Cholesterol levels are dictated heavily by the foods you eat. Foods rich in saturated and trans fats increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Bodybuilders tend to eat an austere and disciplined diet, so they rarely have anything to fear from elevated levels of cholesterol.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat-like waxy lipid that is manufactured mostly in the liver from the foods you eat. Cholesterol is used in a number of vital functions. It is a large component of cell membranes, a precursor to all steroid hormones such as estrogen and cortisol; assists with brain functions; and carries antioxidant vitamins to tissues. Although it is a necessary lipid that people cannot live without, elevated levels of cholesterol have been associated with heart disease and stroke.
Types
Cholesterol travels in the blood packaged as two compounds: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). According to bodybuilder David Robson, LDL transports 75 percent of the cholesterol in the blood. It tends to carry cholesterol from the liver to the arteries, where it is deposited as a fatty substance known as plaque. The buildup of plaque in the arteries can cause cardiovascular problems. HDL, on the other hand, transports cholesterol away from the arteries.
Effects of LDL
LDL can sometimes oxidize while in the blood. Oxidation is a volatile chemical reaction that usually involves the loss of electrons; it allows LDL to penetrate artery walls. To suppress LDL oxidation, the body releases immune factors that can cause inflammation. LDL also saps nitric oxide from the blood, which impinges on the blood's ability to flow freely.
Diet
A fit and healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep dangerous levels of cholesterol down, and bodybuilders must be fit and healthy to maintain their form. Bodybuilders usually maintain the American Heart Association recommendations that fat should constitute 30 percent of total calories. Bodybuilders also tend to keep saturated fat down, avoid trans fats, eat soluble fiber, exercise frequently, keep body fat down and avoid smoking.
Eggs
Bodybuilders tend to eat a lot of eggs, but there is a lot of debate about whether eggs are healthy. According to the Harvard Health Publications, a single egg can contain 212 mg of cholesterol, most of which is found in the yolk. This is rivaled only by a single serving of liver, shrimp and duck meat. However, there is little proof that most of the cholesterol in the yolk goes straight to the arteries and causes cardiovascular problems. Some people remove the yolk just to be safe, but even with the yolk, athletes and bodybuilders are usually healthier than the average person.
