How to Lower Your Cholesterol by Catherine Edison - HTML preview

Lowering Cholesterol Levels-Your Best Bet For A Healthy Future

Cholesterol affects the human body in an adverse manner. This is a well known fact today. Lipoprotein is an assembly of proteins and lipids that carry cholesterols between the liver and the body tissues. Low density lipoprotein carrying cholesterol to the cells gets deposited on the artery walls thus hardening it. Hence it is called “bad cholesterol”. This obstructs the smooth flow of blood. This causes the status of the atherogens of the blood vessels to be ruined resulting in various diseases.

Cholesterol is not completely bad for health. The value of this waxy substance that is non soluble is not widely known. Building membranes, nerve sheaths and cell walls, manufacture of bile, and production of hormones are all aided by cholesterol. However being exposed to high levels of it can cause various diseases. Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular disorders caused by cholesterol. Sometimes, this can even be fatal. It can also lead to fibrosis and atherosclerosis, which are dumping of extra fiber and fatty substances in the arteries.

Proper heating habits and regular exercise are the most effective ways of keeping cholesterol under check while over indulgence, bad diets and wrong lifestyles can increase the cholesterol levels of the human body.

The best dietary practices for a cholesterol free life include:

1. Planning an entire week's menu in advance to ensure it is cholesterol free and supplementing it with vegetables and fruits filled with fibers. Organic food stuffs are much healthier as they do not have any chemicals that can trigger increased cholesterol levels. Complex carbohydrates of high standards should be used.
2. People diagnosed with LDC should avoid egg yolks and eat more of egg whites. Using whole wheat to prepare baked food stuffs and cereals for noodles is also highly effective in reducing cholesterol levels. Also refined sugar should be avoided as it contains a number of chemicals used in processing it so that the end product is fine and white. Unrefined sugar is less of a health hazard.
3. Drink lots of water. It helps digestion, cleanses the body to maintain proper blood flow and maintains equilibrium in the body.
4. Artificially made foods contain coloring agents, extenders and various additives. Hence they should be avoided. Instead, eat more of root crops.
5. Commercially made soft drinks contain large amounts of sugar, additives and artificial colors that can cause high cholesterol levels. Even chocolate beverages, other chemical drinks and caffeinated drinks like coffee cause risk of high cholesterol levels. These should be replaced with fresh fruit juices for a healthier diet.

Food processing and baking usually include the usage of hydrogenated and trans fats. These are highly destructive, even more than saturated fats produced from the same oils as them.

Various palm oils, including "olive oil", are the healthiest oils that help in lowering cholesterol levels of the entire family. Even though they are costly, they can help in warding off various diseases caused by other oils.

High cholesterol levels can cause strokes or hypertension that can even be fatal. This can be avoided by keeping in tune with your body by regular check ups so that in case of high cholesterol levels, effective steps can be taken to reduce it before it is too late.