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Cholesterol - HDL

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Our bodies contain cholesterol. These are referred to as the building blocks of our body. We need cholesterol to form hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, as well as bile acids and the needed Vitamin D for our bodies to function properly and well.

We have this mentality in our heads that too much cholesterol is bad for our health. There is truth to that. If the level of cholesterol is increased, this can lead to coronary heart diseases or CHD. That is because too much fat can actually block the blood’s pathway in the arteries and create a clot, leading to a heart attack.

Nonetheless, we still need cholesterol in our bodies. Yes, there are products that contain low cholesterol and saturated fat and saturated salt. This is because we are still entitled to eat food with cholesterol once in a while.

There are actually two kinds of cholesterol. There’s the good cholesterol which is known as the high density lipoprotein or HDL. Then the negative one which is the low density lipoprotein or LDL. The proportion of LDL to HDL determines the degree of the atherosclerosis leading to the individual being at a risk for a heart problem.

Cholesterol level changes as men and women age. Women have higher HDL level as opposed to men.

High density lipoproteins carry cholesterol from the body tissues and to the liver. This removes cholesterol from the atheroma within the arteries. The liver then excretes or re-utilizes the good lipoproteins. The purpose of HDL is that it protects the cardiovascular health of the human being.

HDL is the tiniest lipoprotein. They are also the densest of all nutrients because they have a high level of protein. HDL is responsible for picking up cholesterol and delivers these to the cells in our body. There is a plasma enzyme converting the free cholesterol into another form of cholesterol which is cholesteryl ester.

Cholesterol ester allows the newly-re-energized HDL to increase its size and travel the blood stream while incorporating itself with the other cholesterol molecules.

In general, men have lower HDL levels as opposed to women. That is the reason why more men are at risk to have heart disease.

Studies show that if the HDL level is high which is equivalent to over 60 mg/dL, then the individual is at a lower risk to get CHD. Otherwise, if the concentration of HDL level is low which is 40 mg/dL for men and below 50mg/dL for women, then they are at a more risk to suffer atherosclerotic diseases.

Here is a quick bullet point on how you can measure your HDL and see whether you are at a risk in getting CHD.

- Very low HDL is <3.4 mg for Men and <3.3 mg for Women
- Low risk HDL is 4.0 mg for Men and 3.8 mg for Women.
- Average risk HDL is 5.0 mg for Men and 4.5 mg for Women
- Moderate risk HDL is 9.5 mg for Men and 7.0 mg for Women. As you can see HDL levels are twice than normal.
- High risk HDL is >23 mg for Men and >11 for Women. For men, it is three times than normal. For women it is a bit higher to twice than the normal level.

Here are some tips on how you can increase your HDL:

- Regular exercise. You hear this often. You hear this advice for you to lose weight. Again, you hear this for you to lose those unwanted HDL.
- Cessation of smoking. Smoking really is bad for your health. As it turns out, the nicotine intake apparently has an effect on the cholesterol formation in your body.
- Weight reduction. Fat is often found in those high-cholesterol foods that you like. These unwanted fat, when you weren’t able to shed it, builds up in you, thus creating a cessation in the function of the nutrients in your body.

Remember that you also need cholesterol in your body. Regulate what you eat by just eating what is needed by your body on a daily basis. Don’t eat food that had been basking in oil for a long period of time. That contains a lot of fat leading to high cholesterol. Have your cholesterol level checked once in awhile by your doctor or nutritionist for you in the know.

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