5 Things You May Not Know About Cholesterol

Sometimes when we are diagnosed with high cholesterol it comes as a surprise. How can I have elevated levels if I eat well and am not overweight? In this article we will tell you about 5 things that you may not know about cholesterol!

Many people do not really understand this disorder. Elevated cholesterol does not just show up in people who are overweight or when they reach a certain age.

The silent enemy of your heart appears when you least expect it. The worst thing is that you can not see it, as it does not show symptoms until the first warning sign : Heart failure, a heart attack …

It does not matter if you are 20, 40 or 60 years old. After all, being informed means having the tools you need to deal with these diseases.

Let’s learn some helpful facts you may not know about cholesterol.

1. Where does cholesterol come from?

We are very used to hearing the word “cholesterol”, but what is it actually? Where does it come from?

Here’s what you need to know:

• First of all, it is important to know that cholesterol is not bad. An excess of it backfires, but this type of fat is indispensable for the formation of the body’s cells.
• When too much of it is produced, it must be stored somewhere. Your arteries are one of the preferred “storage areas,” and as a result, they become dangerous.
• Cholesterol is also created in the liver. This is a bit of a problem: you also get a percentage of cholesterol from food.
• In other words, there are two ways your body gets cholesterol: from your liver and from “unhealthy” foods that you like so much.

We need to start controlling our intake of foods that increase cholesterol levels.

2. “Good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol

We also hear a lot about good and bad cholesterol. The key is to keep an appropriate balance between the two and especially never go beyond the 200 mg limit per day.

Let’s look at what the difference is between these two types of cholesterol in detail:

• Good cholesterol, or HDL, is responsible for pushing cholesterol in the arteries toward the liver so that it can be removed. So if your level of HDL is a little high, there is no risk.
  This is positive as long as your bad cholesterol never goes above 200 mg a day.

• Bad cholesterol or LDL, on the other hand, is responsible for transporting cholesterol from the liver to the other organs. It’s a real job because what it’s trying to do is repair cell membranes.

But there is a problem when there is too much. So that it accumulates.

Cholesterol and its genetic side

. We are talking about a disease that passes from parents to their children and can cause heart attacks at a very young age, for example.

• This is not just anecdotal; It is a very relevant reality that you should discuss with your doctor if your parents have or have had high cholesterol.

• This small change makes your body unable to remove bad cholesterol or LDL and so it stops building up.
• Familial hypercholesterolemia can also make it not so easy to reduce cholesterol levels. There is resistance. However , medications can have good results.
• This condition can cause people under 40 to have heart attacks. The problem can develop into a deadly point without you even knowing it if you do not get your cholesterol levels checked regularly.

4. Plant sterols and cholesterol

Some people think that eating supermarket classics made with plant sterols will solve their elevated cholesterol problem.

Let’s make this clear: plant sterols help but are not the answer.

When it comes to plant sterols, we are told that consuming between 1.5 and 2.4 grams of plant sterols each day will help reduce the cholesterol level in the blood by 7 to 10% after three weeks.

But to get a proper balance in cholesterol, we need to do more.

5. Sometimes eating well is not enough

Increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables will not be enough if, for example, you continue to smoke. Reducing the amount of sugar and saturated fat you eat will not be enough if your weight is still too high. Remember:

• Once the plaque has already hardened the blood vessels, you will need to implement many more strategies to get the inner balance.

• A good diet should be accompanied by exercise, physical activity, and changing some unhealthy habits.
• It is also important to stop smoking, have an active lifestyle, and know how many calories you should consume according to your body and your level of physical activity.

Do not hesitate to ask your doctor about these topics. Taking care of your cholesterol is crucial.

Do not postpone it until tomorrow.