Cholesterol is created naturally in the body. The American Heart Association says that 75 percent of your cholesterol is made naturally from your body and the other 25 percent of cholesterol comes from the foods you eat. The liver has many functions related to cleaning the body, including removing excess cholesterol.
Types of Cholesterol
Everybody has two types of cholesterol in their blood. According to the American Heart Association, you have HDL and LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is known as the good cholesterol while the LDL cholesterol is known as the bad cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol is the waxy substance that builds up in your arteries, which can cause heart attacks and heart disease. The HDL cholesterol collects the LDL cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to the liver where it is processed and destroyed.
Functions of the Liver
The liver excretes a waste called bile when it is removing products from your body. The liver also processes the blood and breaks down the blood into the vital nutrients and chemicals your body needs. The Maryland Medical Center also says that the liver produces HDL cholesterol and proteins that help remove fats and bad cholesterol from your bloodstream.
Features
High levels of LDL cholesterol are bad because it blocks blood vessels to the heart and brain. The American Heart Association says that the condition is called atherosclerosis. All the blood in your body is processed by the liver. The Maryland Medical Center says that the liver produces HDL cholesterol to help clear the blood vessels so the blood can flow more smoothly through the body.
Effects of High Cholesterol
High cholesterol greatly increases your chances of developing certain diseases or having a heart attack. Coronary heart disease is more common among people that have multiple risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. There are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol.
Considerations
Eat foods that are low in saturated and trans fats. Talk to your doctor if there is a history of high cholesterol in your family. The doctor may be able to prescribe a medication to help lower your cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you exercise for at least 30 minutes, which will help your liver produce more HDL cholesterol to help remove the bad cholesterol. See your doctor periodically to check your cholesterol levels.
