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Bad Cholesterol

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It is torture that the food we enjoy eating are those containing high levels of cholesterol. The fat of the meat is the most sumptuous part and we try to clean the bone up by munching on it. But if our doctor tells us to stay away from food containing too much fat and oil, then we have to do so.

When doctors discuss bad cholesterol to their patients, they are referring to the low density lipoprotein. That is because cholesterol comes in a lot of forms and LDL is just one of ‘em.

Over the years, so much has been said about cholesterol: what’s good for you and what’s bad for you? Some are fact, others are merely myths. Here is a rundown of those you have probably heard to give you the 411 on what you must know.

A number of nutritionists, dieticians and doctors often tell their patients that too much fat is harmful to their health. For a remedy, government has advised health establishments to come up with products containing less cholesterol, saturated salt and saturated fat. Also, they advised everybody to dine on fiber-rich foods. That is because if we don’t eat properly, sooner or later our heart will suffer.

And then again, we ask ourselves, is cholesterol connected to triggering heart disease?

Heart diseases connected to too much bad cholesterol is Coronary Heart Disease or CHD. It is a condition wherein the coronary arteries which is responsible in supplying blood to the heart muscles are narrowed down because there is a built-up on the wall. This leads to blocking the passageway and may result to a clot, causing a heart attack. Often times, doctors finger point fat, salt and cholesterol as the culprit to this build-up.

Now coronary heart disease became rampant in 1920s, just in time when America was discovering technology. This was after the world war. Also, in 1940s, a high percentage of mortality rate was from CHD.

That’s why in the 1950s, American doctor John Gofman came up with a hypothesis that blood cholesterol was the culprit to the deaths from CHD. His study was supported when pathologists flew to Korea to dissect the bodies of the soldiers who fell at war. They discovered evidence to a coronary heart disease. They studies 300 corpses and 35% of the bodies had deposits of fibrous and fatty materials in the artery walls. 41% had lesions and 3% had a blocked artery. Over 75% of the men showed proof that they suffered from grave CHD. All of them were young men averaging only 22 years old.

They hypothesized that those they found high cholesterol lead to the arteries being blocked and people who suffer from these often are at a higher risk in getting CHD. That is why over the years, cholesterol and heart disease has been linked.

Therefore, health-conscious people have this mentality that cholesterol is harmful and must be avoided. However, this is an exaggeration. Cholesterol remains to be an essential component of our body. It functions both the brain and nerve cells. Body cells die and new ones are made by none other than the cholesterol since this is a building block where cells are made.

Cholesterol is also responsible in making other important substances: estrogen, testosterone, bile acids and Vitamin D. These are elements used by our body on a daily basis, therefore cholesterol cannot really be that “bad.”

Remember that if you do eat less cholesterol, it would only initiate your body to compensate for what you are lacking by making more. Despite doctor’s advice and food companies telling us about cholesterol in diet, studies still show that there must be a level of cholesterol your body maintain in order for you to be healthy.

Look at it this way: too much cholesterol is bad, we’ll give you that. This is seen in the heart disease mentioned before. However, if you eat less cholesterol, then your health will also suffer. When your cholesterol level is low, your body will have a harder time producing the nutrients it needs in order for you to function well and properly.

It is all a matter of balancing your diet. You can eat as much cholesterol-packed food you want, if only you regulate your intake. Balance is the key.

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