Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

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High cholesterol is becoming a common concern among many people and a serious health risk as it causes heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. While the human body needs cholesterol, there are two kinds of cholesterol and they do very different things in the body. You'll find this information and more outlined below.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a necessary part of our diet. Our bodies need cholesterol and fat to work properly; we need them to make different hormones and to keep cell membranes fluid. However, the body only needs a little bit of cholesterol and fat to work properly. Most American's today consume much more cholesterol and fat than we need. This is why heart disease is on the rise and why we need to be careful about cholesterol levels.

The Good and The Bad

Our bodies make both good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. While these terms are simplified, essentially one type of cholesterol does really beneficial things for the body and the other is what harms the body. Bad cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein, is the material that builds up in your arteries and causes atherosclerosis, or the clogging of the arteries. Also called plaque build up, atherosclerosis is what causes heart attacks and strokes. On the other hand, good cholesterol, called high density lipoprotein, not only increases the elasticity of the blood vessels, it also helps to remove bad cholesterol from the system. So, not only is good cholesterol beneficial, it also reduces the impact of bad cholesterol.

The Ugly

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. High cholesterol is one of the four main risk factors for heart disease; the other three factors are high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. As total blood cholesterol levels increase, so does the risk for heart disease and clogged arteries. So, even though it's beneficial to have higher good cholesterol levels, it's still important to have low overall levels. The ideal total cholesterol level should be less than 200. If your total cholesterol measures above 240, your doctor may recommend a low cholesterol diet, exercise and medications.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

There are a number of risk factors that increases your likelihood of having high cholesterol. These include:

• Family History
• Weight
• Exercise
• Diet
• Medications
• Medical conditions, including diabetes
• Age

While certain factors may make you more predisposed to high cholesterol, being aware of your total cholesterol levels will help you maintain healthy levels.

How Can I Lower My Cholesterol?

Doctors usually recommend a combination of diet, exercise and medication to lower cholesterol, along with some lifestyle changes. Preventing cholesterol from rising in the first place is important as well. Be sure you eat a balanced diet low in animal fats (which contain large amounts of bad cholesterol) and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, all of which lower cholesterol naturally. Omega-3 fatty acids (in fish, olive oil, etc) are great sources of good cholesterol, but still have fat calories so consume them moderately. Regular physical activity is important for your total overall heath, and can dramatically reduce your risk of developing heart disease by controlling your weight, cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption will adversely affect your heart as well. High cholesterol is a dangerous condition that many people don't take seriously enough. However, simple lifestyle changes can prevent it from occurring in the first place, saving you from unnecessary risk.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/guide/cholesterol-basics

http://www.personalmd.com/news/cholesterol_100899.shtml

Photo Credit: Random42 Medical Animation