Archive for the ‘Cholesterol’ Category
Cholesterol What Is It?
Cholesterol is essential to life and is present in every cell of your body. It is essential to life but has two sides one good the other bad. On the good side cholesterol builds and maintains healthy cells. It regulates cell fluidity and the synthesis of steroid hormones. The body produces about 1 gram per day in liver bile. The bile itself is responsible for many bodily functions. Some research has said that cholesterol may also act as an antioxidant.
The dark side of cholesterol is when there is to much of a good thing. To much forms fatty deposits in the blood vessels and becomes the stuff that clogs the vessels and becomes the dreaded Arteriosclerosis. This condition is better known as hardening of the arteries. If this happens in the feet or legs it is called Peripheral Artery Disease.(PAD or PVD) The extremities can clog easily because the vessels are very very small.
Cholesterol can not dissolve in blood. It is carried to and from the cells by lipoproteins, similar to and eighteen wheeler hauling freight on the highways. These lipoproteins have two types HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad guys). Also triglycerides and Lpa are two other components which make up total cholesterol. Your levels can be determined by a blood test.
When to much LDL circulates in the blood it can begin to build up on the vessels walls. Some studies have shown that accumulation may be caused by free radical damage. Other studies show that inflammation can cause injury to the vessel and the body attempts to heal the injuries using cholesterol. When the damage occurs cholesterol attaches itself to the damaged area and begins to form what they call arterial plaque. This plaque is hard and the accumulation can eventually cause total blockage vessel blockage. If the blockage is in a heart artery it can cause a heart attack.
It is said that 1/3 to 1/4 of cholesterol is carried by HDL lipoproteins. (good cholesterol) Science still does not know exactly how this all interacts but it is thought that a high level of good cholesterol protects(HDL) the heart and prevents heart attacks. Further it appears that HDL carries cholesterol away from the vessels to the liver better than LDL. Once in the liver it is eliminated. Some researchers believe HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque thus slowing build up and blockage formation.
Triglycerides is a type of fat manufactured by the body and is present in most fat that exist in the foods we eat. Therefore, the recommendation about low fat diets. It has been found that healthy people have low levels of triglycerides, while people with heart disease have high levels.
Lpa cholesterol is not fully understood yet. As I have said before the more we find out the more there is available to learn Answer one question and three more pop up. Lpa is a genetic variation of LDL according to the AHA. They have found that a high level of Lpa is a precursor to premature development of fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
Now The good news. High cholesterol, hardening of the arteries and PVD is preventable and correctable if you already have it. I have personal experience with all three above and have corrected all three with nutrition and natural means. The foundation to optimal health and well being is good nutrition. Like your home a good foundation is most important because without a good foundation the rest can crumble on a moments notice.
How I lowered my cholesterol by 40 points with diet and nutrition.
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