The contents
What should be the level of cholesterol?
5 common mistakes in the diet
Part of normal medical prevention for middle-aged people is the cholesterol test. If the total blood level is elevated, he immediately causes us concern.Recently, however, experts are increasingly asking themselves: if we do not attach too much importance to cholesterol? Magicforum decided to find out what still needs to be cholesterol in healthy people and how to eat to cholesterol remained normal.
What should be the level of cholesterol?
The human body needs cholesterol. This substance is the shell of every cell. Cholesterol is a building block for hormones, vitamin D and other nutrients to the body. It circulates in the bloodstream through lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein – LDL, takes cholesterol from the liver. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL), heats up excess cholesterol and returns it to the liver.
The liver is the “factory” that produces the cholesterol needed by the body. But it can also get it from fatty acids.
The accumulation of cholesterol plaques can lasts a lifetime, beginning in childhood, but occurs individually for each person. Genes – a very important individual factor which determines whether you have the risk of accumulation of plaques of LDL. High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, Smoking is also a risk of accumulation of cholesterol in the body.
Doctors use all these factors to determine the “overall risk” of each patient and develop individualized treatment regime.
Most heart attacks are not caused by a gradual narrowing of the blood vessels, and the separation of particles from the plaque in the artery that is narrowed by at least half. Half of all heart attacks happen suddenly without any prior signs.
For a long time medicine has been used for a whole class of drugs, called statins, to reduce LDL – bad cholesterol. Physical activity and a diet low in fat with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains also reduce the LDL and increase the level of good HDL cholesterol. But these almost magical figures may only be the first step in the knowledge of the real condition of your heart.
Rates of high cholesterol is not considered a diagnosis, it is a symptom of the development of cardio-vascular diseases. What mistakes we make, which increases our cholesterol level?
5 common mistakes in the diet
People with high cholesterol should monitor their diet in order to cope effectively with this problem.
However, many of us tend to make very common mistakes due to which the cholesterol will not fall. However, the most disturbing is the fact that you can even aggravate the whole situation quite unconsciously – and the complications this situation can be quite serious.
Dietary mistakes
Everyone, who was diagnosed with high cholesterol in the blood, or hypercholesterolemia, it is necessary to follow the doctor’s recommendations. Even if this will involve any drastic changes in your daily diet.
1. You don’t pay attention to sugar intake
The consumption of sugar has no direct effect on cholesterol levels in the body. However, products with high sugar content often also contain a lot of unhealthy fats such as TRANS fat or saturated fatty acids.
Regular consumption of this type of food can cause a significant weight gain. Overweight or obesity is very closely associated with high cholesterol. High glycemic index of these foods increases glucose in the blood, which damages the walls of the arteries and blood vessels.
2. Pay attention only to the content of cholesterol in foods
Some people suffering from high cholesterol levels in the blood, I believe that the best food is the exception any type of foods high cholesterol from your daily diet. This fact really need to pay attention to. But that’s enough.
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is the result of eating certain types of food – it’s true. However, you probably don’t know that your liver also produces it.
Therefore, to eat foods with low cholesterol is not enough. You also need to avoid TRANS fats and saturated fats, because they overload your liver.
3. Remove any fat from diet
It is probably one of the most common mistakes of those who struggle with high cholesterol. It is impractical to completely eliminate all high-fat foods from the diet. Instead, you should choose those that offer you a good “healthy” fats.
Food products may contain a mixture of different types of fats: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ( omega-3 and 6 fatty acids ). Of them you must choose only two for the latter and consume less saturated fat.
Saturated fats raise the risk of heart disease, while unsaturated fats help raise “good” cholesterol (HDL). This, in turn, helps to protect your arteries. Examples of products containing large doses of healthy fats are avocados, olive oil, and nuts of any kind.
4. The transition from one diet to the next
Fast acting diet sound like shortcuts to achieve healthy cholesterol levels in the blood. The problem, however, is that they, as a rule, limited only by the consumption of certain product categories.
However, a good diet with high cholesterol must be permanent and used throughout life.
5. The taking statins with grapefruit juice
Doctors often prescribe statins to lower cholesterol in the blood. However, eating grapefruit at the same time is a serious mistake. The fruit may block the proper absorption of the drug.
Previously, scientists have proven that walnuts can reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol in the blood.