Is cholesterol really bad?

 

Cholesterol is a waxy substance in blood and body cells usually synthesized in the liver. The major sources of cholesterol are foods.

You might have heard that cholesterol is bad.

Just like fat, cholesterol is associated with something very bad: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and of course death.

As such most health experts listed different blood  cholesterol raising foods; consumers with souring blood cholesterol should keep at bay.

But is cholesterol really bad?

What do you think?

Is cholesterol harmful to health or are medical practitioners just exaggerating?

Well, the truth is cholesterol can be harmful or soothing to the blood depending on the type.

Types of cholesterol

High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLP)

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLP)

HDLP cholesterol is a good cholesterol needed in the body for proper metabolism and overall functioning of the body system.

LDLP cholesterol is actually the bad one which must be eliminated or reduced by all means if one wants a healthy life. Anytime you hear that someone's blood cholesterol is high, what is been referred to is the LDLP cholesterol (the bad one). 

This type of cholesterol 

1. Clogs arterial walls;
2. Promotes arteriosclerosis which in turn may lead to cardiovascular diseases:
3. And other related terminal health issues.

I know the question springing up in someone's mind right now might be; 

How do one get much bad cholesterol instead of the good ones!

The simple answer is diet. 

A world acclaimed philosopher once said, "we are what we eat".

It's garbage in garbage out.

Eating good fats will lead to good blood cholesterol while consuming bad fats leads to nothing but the accumulation of the blood with HDLP cholesterol.

Foods which promote bad cholesterol are mostly those ones loaded with trans fats, hydrogenated fats and saturated fats.

Examples:

Fried foods, baked foods, margarine, butter, palm oil and so many others. 

Continual consumption of these foods over a long period of time leads to accumulation of the blood with bad cholesterol.

However, there are numerous foods which contains good fats (monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids).

Sources of good cholesterol

Legumes and cereals, olive oil, flaxseed oil, corn, soybean, fatty fish, avocado, walnut, sunflower oil and cottonseed oil et cetera. 

Eating foods prepared with these oils / foods is highly recommended for good health.

Importance of good cholesterol 

1. Good cholesterol is an important component hormones.
2. It brings about good membrane fluidity.
3. It promotes the synthesis of vitamin D on the skin cells in the presence of sunlight.
4. Good cholesterol enable the removal / reduction of LDLP cholesterol thereby promoting good overall health.
5. It promotes good heart health thereby reducing the rate of cardiovascular disease

What happens when there is no good cholesterol in the body:

• It may lead to low birth weight in infants.
• Lack of cholesterol may lead to premature birth in pregnant women.
• It may equally lead to intracerebral hemorrhage in grown ups.

Interested in know everything about good fat and bad fats?

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