The Body Needs Cholesterol to Function
Folks are often afraid of cholesterol because of its association with heart problems.
Although it is true that high amount of cholesterol in blood can easily lead to poor heart function or heart failure, cholesterol performs vital functions to our body systems. The good, normal range of total body cholesterol is between 150mg/dl to 200mg/dl.
Cholesterol is a lipid, or fat chemical compound, that is made in the liver from fatty foods that we eat. The liver makes about 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol daily, about 75 percent of the cholesterol your body needs. It helps in the formation of the bile, an important biological component of digestion. It is responsible for the greasy texture of our skin and makes the outer coating of skin cells.
Long-term low total cholesterol levels in your blood usually leads to adverse health body problems especially those linked to hormonal imbalances in the body. This is because cholesterol is an important factor in the manufacture of steroid hormones, reproductive hormones like estrogen in women and testosterone hormone in men. Low total cholesterol can also lead to depression and increased risk of stroke.
It also helps with the body's formation of vitamin D. People with low total cholesterol and with minimal external source of vitamin D will also likely suffer consequences of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin. Fortunately, the sun is a very good source of vitamin D. Those who are out in the sun during the day tend to sleep better at night. Cholesterol converted to vitamin D in our body is used for the calcification of bones and teeth.
There are two important types of total cholesterol in the body; the low density lipo-proteins (LDL) and High density lipo-proteins (HDL). It is important to understand the differences and functions of each. HDL is not dangerous as compared to the low-density because carries cholesterol from the arteries to the liver.
Nearly a quarter to a third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. HDL is called "good" cholesterol, due to the fact that higher levels of HDL appear to protect against heart attacks. Low levels of HDL can increase the risk of heart disease.
When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol is in the bloodstream, it can accumulate in the arteries that supply blood to the heart and brain. It may result in the formation of plaque, hard deposits that can constrict arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. When doctors examine those with coronary heart disease, they will usually find blood clot deposits inside the walls of the arteries. This in-turn limits or blocks blood circulation in the heart chambers to cause poor heart function. If a clot forms in the bloodstream, it may be blocked in a narrowed artery, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
Doctors and patients pay closest attention to LDL because it transports cholesterol to arteries and people with coronary heart disease are usually at risk if this cholesterol carrier in your blood is at high levels. If you have more LDL that transports cholesterol into the arteries can worsen the situation.
Your diet is very important to the formation of cholesterol in the body. Many animal products or fats have been seen to increase the amount of cholesterol in the body and, actually, this is why people with coronary heart disease are advised to limit animal food products such as meat, cheese, among others.
To maintain a good cholesterol free-diet, you need to feed on plant foods like small amounts of nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits, whole grains and vegetables.
Plant fats have minimal effect on cholesterol contributions and plant diet with avocado, coconuts, and olives are advisable.
Drugs known as statins are frequently prescribed to help lower cholesterol. Over 20 million American adults are on daily regimens of statins, which makes them one of the most-prescribed drugs of all time. New studies show that they may also contribute to cognitive issues, like confusion and memory loss.
Statins help many people keep healthier cholesterol levels. Many will instead choose more natural solutions.
An excellent cholesterol supplement that includes many important natural ingredients is Cholesterol Complete™ (click here to view). It's a powerful all-natural formula that targets both types of cholesterol; LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). LDL is the cholesterol you should be most concerned with, it is the "bad" cholesterol that clogs arteries and raises blood pressure. HDL is the "good" cholesterol that helps remove LDL from the body. You're supporting healthy cholesterol with 100% natural approach!