Definition cholesterol
Have you ever been diagnosed with high cholesterol? So what is your goal to lower cholesterol? The first step you need to know is what exactly is cholesterol itself and understanding the types?
Cholesterol is a waxy fatty substance made in the liver and other cells and found in certain foods, such as foods made from animals, dairy products, eggs, and meat.
The body needs some cholesterol to function properly. Cell walls or membranes need cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help digest fat. But the body needs only a limited amount of cholesterol to meet its needs. If too much of the health problems will arise such as heart disease.
When too much cholesterol in the body it will form a plaque in the arteries of the body thus narrowing the space for blood to flow to the heart. Over time, this buildup causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) which can eventually lead to heart disease.
When not enough blood oxygen below the heart can cause chest pain - called angina. If the blood supply to part the heart is completely cut off by total blockage of a coronary artery, the result is a heart attack. This is usually caused by the sudden closure of a blood clot that formed in the previous narrowing.
Types of Cholesterol
Journey cholesterol through the blood attached to a protein that is a cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Classified as high-density lipoprotein, low density, or very low density, depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL is called "bad" cholesterol, can cause buildup of plaque on artery walls. The more LDL there is in the blood, the greater the risk of heart disease.
- High Density Lipoproteins (HDL): HDL is called "good" cholesterol, helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better. When HDL levels are low, the risk of heart disease increases.
- Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL): VLDL is similar to LDL cholesterol in that it contains mostly fat and not much protein.
- Triglycerides: Triglycerides are types of fat that is transported in the blood by VLDL. Excess calories, alcohol, or sugar in the body are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells throughout the body.
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