Cholesterol

Cholesterol is produced naturally by your body and also ingested through foods that we eat. Not all cholesterol is bad and it is important that you recognize which is beneficial or harmful towards your body. Cholesterol is broken down into good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. It is important to recognize the benefits and risks of each type at different levels. Your liver produces about seventy five percent of the cholesterol in your blood. The other twenty five percent is consumed through animal products. HDL is the good cholesterol. It is produced by your body to control the amount of bad cholesterol that circulates in your blood. The bad cholesterol, or LDL, is also produced by your body but is also obtained by consuming trans fats, saturated fats and having an unbalanced diet. LDL production can also be inherited. Genetics play a major role in cholesterol production. Too much LDL circulating in your blood can cause a block in your arteries. The cholesterol contributes to the build up of plaque along the artery walls which restricts the flow of blood to the heart. High cholesterol is a major contributor to coronary artery disease, heart attacks and stroke. Keeping a good level of HDL is necessary because it is responsible for carrying the bad cholesterol away from the arterial walls and keeping the blood flow at a healthy pace. Keeping your HDL at an appropriate level can be obtained by keep a nutritious diet and exercising regularly. If diet and exercise are not enough to bring your HDL levels to an appropriate level, your healthcare provider can prescribe medication to raise your levels.