Introduction
As obesity rates continue to grow, many Americans are turning to diets in an effort to lose weight. Regardless of which route is taken, it appears that as weight decreases, cholesterol levels decrease. This effect, however, is not necessarily because weight loss impacts cholesterol levels directly; rather, the activity and dietary changes associated with weight loss are the same ones emphasized for lowering cholesterol.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, liver-produced substance used for cell maintenance that, when overproduced can create plaques in the blood vessels and arteries. These plaques, if allowed to become excessive, can cause atherosclerosis, a stiffening of the blood vessels, which may lead to a stroke, heart attack or even death.
How Does a Weight Loss Diet Affect Cholesterol?
There are two forms of cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), or "good" cholesterols, and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), or "bad" cholesterols. Certain foods like fish, vegetable oils and whole grains can raise HDLs while lowering LDLs. Many of these foods are the same ones recommended in most weight loss plans. Foods that raise LDLs (butter, whole fat dairy, and red meat) are usually high in saturated fats and are therefore forbidden from most diets. Consequently, as you correctly follow a diet plan, you happen to be eating the same foods that lower cholesterol.
Exercise Lowers Cholesterol
One last reason that weight loss seems to lower cholesterol is because some diet plans recommend exercise. Studies show that aerobic and cardiovascular exercises, the same exercises responsible for burning fat, can reduce the level of LDLs, or "bad" cholesterols, in the body. In other words, it's not weight loss that lowers cholesterol; it's what causes weight loss that also lowers cholesterol.
