Bad Cholesterol
It is so called bad cholesterol because it is delivered to the cells from your liver and if you're delivering more cholesterol than your tissues can use, some of it tends to find itself in places where it shouldn't be, including the blood vessel walls.
The goal is to lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the bad kind that clogs blood vessels. Research shows that when it comes to people with the same levels, the one with more good cholesterol is less likely to have heart disease. |
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Scientists have found that LDL and HDL have opposite roles in the body. Both transport cholesterol, but they carry it in opposite directions. LDL takes cholesterol to coronary arteries, where it can build up and cause blockages. HDL takes cholesterol away from arteries to the liver, where it is disposed of. Cholesterol treatments are geared toward lowering bad cholesterol if it's too high.
Bad Cholesterol In Fats
Saturated fats and trans fattty acids are the most important factors that raise levels. Most saturated fat and all cholesterol in our diets come from animal sources (meats including poultry and fish, dairy products that are not nonfat products, butter, eggs). Trans fat is another type of fat created by hydrogenation of unsaturated fats, and your intake of trans fats should also be limited. Trans fats are found in many fried and baked fast foods and snack products and in some margarines.
What Makes Bad Cholesterol Levels Go Up?
The main cause of high blood cholesterol is eating too much fat, especially saturated fat. Saturated fats are found in animal products, such as meats, milk and other dairy products that are not fat free, butter, and eggs. Some of these foods are also high in cholesterol. Fried fast foods and snack foods often have a lot of fat.
Being overweight and not exercising can make it go up and your good cholesterol go down. Also, after women go through menopause, their levels tend to go up. There is also a rare type of inherited high cholesterol that often leads to early heart disease.
How Can It Be Lowered?
Reducing your LDL cholesterol and total blood cholesterol levels can greatly lessen the chances of getting heart disease. Most people can lower their blood cholesterol by changing their diet, losing excess weight, and exercising more. These changes can also help reduce your risk for diabetes and lower your blood pressure.
- Change your diet. Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol to help reduce LDL levels.
- Lose weight. Losing weight if you are overweight can help lower LDL. Weight loss is especially important for those with a group of risk factors called metabolic syndrome. The risk factors of metabolic syndrome include abdominal obesity, defined as having a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women), and high triglyceride or low HDL levels.
- Be physically active. Regular physical activity (30 minutes on most or all days of the week) is recommended for everyone. It can help raise HDL and lower LDL levels. This is especially important for those with metabolic syndrome.
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