Cholesterol: Here’s What You Need to Know

Cholesterol is one of those things you always hear about. You know it is important to reduce it (sort of) and that you should avoid raising your cholesterol levels. But that’s just the beginning of what cholesterol is all about. It turns out that the cholesterol problem is not that simple. Read on to learn all you need to know about cholesterol and how to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is essentially a fatty substance that is produced by the liver. It travels throughout the body via the bloodstream and plays a key role in many of the body’s metabolic processes, including the production of hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. Close to 75% of cholesterol is produced in the liver, the remaining 25% comes from our diet.

There Are Different Types of Cholesterol

When we talk about cholesterol levels rising and falling, it is a bit misleading.  When we speak about lowering cholesterol, we really mean to lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol.

LDL Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol stands for low density lipoprotein. It is the ‘bad’ cholesterol you always hear about and is the main reason for the buildup of fat in the arteries. When you reduce your LDL levels, it naturally raises your HDL levels.

HDL Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol stands for high density lipoprotein. It is the ‘good’ cholesterol and actually helps to protect your heart by removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Importance of Regulating Your Cholesterol Levels

The danger of having too much LDL cholesterol is that it will build up in the walls of your arteries and make it more difficult for blood to flow through them. This can easily lead to heart attack and stroke. You can do this by eating whole grains and plenty of veggies.