| The sustenance of outer membrane cells in every | | | | atheroma can cause the development of |
| vertebrate requires cholesterol. It helps in blood | | | | coronary artery disease and atherosclerotic |
| circulation to the tissues of the body and blood | | | | plaques that can cause a hindrance to the flow of |
| plasma carried as alcohol and fatty lipids (steroids). | | | | blood. This sudden clogging of the arteries can |
| Proper maintenance of cholesterol levels is | | | | affect the flow of blood to and from the heart |
| necessary for unhindered flow of blood and | | | | resulting in heart attacks that can even be fatal. |
| plasma. The required levels of cholesterol should | | | | 2. The rest of the cholesterol that is 25% comes |
| be maintained and should not be exceeded. | | | | from external sources. Hence one must be aware |
| Nowadays fast foods and highway eateries are | | | | of what they eat and maintain a proper diet. |
| taking over the food market. Hence there needs | | | | Animal meat, dairy products and egg yolk contain |
| to be awareness about intake of additional or | | | | large amounts of cholesterol. The amount of this |
| unwanted cholesterol that can affect the health of | | | | cholesterol intake must be carefully monitored as |
| the present generation adversely. | | | | even a small excess in this can cause an |
| First of all proper, awareness on the working of | | | | imbalance of cholesterol levels in the body. |
| cholesterol and its effects on the metabolic | | | | The cholesterol more than the required 25%, that |
| process of the human body are necessary before | | | | is, the idle cholesterol can be lowered by: |
| knowing how to eliminate it. Bad cholesterol refers | | | | - Using non-saturated cooking oils that can reduce |
| to low density lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are the | | | | the intake of fats. The healthiest oil containing |
| carrier molecules. LDL can deposit cholesterol on | | | | non-saturated fats is olive oil which is a palm oil. |
| the artery walls increasing its thickness and thus | | | | Others such as coconut oil contain highly saturated |
| obstructing normal passage of blood. This causes | | | | fats. Eating fruits and vegetables with high fiber |
| arthrosclerosis. On the other hand, high density | | | | content, taking low sodium content foods and |
| lipoproteins are the good cholesterol. | | | | complex carbohydrates can greatly reduce |
| The various functions of good cholesterol includes | | | | cholesterol levels of the body. Soybeans, nuts, |
| manufacturing of bile, anti-oxidants, digestion of | | | | corn, wheat, legumes and staple cereals are some |
| fats that are essential for the function of vitamins | | | | of the best cholesterol reducing food stuffs. |
| like vitamin A, D, E and K which are fat soluble. | | | | - Eating in restaurants and fast food joints should |
| These vitamins help in various metabolic | | | | be avoided as they contain high sodium content |
| processes of the reproductive organs starting | | | | foods and saturated fats. Alcohol can also cause |
| from puberty onwards right up until old age that | | | | increase in cholesterol levels and should be |
| depend on estrogen levels in the body. | | | | avoided. |
| The good cholesterol in our body comes from | | | | - Omega-3 acids found in mackerel, Salmon, some |
| two sources: | | | | species of tuna and deep sea fishes help in |
| 1. Almost 75% that is three fourths of the | | | | decreasing levels of idle cholesterol in the body. |
| required good cholesterol is produced in the body | | | | Medicines including reductive inhibitors such as |
| itself in the tissues of various organs like liver, | | | | HMG-COA, atorvastatin (Lipitor) and lovastatin |
| reproductive organs central nervous system | | | | (Mevacor) which are statins can be taken to |
| including the spinal chord and the brain, atheroma | | | | effective reduce LDL but only with the guidance |
| and adrenal gland. Any degenerative change in the | | | | of a physician. |