesterol for its needs.

In most cases, the fasting time is from 8 to 12 hours before the test and during this time no solid foods are consumed. You will likely be permitted water and coffee during the cholesterol fasting period. These are normal guidelines, but someone should always follow this is the specific instructions.

Various types of Lipoproteins.

Your bloodstream is the vehicle which carries cholesterol and other lipids to each cell in the body. Since lipids and blood don't easily mix well, the body knows to wrap protein around cholesterol particles making it easy to flow through the bloodstream. This is where the term lipoprotein gets its name. Your bloodstream carries many different sizes of lipoproteins that are grouped based on the density or fat composition. More fat equals lower density. Less fat and more protein indicates higher density. There are actually 4 different fat containing particles in the blood. HDL or high density lipoproteins have the less total of fat (and triglycerides) and the most protein. The largest and least dense is something called chylomicrons that contain the most fat; specially triglycerides. The other 2 are LDL or low density lipoproteins and VLDL or very low density lipoproteins. Mainly the fat from our food and the non-cholesterol fat in our bloodstream is triglycerides. Triglycerides are made up of three fatty acids and glycerol, an alcohol. Triglycerides are essential for our health and provide a large amount of the energy our tissues need, but too much of a good thing, like cholesterol, can be hazardous to your circulatory health.

Did you know that coronary heart illness is the number one killer in the United States and in England? Strokes, arteriosclerosis, heart issues and other cardiovascular ailments kill more people within the United States and Great Britain than any other health problem.

How LDL is created

Since triglycerides are removed from VLDL and chylomicrons, they become smaller and denser. Ultimately all that remains is the protein and cholesterol and a minute amount of triglyceride. The liver cleans out the chylomicron and recycles any remnants unlike VLDL which even after it has lost its triglyceride components, continues to circulate. VLDL continues to alter and finally ends up as LDL particles. LDL carries the majority of our cholesterol. Practically all cells in the body can utilize LDL for their energy requirements. However there is typically more LDL in the bloodstream than is needed and the liver should clear the extra from the blood. It may use it for more bile acids for digestion or as new lipoproteins. If the liver cannot keep up with the surplus LDL, it ends up being deposited in places it does not belong.

Cholesterol has always been a source of worry for some, and if you're one of those who are suffering from it and its related problems, it is high time you worked toward resolving it.

HDL, the Savior

High density lipoproteins are known as the "good" cholesterol and for proper reasons. HDL is even made in the liver and intestines but it is very different than LDL. There is a high concentration of protein and not much fat in HDL. The two main roles of HDL are to provide chylomicrons and VLD the protein component that allows the liver to recognize they must have their fat removed. HDLs also act as scavengers and collect excess cholesterol from blood vessel linings and other areas to be transported to the liver to be disposed of.

You Must Avoid From High Cholesterol Food-Products To Stay Well
The best method to get at that surplus cholesterol is, of course, to take a look at your high cholesterol food consumption and alter it to reduce the amount of that food in your diet.

The Importance Of Making Sense Of Cholesterol Prior To Deciding To Use A Cholesterol Medicine
Because too much cholesterol can impair the heart and the rest of the circulatory system, we are strongly urged to control our cholesterol levels. When you have changed what you can, if your lipid and cholesterol numbers are still in an unhealthy range, you and your doctor may consider going with a cholesterol drug.

Learn About How To Control And Reduce Bad Cholesterol Levels
Bad cholesterol, which is also referred to as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is a negative element because the molecules cannot dissolve in the blood and these particles have a tendency to cling to artery walls potentially provoking a heart attack or resulting in other heart related dysfunction.

Knowing About The Significance Of High Cholesterol
The waxy substance in our bodies commonly known as cholesterol is found primarily in two basic forms, HDL and LDL. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is routinely referred to as the good cholesterol, while LDL, or low density lipoprotein, is the bad form of cholesterol.