Cholesterol is a natural substance made by the body. Most of the cholesterol in our bloodstream (75%) is produced by the liver, and the remaining 25% comes from the foods we eat. We all know that elevated blood cholesterol levels are not good for your health, but the right levels of cholesterol actually play a vital role in maintaining cell membranes and synthesizing hormones. The Centers for Disease Control reports that one-third of adults have high cholesterol levels.
High Cholesterol Symptoms
Usually, high cholesterol does not produce any symptoms and you may not know your blood cholesterol is too high. Too much cholesterol can build up in your arteries, causing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This restricts blood flow through the arteries and can lead to serious medical problems such as heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol Testing
The American Heart Association recommends all adults over age 20 should have their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years. Cholesterol screening is done with a blood test that measures three things.
What Appears on Cholesterol Screenings
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)
- Triglycerides
LDL Cholesterol: ‘Bad’ Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, is the type that tends to deposit on the walls of the arteries. White blood cells combine with the LDL cholesterol, forming artery-narrowing plaque, which restricts blood flow. The optimal level of LDL cholesterol for most people is 100 mg/dL or lower. If you have heart disease, you may need to strive for LDL levels of 70 mg/dL or lower.
HDL Cholesterol: ‘Good’ Cholesterol
Not all cholesterol is bad. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol because it actually works to keep the LDL, or “bad” cholesterol from building up in your arteries. The higher the HDL, the better. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL and higher can help reduce your risk for heart disease. Conversely, HDL levels of 40 mg/dL and lower are considered a high risk factor for developing heart disease.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. Normal levels of triglycerides are 150 mg/dL and lower. Levels higher than that can raise your risk for heart disease and metabolic syndrome, which also is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Risk Factors for High Triglycerides
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Inactivity/Lack of exercise
- Total Cholesterol
A cholesterol test will measure the total cholesterol in your blood, and your total cholesterol levels are made up of a combination of your LDL, HDL, and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein, another “bad” cholesterol) levels. A total cholesterol score of 200 mg/dL or lower is considered optimal. Levels above 200 mg/dL are considered high and can mean you are at greater risk for developing heart disease.
Cholesterol in Food
Cholesterol in food is not the same as the cholesterol in your blood. For most people, the cholesterol in foods you eat has a minimal effect on your blood cholesterol levels. However, about 30% of people are “responders,” whose blood cholesterol levels can spike following a meal high in cholesterol. “Responders” should avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, such as oil, fatty meats, full fat dairy products, egg yolks, and many fast foods.
Cholesterol and Family History
Eating foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat is not the only cause for high cholesterol levels in some people. For many, genetics are to blame. A genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia can cause high blood cholesterol levels.
What Boosts Your Risk?
There are several risk factors for high cholesterol.
- High Cholesterol Risk Factors
- Diets high in trans fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol
- Being overweight or obese
- Sedentary lifestyle
Other risk factors you cannot control include age (risk increases as we age), gender (women’s risk for high cholesterol increases postmenopause), and family history.
Women generally have higher levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol because the female hormone estrogen tends to raise HDL levels. This is why most women tend to have lower cholesterol levels than men. That is, until menopause, after that, triglyceride levels start to rise. As women approach menopause it is important to eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight to help manage blood cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol and Children
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) actually begins in childhood, and may play a role in development of heart disease in adulthood. Children with parents or grandparents with coronary atherosclerosis or any form of heart disease or heart attack, or whose parents have high blood cholesterol should have their cholesterol levels checked.
Why High Cholesterol Matters
High cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, leading causes of death in the U.S. High levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries, narrowing the arteries and restricting blood flow. If some of this plaque breaks off and gets stuck in a narrowed artery, it can block the artery and cut off blood supply to the heart or brain, resulting in heart attack or stroke.
How to Lower Cholesterol
Eat More Fiber
Diets high in fiber can reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. High fiber diets also may help with weight loss, and being overweight is a contributing risk factor for high cholesterol. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and beans.
Know Your Fats
The American Heart Association recommends that just 25% to 35% of your daily calories come from fats such as those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. For healthy people, saturated fat should comprise no more than 7% of your total calories. On a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet, that’s about 140 calories (or 16 grams) worth of saturated fat. If you need to lower your LDL cholesterol, limit saturated fat to 5% to 6% of calories, or about 11 to 13 grams of saturated fat on a 2,000-calorie diet. Reduce trans fats to less than 1% of your total daily calories. This means avoiding fried foods and many junk foods.
Smart Protein
To reduce cholesterol, limit red meat and eat more fish and lean poultry.
How to Prepare Healthy Proteins
- Trim all fat from meats, and remove all skin from poultry before cooking.
- Broil or bake, don’t fry foods.
- Drain fat from any meats before serving.
- Avoid processed meats such as hot dogs or cold cuts, even those labeled “reduced fat,” as many are still high in saturated fats and calories.
- Oily fish such as salmon or trout are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce triglyceride levels and improve HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.
- Soy proteins can also have a beneficial effect and help to reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising HDL cholesterol levels.
Lose Weight
Losing weight can help lower your cholesterol. Being overweight or obese tends to increase your levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Weight loss can help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.
Credit; MedicineNet
