Cholesterol Clinic

Cholesterol is a substance found in vertebrate beings’ body tissues and blood plasma, and can be classified under steroid, alcohol and fatty lipid. It largely pertains to the circulatory system as it flows through the blood as a part of the outer membranes of human body cells.

There are two primary sources of cholesterol found in the human body. Cholesterol can be compartmentalized as such; three fourths would be found and produced within the body, while the remaining quarter is created through our everyday diet.

Higher concentrations of cholesterol are present in body tissues which have more densely packed membranes – i.e. the liver, spinal cord, brain, atheroma, adrenal glands and reproductive organs.

The liver is considered “Ground Zero” for the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Cholesterol is excreted from the liver in the form of bile, a certain type of acidic substance.

Some of the food stuffs that generally contain a lot of dietary cholesterol include meat (particularly poultry), fish, egg yolks, fish, dairy and animal fats. Organ meats such as kidney and liver are a very rich source of cholesterol, but there are foods such as those originating from plants that do not contain even an iota of cholesterol.

Several conditions can be borne out of the pervasive state of high cholesterol levels in the circulatory system. Recent studies have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes called lipoproteins, are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels.

And cholesterol would attach itself to these lipoproteins. The high-density lipoprotein, or HDL would transport cholesterol out of the bloodstream and excrete it, while the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) would work in a reciprocal manner by transporting it back into the bloodstream.

LDL is a name synonymous to bad cholesterol – a high level of LDL cholesterol is usually tied in with increased chances of coronary heart disease. LDL creates cholesterol plaque, which is a direct result of the cholesterol deposits which build up and harden on the artery walls. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis.

The levels of both HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol may also determine risk for heart disease; however current medical opinion is that the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol is much more important than the level of cholesterol.

Ways for you to reduce your levels of cholesterol:

Simple – you want to reduce your consumption of anything that contains saturated fat, not the least fast food, cheese, butter, cream and meat with fat. Instead, what you would want to add to your diet are fruit, nut, vegetables, vegetable oil for cooking, breads, legumes and whole grains, for instance. A low cholesterol diet, combined with regular exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol levels.

Medications can also help lower cholesterol levels.

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