Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

cholesterol

Cholesterol: The Good & The Bad

Increased exercise and a healthy diet can create positive changes within your body other than just losing weight. Cholesterol levels are just one of many indicators for cardiovascular disease. While those who are overweight have a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, those people are not the only ones at risk. Nutrition and exercise play a large part in one’s cholesterol levels. High cholesterol means that there is an imbalance of fats circulating in the blood stream. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that your body uses to make hormones and metabolize food. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is referred to as the “bad cholesterol.” A high LDL level may put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. This type of cholesterol is linked to a buildup of plaque within the arteries, which can eventually obstruct proper blood flow to the heart and other organs. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good cholesterol” which carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver and it will remove the bad cholesterol from your body. Higher HDL levels have proven to protect against heart disease. Triglycerides refer to fat content in the blood. This is the kind of fat that people eat, which found mostly in vegetable oil and animal fats.

High cholesterol, however, is not always associated with your weight. Several factors play a role in your cholesterol levels including exercise, nutrition, and genetics. These factors combine to form a baseline for one’s risk of developing high cholesterol. Consuming a diet that is high in fat, such as high-fat meats, fried foods and high-fat cheeses, will increase your risk of developing both high cholesterol and obesity.

Making small changes to your nutritional habits and exercise routine may help to reduce your cholesterol. Instead of focusing on changing your caloric intake, be mindful about the types of foods you eat which will help contribute to healthier cholesterol levels. Regular exercise may also contribute to increasing your good cholesterol levels. However, if weight loss is also a concern, research studies suggest that weight loss may help reduce your LDL and triglyceride levels, while increasing HDL.

 

By Louise Mills-Strasser

Good V. Bad Cholesterol Explained

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a wax like substance found in all cells of the body. We need it to make hormones, Vitamin D, and various substances that help with digestion. Cholesterol comes from 2 sources- our body and the food that we eat. Our liver and cells produce about 75% of our total cholesterol and we consume the other 25% through our diet.

Cholesterol travels through our bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are made of fat on the inside and surrounded by a protein outside. We have two common lipoproteins known as a low density lipoprotein, or LDL, and a high density lipoprotein, or HDL. It is important to have healthy levels of both because too much LDL or not enough HDL increases our risk for heart disease.

What are “good” and “bad” cholesterol?

Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) is referred to as bad cholesterol because when too much LDL circulates in the blood it slowly builds up in the walls of the arteries that feed the heart and the brain resulting in atherosclerosis. The LDL, in addition to other substances, forms plaque which narrows and hardens the arteries, thus limiting oxygen rich blood from traveling through. This can lead to formation of clots and can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. LDL is produced naturally and the amount is greatly determined by genes inherited from your family.

High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) is referred to as good cholesterol because high levels seem to protect against heart disease. HDL is believed to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver where it can be removed from the body. It is also believed that HDL may remove excess cholesterol from the arterial plaque and in return slows the buildup.

Triglycerides- Triglycerides are a form of fat that is made in the body. High levels are due to cigarettes, inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, obesity, and a high carbohydrate diet. High levels of triglycerides are correlated with heart disease and diabetes.