Watch out for deadly fats

Feb 08, 2004

According to doctors, there is an increase in the number of people with high blood cholesterol. Whereas there is a lot of talk about cholesterol, a good number of people are not quite clear about it.

By Grace Canada

According to doctors, there is an increase in the number of people with high blood cholesterol. Whereas there is a lot of talk about cholesterol, a good number of people are not quite clear about it.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is necessary for life but which can be detrimental when in excess. About 80% of the total body cholesterol is manufactured in the liver while 20% comes from food we eat. Cholesterol occurs naturally in the brain, liver, blood and bile of both humans and vertebrate animals. This is why persons who wish to decrease their cholesterol levels are told to stay away from meat and other animal products.

Despite its bad reputation, cholesterol is necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies. Cholesterol is used by the cells in our bodies to build membranes. The body also uses it to produce sex hormones and in the digestive process.

Cholesterol is transported from the liver to the various parts of the body through blood, by means of two special types of protein known as “lipoprotein”. Low-density lipoprotein (LDLs) transport cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. High-density lipoprotein (HDLs) transport the excess cholesterol that is not used by the tissues, back to the liver.
If everything functions as it should, this system remains balanced.

However, if there is too much cholesterol for the HDL -lipoprotein to pick up promptly, or not enough of the HDL-lipoprotein to do the job, the cholesterol can form plaque that sticks to the blood vessel walls, and may eventually cause heart disease.

LDL cholesterol is often referred to as “bad cholesterol.” On the other hand HDL is known as good cholesterol because it removes excess cholesterol from blood and takes it back to the liver.

The safe level of total blood cholesterol including both the LDL and HDL is 200 milligrams per decilitre of blood. A reading above 200 mg/dl of blood indicates potential development of heart disease.

Because “the bad cholesterol” comes from animal sources, it is imperative to realise the effects of diet on your cholesterol levels. It is therefore only logical that we should decrease our intake of animal products while increasing consumption of fruit, legumes, cereals and vegetables in our diet.

Many of us are under the impression that meat is the only superior source of protein. This is not true. We can benefit more by combining protein from plants (like beans) with animal proteins.

There are other substances that can raise the levels of natural cholesterol (cholesterol which our bodies produce). They include steroids, oral birth control pills, some diuretics ( water pills), and medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Sugar, alcohol, stress, coconut oils and palm oils can also raise the levels of the bad cholesterol in our blood.

If you have been diagnosed with a high ratio of bad cholesterol, avoid animal fats, fatty meats, whole milk, coconut and palm oils, including any fat that is solid at room temperature. Use smaller amount of olive oil or any other oil that is liquid at room temperature. Eliminate all sugary and fatty foods such as cake, biscuits, ice cream, chocolate and all junk food and soft drinks.

Take moderate exercise daily and practice healthy life-style: exercise, adequate rest, proper nutrition and proper hygiene.

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