Cholesterol is produced in the liver. It is a thick oily substance and, while it has received a very bad name, every single cell in our body actually needs it. Cholesterol can also enter our body because of the foods we eat, particularly the saturated fats. There are two types of cholesterol and these are the LDL (bad) and HDL (good). They are known as bad or good, respectively, because of what they do once they are in your body.
LDL Cholesterol Levels – What You Need to Know About the Two Types of Cholesterol
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), also known as good cholesterol, which is there to clean our blood vessels, getting rid of the excess LDL cholesterol. This means that, when you have your cholesterol levels tested, this level should be as high as possible. Readings above 40 mg/dL are desirable. On the other hand, LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is the bad kind of cholesterol. On you blood test, the LDL level should be as low as possible, preferably below 130 mg/dL.
LDL Cholesterol Levels – What You Need to Know About Lowering It
If you want to avoid stroke and heart disease, you need to make sure that your level of bad cholesterol is lowered as much as possible. If your cholesterol level is elevated, you are putting yourself at risk of many different illnesses.
Essentially, this happens as a result of your blood no longer being able to freely move through your vessels and arteries because LDL cholesterol has started to build up on the walls. This means that the space for blood to flow has been significantly reduced.
This is known as atherosclerosis. When this happens, the chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke is significantly increased. It is possible that the blood flow may be completely closed off, which means it can no longer reach the vital organs. If you also suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure, or if you are overweight, the chance of this happening becomes even bigger.
LDL Cholesterol Levels – What You Need to Know About Lowering It Naturally
Usually, those who present with high cholesterol will be prescribed a number of medications, mainly statin drugs. However, while having high cholesterol is undoubtedly bad for a person’s health, statins also have a number of side effects. They do, however, have the capability to reduce the cholesterol level, so they have an important role to play. Most people experience side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea. Additionally, kidney failure is a possible side effect and a key thing to look out for to avoid that is muscle soreness and weakness.
Those with high cholesterol must endeavor to lower their cholesterol level naturally as well. This can be achieved by consuming a proper diet, filled with vitamins and minerals and healthy fats. You should do this regardless of whether or not you have been told that you have high cholesterol, but even more so if you know that you are making poor lifestyle choices or because of hereditary factors. You must find ways to remove excess LDL, which means performing at least 30 minutes of exercise per day as well, which also helps to increase your level of HDL.
