High cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. However, not all types of cholesterol are bad. Some types of cholesterol can actually provide a protective effect against heart disease. This means that the goal is to lower the levels of the bad kind of cholesterol and raise the levels of the protective type. However, before making any changes to your diet, it is best to consult with a physician or registered dietitian.
Identification
Cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood, so it must be transported through the body by special carriers. One type of carrier is low density lipoproteins, or LDLs, and the other is high density lipoproteins, or HDLs. LDLs are considered the bad kind of cholesterol, because they take cholesterol to be stored in the body. HDLs are considered the good kind, because they take cholesterol to be excreted. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to function properly, because it is used to protect nerves, make cell tissues and produce certain hormones. However, the body produces all of the cholesterol it needs, states the American Academy of Family Physicians. When LDL levels get too high and HDL levels get too low, the risk of heart disease rises. In general once total cholesterol levels reach 200 to 239 mg/dL it is considered borderline high. A total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or higher, doubles the risk of heart disease.
Considerations
Cholesterol is also obtained by eating food and eating to much, can raise LDL levels. According to the American Heart Association, a high level of LDLs can mix with other substances in the body and begin to form plaque. Plaque can stick to and build up on the walls of the arteries and cause a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis makes the blood vessel walls hard and narrow and restricts blood flow. If blood flow to the heart becomes limited, a heart attack can occur. If the blood vessels to the brain become affected, a stroke can occur. LDL levels between 130 to 159 mg/dL are considered borderline high, and once the number climbs to 160 mg/dL, the risk for heart disease rises even more.
Benefits
Since HDLs help the body get rid of cholesterol, a high level of HDLs can lower the risk of heart disease, even if LDL levels are slightly high. HDL levels that are below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women, are considered too low and contributes to a higher risk of disease. To help protect the heart the MayoClinic.com website, recommends raising HDL levels to 60 mg/dL or higher for both men and women.
Solution
A blood test can determine what cholesterol levels are, and it is important to test often, as unhealthy cholesterol levels can exist without causing any symptoms. Lowering LDLs and raising HDLs involves quitting smoking, getting regular exercise and limiting intake of dietary cholesterol. In addition, no more than 30 percent of total daily caloric intake should come from fat. Most of this should come from healthier fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and there should be limited intake of saturated and trans fats.
