Cholesterol is an indispensable substance in our body. It is essential in the construction of cells and tissues and is a raw material in the formation of hormones, vitamins and bile acids. It also helps build the nervous system. Still, you have to watch out for this fatty substance. But what is good and what is bad?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in all cells of our body. The substance is transported in the form of protein particles, the so-called lipoproteins. The body produces different types of these. The two best known are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is also referred to as the "bad" cholesterol. It can cause blockages in the blood vessels, resulting in cardiovascular disease (see photo above). HDL carries excess cholesterol to the liver and is therefore the 'good' cholesterol.

Cholesterol is mainly produced in our body by the liver. In addition, we ingest the substance through our food. Cholesterol is mainly found in foods such as eggs, organ meats, eel and shrimp.

Be careful with saturated fat

Meat, sausage, bacon, butter, cheese, chocolate and all kinds of other fatty foods contain large amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat is converted into the 'bad' cholesterol in the liver. Research has shown that saturated fats have a greater influence on cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol. It is therefore wise to avoid products with a lot of saturated fats. That is actually much more important than avoiding cholesterol-rich products. 

Check your cholesterol level

It is important for your health to keep your cholesterol levels under control. In addition to heredity, gender, smoking, age and high blood pressure, a high cholesterol level is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. An excess of cholesterol in the blood can be harmful to the blood vessels. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The aim is to keep the total cholesterol level, expressed in the usual units, lower than 5. If the value is between 5 and 6.5, an adjusted diet will in many cases be sufficient. Your doctor can measure what your cholesterol values ​​are and assess whether they are responsible.

Medication

The decision whether someone receives cholesterol-lowering drugs depends not only on the elevated cholesterol level, but also on the individual's risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other vascular disease resulting from arteriosclerosis. Such an increased risk arises from the presence of several risk factors. In addition to cholesterol, these include age, gender, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. People who have already had a heart attack or stroke or have another vascular disease or diabetes mellitus are always treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins).

Source: Health Network, Heart and Vascular Info Line of the Heart Foundation and The Heart & Vascular Group.

5 responses to “Prevention: Cholesterol, what is good and what is bad?”

  1. joop says up

    Perhaps useful to report that statins are pure junk, too much to explain why, check out the many sites about this scandalous product.

  2. Pedro & stuff says up

    Interesting article.

    The good thing is that cholesterol is not directly referred to as a kind of toxic substance, chapeau.
    if you want to know more about this information go to;

    http://WWW.DECHOLESTEROLLEUGEN.NL.

    This information can also be read on a similar English site.

    Finally, large-scale studies have shown that we vulnerable creatures live longest with a slightly elevated cholesterol level.

    Protects us against cancer + ect. etc.

  3. Fact tester says up

    Cholesterol is not as dangerous as the medical world tries to make us believe. As early as 2006, a book worth reading was published by an experienced German heart surgeon who has done a lot of research into this. He scientifically proves that cholesterol does not cause cancer at all! He provides proof of this and therefore calls the doctors who prescribe the drugs: the Cholesterol Mafia! The entire medical world has this Dr. hartgenbach because he is simply right! Read the booklet and convince yourself! The title of this is:

    The Cholesterol Lie
    The author is:
    prof. Dr. Walter Hartgenbach

  4. Robert Opmeer says up

    Cholesterol in the diet is only absorbed to a small extent, the rest is excreted.
    I have also taken statins for years (10 years), only had problems, muscle pains, etc.
    And my level did not decrease, in fact, increased. Now I have not swallowed for years (10 years), and my level is "normal". I hardly pay attention to my eating pattern.
    You also need cholesterol, it repairs your blood vessels. So too little is not good either.

  5. Hans says up

    Simvastatin is usually given first against a high cholesterol level. If this causes too many complaints such as: stiffness of joints and muscles (up to muscle tears) and extensive muscle pain, one switches to atorvastatin…etc. Often people who use this are already a bit older. If they use these drugs, the side effects often develop gradually, so that people often think that age plays a role. Feel free to try to stop for 1 or 2 weeks to test whether the complaints disappear. Take a closer look at the side effects of this junk, which have only proven a small percentage of effect in research. What is wisdom, take it or not?


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