High metabolism is linked in the public mind with good health. After all, people with a high metabolic rate have no problem staying thin, and thin people are supposed to be healthy. However, your body weight is just one of many important metrics for gauging your wellness. Your cholesterol level is another equally important aspect of your health.
Metabolism Basics
Your metabolism is the process by which your body converts the energy in food into the energy it needs to function. A body with a fast metabolism needs more calories to complete all activities, even restful activities like sleep and watching television. A body with a slow metabolism burns fewer calories, even while exercising. That friend you're jealous of because she can eat whatever she wants and still keep her flat tummy likely has a fast metabolism.
Cholesterol Basics
Cholesterols are substances your liver secretes in response to your intake of some kinds of food. They are vital to building and maintaining your body's tissues. However, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides can hurt your circulatory health. HDL cholesterol cleans your bloodstream of contaminants, including harmful LDL and triglycerides. They're actually good for your health.
Transparency
Transparency is an engineering term that refers to a situation where two factors don't interact with one another. Cholesterol count and metabolism are transparent processes: although both are related to diet, neither one affects how the other works. This means that it's easily possible to have both a high metabolism and high cholesterol.
Danger Zone
The fact that high metabolism and high cholesterol are not mutually exclusive is particularly dangerous to young people with a high metabolism, especially if they're active. Since these people remain thin regardless of their diet, it's easy for them to develop a high cholesterol level without realizing it. Their thin bodies give the illusion of good health regardless of cholesterol count. This is why it's important to check your cholesterol levels regularly, even if you're thin and otherwise look healthy.
References
- "You: The Owner's Manual"; Roizen and Oz; 2006
- CDC: Dietary Cholesterol
- KidsHealth: Metabolism
