Good Verses Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Our bodies need cholesterol to thrive, but when we eat high cholesterol foods, the levels can become too high. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins, which are made up of fat on the inside and protein on the outside. Because fat are not water soluble, this binding with proteins help move them through the bloodstream. It is important to have healthy levels of two lipoproteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Both LDLS and HDLS transport cholesterol in and out of cells and are involved in the damage control of cells and tissues.

LDLS carry 75 percent of the cholesterol in our bodies and are the cholesterol compounds most involved in cell damage and tissue repair and protection. HDLs do only 25 percent of the work: they transport cholesterol to and from the liver and serve as the body’s cholesterol-recycling system.

LDLs is called “bad” cholesterol because when your levels of LDL are high, it can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. And when you have high levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood, you have a greater chance of developing heart disease. LDL cholesterol also raises your risk for a condition called peripheral artery disease, which can develop when plaque buildup narrows the artery supplying blood to the legs. LDL cholesterol has the reputation of being the bad form of cholesterol because some LDLs are very small and can pass through the artery wall, becoming oxidized by free radicals. LDLs are very small and can pass through the artery wall, becoming oxidized by free radicals. LDLs can also be oxidized or damaged by a diet of processed, refined and fried foods. It’s oxidized cholesterol that is linked to the formation of plague in the arteries.

Conversely, HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol because it can carry cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver, where it’s properly broken down and removed from your body. When you have higher levels of HDL cholesterol, your chances of developing heart disease are lower. It’s helpful to raise HDL levels because low HDL cholesterol can be more dangerous than high LDL cholesterol. Because cholesterol does not dissolve into the blood, HDL cholesterol is needed to get rid of the excess cholesterol in your body that may be oxidized and lead to inflammation, thereby putting you at risk of coronary heart disease and other health conditions.

Always make sure you keep your HDLs and LDLs level on check at all time.

By Mercy Kukah