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Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced by your body and is also found in foods that come from animal sources (meat, milk products, eggs, poultry, and fish). Your body’s cells need cholesterol to function properly. However, excess cholesterol in the blood can build up inside your arteries (atherosclerosis), causing them to narrow. Atherosclerosis is the starting point for most heart and circulation problems.

Good and Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream attached to protein, in a combination called a lipoprotein. Two lipoproteins are the main carriers of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). High-density lipoproteins contain more protein than they do fat. Continue reading ‘High Cholesterol in Old Age’ »

HDL or “good” cholesterol can help prevent heart disease, but did you know it can also protect you against cancer?  A new study shows that it can cut your risk of cancer by 21% for every 10 point rise in your HDL cholesterol.  Here are a few things you can do to pump up your HDL cholesterol.

• Eat soy.  Soy protein improves the liver’s ability to product HDL cholesterol.  British studies suggest that consuming 14 grams of soy protein daily can raise your HDL cholesterol by 4%.  This is the equivalent of two 8-oz. glasses of soy milk or one soy burger. Continue reading ‘Prevent Cancer With Good Cholesterol’ »

Often, when we hear about our cholesterol levels, we automatically assume that this is a bad thing. High cholesterol is a well known cause of a variety of heart diseases and cancers and has gained a reputation as a killer. But the good cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol is essential if we are to remain healthy. If we do not know how to increase good cholesterol naturally, then we are setting ourselves up for a number of health problems.

What this HDL cholesterol does is that it stays in the bloodstream; essentially lining the blood vessels and disposing of the bad, or LDL, cholesterol. It would, therefore, be unhealthy to remove all cholesterol from your body, whilst also being practically impossible! The healthiest option is to ensure that you retain the HDL cholesterol by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol that you have in your body. Continue reading ‘Know How to Increase Good Cholesterol Naturally’ »

Contrary to what others believe, cholesterol is not totally bad for the body. In fact it is an essential part of cell membranes to facilitate proper membrane fluidity and permeability. It is also needed to initiate biosynthesis of steroid hormones, bile acids and other fat soluble vitamins. However, cholesterol is something that can’t be dissolved in blood. It needs to be taken to and from the cells through carriers called lipoproteins. These carriers are made up of both proteins and lipids. Bad cholesterol comes from low-density lipoprotein or LDL. Good cholesterol on the other hand is also called high-density lipoprotein or HDL. These lipids, together with triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol comprises over-all cholesterol count determined by going through a blood test.

Continue reading ‘All You Need To Know About LDL and HDL Cholesterol’ »