Health Care Tips & Facts-About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is an important part of the outer lining(membrane) of cells in the body of animals.

Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans.

The Cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production.

Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.

Organ meats,such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content,while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.

After a meal, cholesterol is absorbed by the intestines into the blood circulation and is then packaged inside a protein coat. This cholesterol-protein coat complex is called a chylomicron.

There are two type of Cholesterol.

(1) HDL Cholesterol

(2) LDL Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol is called the "good cholesterol" because HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from the artery walls and disposing of them through the liver.

LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because elevated levels of LDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.LDL lipoprotein deposits cholesterol on the artery walls, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque.

Lower Your Cholesterol :-

The higher your level of cholesterol, the higher your chances of developing coronary heart disease.

A surprising number of people have very high levels of cholesterol in their blood without realising it. If you thought cholesterol was only a problem if you are middle aged or overweight, think again.Even extremely thin and young people can have elevated cholesterol levels.

The best way to combat cholesterol levels is to fight to keep the level under control.

Cholesterol and fat deposits clog the arteries, which carry blood to the heart. As a result, oxygen supply to the blood gets hampered slowly.There are no symptoms, and the only symptom really is a heart attack. By then it may be too late to start the fight against cholesterol.

Don't wait for the disease to hit you before you start taking some action. It is best to be proactive at the outset and work on preventing cholesterol levels from increasing. Cholesterol is mainly a lifestyle disease, and bringing it down naturally calls for some changes to your way of life. So if you have high cholesterol or if you want to prevent developing high cholesterol, here's what you can do.

Foods which are high in saturated fats and cholesterol include animal products like meat, cheese, milk and eggs. If you eat a diet which includes a lot of these products, it makes sense for you to get a blood test. Anyone over the age of 20 should go in for a blood test at regular intervals.

You don't need to go in for any surgery or extensive medication to lower cholesterol levels. All you need to do is improve your lifestyle - which will be better for your general health as well. It is the same advice any other doctor, nutritionist or fitness expert would give you: Exercise regularly and eat low-fat, high fibre foods.