23 March 2016
About CholesterolCholesterol is a waxy chemical substance found in our body. It is an absolute essential chemical if we are to survive and grow. Each and every cell of the human body needs it to maintain its structural integrity, the permeability of the cell membrane and its fluidity.
Apart from this many hormones need it for their synthesis, bile contains it and Vitamin D can only be made in its presence. Then why is so much hue and cry being raised if we have extra cholesterol in our bodies. The reason is that high cholesterol is responsible for a lot of diseases of the cardio vascular system. Cholesterol is made by our body, about 75% of our daily need. The rest is to be taken through our diet. And it is here that we falter. We take in a huge amount of cholesterol through our diet. This results in a lot of health problems for us. Food Sources Of CholesterolAnimal meat and its products contain cholesterol in varying amounts. Rich sources are egg yolks, pork, cheese, beef, shrimps and chicken.
Interestingly, the human breast milk contains a lot of cholesterol. But, as I said, it is needed for the very stability of the cell. And babies have no less of a requirement for cholesterol. About Fats And Fatty AcidsThe blood cholesterol levels depend upon not only the total fat consumed but also the type of fat consumed. Fats are composed of fatty acids and are of 3 types.
3. Trans Fatty Acids - Reduce HDL and raise LDL cholesterol and should be avoided totally. HDL is high density lipoprotein, the GOOD or beneficial cholesterol. LDL is low density lipoprotein, the BAD or harmful cholesterol. Low levels of HDL cholesterol and High levels of LDL cholesterol are the cause for the raised risk of cardiovascular diseases. How Do The HDL & LDL WorkCholesterol being a fat is not soluble in water. It can thus only be transported in water by piggy riding on thees lipoprotein molecules, both HDL & LDL.
The LDL molecules carry cholesterol from the liver to the tissues including the vascular tissue. The HDL molecules carry the excess cholesterol from the tissues to the liver for excretion or for synthesis of hormones. A major portion of cholesterol about 60-80% is transported by the LDL molecules and about 15-20% is transported by the HDL molecules. When the concentration of LDL increases in the blood it starts depositing in the arteries as plaque around the walls. Due to this the core of the arteries gets smaller and smaller leading to high blood pressure and increased risk to heart attacks and strokes. How To Reduce The Blood CholesterolWe can do a few things to maintain our blood cholesterol levels low.
Some Natural Remedies For Lowering Blood CholesterolTraditionally, natural remedies have been used for healing many diseases. These are readily available in the home and are free from the side effects associated with modern day medicines.
Some useful natural remedies to control high blood cholesterol levels are given below SWEET LIMES Regular consumption of sweet limes not only makes the arteries soft and flexible but removes the accumulated plaque or fat deposits. Sweet limes give strength to the heart and the circulatory system, the blood vessels and the capillaries. BANANAS Bananas can be safely eaten by those who have high cholesterol as it is free from cholesterol. Besides, they are low on sodium and high in potassium both of which benefit the heart health. GARLIC Garlic has the capacity to reduce cholesterol levels thereby it is also helpful in lowering the risk of heart attacks. Garlic also helps to keep the blood thin and removes the accumulated plaque from the arteries. Not only does ir prevent hardening of the arteries it also makes them soft and flexible. RICE Eating rice regularly reduces cholesterol. It also normalizes the blood pressure. The best rice of course is the unpolished or brown rice as it has a lot of healthy fiber too. And, NO SUGAR Sugar raises cholesterol levels. Therefore, those suffering from high cholesterol must avoid sugar at all costs. Read my detailed article High Blood Cholesterol - How To Control It Naturally. A few informational videos on cholesterol are linked below. Do watch them.
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