Understanding Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like chemical compound made by the liver, which is produced by the human body, as well as other animals, to provide the body’s cells with the needed fluidity and flexibility for proper function. It is also one of many substances needed to create several of the body’s essential hormones. It is important to have and maintain the correct cholesterol ratio within the body for optimal health. This means you need the right amount of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) for proper body function.

Your body naturally makes the right amount of LDL cholesterol needed to perform what it needs to within the body. This means that the LDL cholesterol we consume in meats and animal products as well as saturated fat (which is converted by the body into LDL cholesterol) is above and beyond what we need for our health. This can then lead to high cholesterol levels within the blood that can lead to the health problems associated with heart disease. We also need to consume foods high in HDL cholesterol, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to obtain a healthy good cholesterol level.

High cholesterol, which means high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, leads to the buildup of this fatty substance within the walls of our veins and arteries. This makes is difficult for the blood to flow properly throughout the body. Our veins and arteries are what are known as the Blood Body Transport System, and it is essential that blood flows through easily as this function is needed to carry oxygen and other needed substances to all of our organs and other body areas of the body, and also picks up and carries toxins and waste products out of the body. A heart attack can be caused by a blockage of an artery that leads to the heart while a stroke can be caused by the block of an artery leading to the brain. This complete lack of oxygen to these vital organs can easily lead to death.

It is important to see your doctor for a cholesterol test on a regular basis once you are 45 if a male or if you are 55 or older and female. In some cases, you may need to begin cholesterol testing at an even earlier age if you have a family history of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths in first-degree relatives 65 or younger, such as a parent or sibling. The cholesterol test performed by your physician is known as total blood cholesterol. This test checks the levels of LDL cholesterol within your blood stream. It is best to stay below 180 as this is considered a normal cholesterol level, although cholesterol number of 180-199 is still an acceptable level.

A cholesterol reading between 200-219 is slightly elevated and anything 220 or above is much too high and puts you at great risk for heart disease, blocked arteries, heart attacks and strokes. If your levels are 200 or greater, your doctor will most likely perform additional cholesterol testing as well to look for your cholesterol ratio of good versus bad cholesterol and will also check your triglyceride level. Triglyceride is a type of fat found within the blood needed for quick energy, although a high triglyceride level can also contribute to heart disease.

The best way to prevent high cholesterol and lower cholesterol to healthy levels is by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes a low-fat, high fiber diet and a regular exercise program of heart rate raising activity for thirty minutes at least three times a week. You should also avoid sugar, salt, caffeine and cigarettes and keep your alcohol consumption at two to three drinks or less per day. Drink the recommended amount of eight full glasses of water per day, and be sure to manage your stress in healthy ways.

A healthy lifestyle should include a multi-vitamin and additional supplements to reduce LDL cholesterol, such as Cholesterol Complete, which has been proven safe and effective in achieving a normal cholesterol level. Making healthy choices will help you avoid the devastating effects of high cholesterol and heart disease that so many suffer from today.

This excellent cholesterol supplement does include many of the important ingredients: 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 and reduces the risks of heart attack and stroke. This formula can get results (often 40 pts. in 40 days!).

Lifestyle Choices and the Development of High Cholesterol

There are actually two types of cholesterol found within the body. These are LDL, which is known as bad cholesterol, and HDL, which is known as good cholesterol. When you hear of the dangers associated with a high cholesterol level, this refers to the amount of LDL cholesterol found within your bloodstream. You actually need some cholesterol to remain healthy, although your body already naturally makes enough for a normal cholesterol level without the need for any of the extra we take in through eating meat and other animal products.

There are many factors that play into whether or not you develop high cholesterol, some of which are controllable, such as diet, and some are not, such as heredity. Even though you may not be able to control all of your risk factors, there is still a lot you can do to help ensure your bad (LDL) cholesterol stays within healthy limits. However, before you learn how to lower cholesterol, you first need to understand what the controllable risk factors is that contribute to high cholesterol and in turn the development of heart disease associated with high LDL cholesterol levels.

If you have high cholesterol, you have double the risk of developing heart disease than someone whose cholesterol level is within healthy limits. Many of the controllable risk factors are associated with lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise. Bad (LDL) cholesterol is only found in the saturated fats within meats and other foods made from animal products, such as milk, cheese and butter. Eating a diet high in saturated fats, especially if you are also not eating enough fiber, is a big risk factor for high cholesterol numbers. If you eat a high fat, low fiber diet and are also sedentary (remain physically inactive throughout most of your days), your risk for high cholesterol is even greater.

Being overweight will also greatly increase your LDL cholesterol even if you have no other risk factors. If you are currently eating a high fat diet and living a sedentary lifestyle, you are at great risk for obesity and in turn even greater risk high cholesterol, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Being overweight is also a health risk for diabetes, which is also known risk for high cholesterol and the development of heart disease. Losing weight and achieving a healthy weight for your body type will lower your LDL cholesterol, create a lower triglyceride level and increase HDL cholesterol levels within the body.

Other risk factors under your control include stress and smoking. Smokers are at much greater risk for high blood pressure and the development of heart disease than non-smokers and also tend to have higher cholesterol levels as well. Smoking is associated with twice the risk of suffering a heart attack and anywhere from two to four times the risk of sudden cardiac death. Studies have also shown that long-term stress increases the LDL cholesterol level within the blood. This may be due to how our body physically reacts to stress levels, which has been shown to raise blood pressure and enlarge the heart. It may also be due to the unhealthy lifestyle habits that seem to be more common among those that cannot keep their stress levels under control.

You may have heard that alcohol is a good way to reduce cholesterol, but alcohol does not reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. It has actually been proven to increase levels of HDL cholesterol, but the risks of alcohol consumption most likely outweigh the potential benefits. Drinking too much alcohol will have the opposite of any intended health benefit and will lead to high blood pressure and a high triglyceride level, which leads to the same problem of heart disease and the potential for suffering heart attacks and strokes.

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An excellent cholesterol supplement that include 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!