Why Cholesterol is Good for you?

What is Cholesterol

Cholesterol is essential to human survival, so much so that the liver produces around 80% of our total cholesterol. The balance is obtained from what we eat. Natural sources of cholesterol are foods made by animals, such meat and dairy. Plants are unable to produce it.

Cholesterol Facts

Given all the negative press it receives, some people don’t realise that cholesterol is actually required for our existence. Cholesterol is not always harmful; it is a complex subject that is worth learning more about. The fact that our bodies naturally generates cholesterol is also astonishing.

The liver needs cholesterol to:

1. Produce your sex hormones.

2. Use as a component of human tissues.

3. Enable production of bile which is required for the digestion of food

All of these crucial processes rely on the presence of cholesterol. But, too much of a good thing is not good for you. Heart disease and stroke risk factors rise with elevated cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a contributing factor in one-third of heart attack cases worldwide. The good news is that most cases of high cholesterol can be managed through lifestyle interventions.

Besides your cholesterol level, there are other lifestyle risk factors that increase you risk of cardiovascular disease. These include:

• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• A diet high in saturated and trans fats
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking

Types of Cholesterol

Different kinds of cholesterol can have an effect on your health. You can have tests done to measure your specific levels.

The phrases “LDL, HDL and Triglycerides” are frequently used while discussing cholesterol. Since cholesterol is fat-soluble it cannot be transported without carriers in our blood. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) both carry cholesterol in our bodies. We use HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels to assess how your lipid profile puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Low HDL, elevated LDL and elevated triglycerides are all associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.  Evidence has shown that having high levels of HDL lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke while having low levels of HDL raises those chances.

Even with normal cholesterol levels, ‘keep you LDL low and your HDL high.

LDL

LDL is often called “bad” cholesterol. This is because when it is too high it can cause serious health problems. The American Heart Association (AHA) claims that LDL causes plaque to build up on your artery walls. When this plaque accumulates, it might result in two distinct but equal health conditions.

It can first restrict your blood arteries, making it harder for oxygen-rich blood to move freely throughout your body. Second, it may cause blood clots to form, which may break free and obstruct blood flow, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

HDL

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as “good” cholesterol. It keeps your cardiovascular system in good condition. It removes the undesirable LDL from the arteries and transports it back to the liver, where it is digested and expelled from the body.

Triglycerides

The excess calories, sugar, and alcohol you eat during meals are turned into triglycerides and stored as fat in your body. These triglycerides are released by hormones when you require energy.

You may have a high triglyceride level if you typically consume more high-carbohydrate foods than you burn.

High triglyceride levels are regarded as a high-risk factor for peripheral artery disease, stroke, and heart attacks. You may have a higher-than-average risk of developing liver disease and pancreatitis if your triglyceride levels are high.

Triglyceride levels can be also affected by modifiable lifestyle factors such as food choices and physical activity. Non-modifiable factors like thyroid disease, diabetes, liver disease, and renal problems can also impact triglyceride levels. This is why abnormal cholesterol levels need to be managed by a healthcare professional.

Know your cholesterol numbers

A health professional can measure your random cholesterol using a finger prick test. If high, they will refer you to the laboratory for a further fasting lipogram. Before having your blood drawn for a lipogram, fast for up to 12 hours before the test. You will then get measures for your total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL.

An ideal total cholesterol level is lower than 5mmol/L. The Heart Foundation of South Africa classifies ideal HDL levels as more than 1.2 mmol/L for women or more than 1.0 mmol/L for men. It is desirable to maintain your LDL at less than 3mmol/L and fasting triglyceride levels at less than 1.7 mmol/L.

If any of your results are out of range you need to try to normalize these levels.

Keeping cholesterol in check

Several things influence your cholesterol numbers, some of which you have control over. While heredity and chronic conditions may play a role, lifestyle choices around your weight, diet and exercise can also raise or lower your overall numbers.

For more information and assistance, please contact us.