Estimates show that over 86 million adults have high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that serves many purposes in your body. Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not inherently bad. Your body needs it to make cell membranes, produce hormones and more. To know more about how to naturally lower cholesterol, visit this website.
But too much of it can increase your risk of heart disease. When you get a cholesterol test, you'll see several figures that represent how much cholesterol you have in your body.
In this blog, you'll learn the difference between good and bad cholesterol and how to naturally lower cholesterol levels for better health.
Understanding Cholesterol and Lipoproteins
Cholesterol comes from two places: The liver and the foods you eat.
The liver produces all the cholesterol your body needs to stay healthy, but consuming tons of saturated and trans fats will increase the amount of "bad" cholesterol.
Cholesterol travels through the blood on lipoproteins. The type of lipoprotein the cholesterol travels on determines whether it's good or bad.
High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
The type of cholesterol that's good for your body is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver. The liver then removes it from your body.
You want HDL cholesterol. High HDL cholesterol levels can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your body, significantly lowering your risk of heart disease.
Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the bad stuff. It makes up most of your body's cholesterol and increases with a fatty diet. The problem with LDL cholesterol is that it can build up in the walls of your blood vessels.
That accumulation, called plaque, restricts blood flow and causes serious health problems. High LDL cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease and stroke.
How to Naturally Lower Cholesterol
The best way to improve cholesterol levels is to improve your diet. That means avoiding foods high in trans fats and saturated fats.
You can also consume more foods that raise your HDL cholesterol levels. Good examples include nuts and fatty fish.
Read a similar article about cholesterol free holiday dessert here at this page.