Archive for category Cholesterol
Cholesterol – Advantages and Disadvantages
Posted by admin in Cholesterol on June 18, 2011
Cholesterol is the essential nutrient in the body. Many vital body functions are performed with the help of the Cholesterol. But, it is necessary to maintain the normal level of cholesterol in the body otherwise it may lead to various health hazards.
Cholesterol is the essential body nutrient required by the human body to perform its essential functions. Cholesterol is the natural substance found in the body that is soft and waxy. Cholesterol is prepared in the body by the liver and then sent to the different parts of the body through the blood. Cholesterol is required by the body to keep itself healthy. The main function of the cholesterol is production of the Vitamin D, hormones, bile acids, and maintaining the healthy cell walls. In scientific terms, cholesterol is a lipid-like alcoholic compound found in the cell walls and is transported in blood plasma. Cholesterol comes under the group of compounds called as sterol (combination of steroid and alcohol). Meat, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products, especially egg yolks are the rich source of cholesterol.
Cholesterol like other compounds has advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Cholesterol
1. Cholesterol is the important constituent of the cell. It helps in building and maintaining the cell membranes. It makes the cell walls rigid and strong. It helps the cell in protecting itself from the foreign bodies. Cholesterol builds the immunity of the cell. Cholesterol is needed in the cell for the normal cellular function.
2. Cholesterol plays a vital role in the biochemical process like synthesis of steroid hormone. Cholesterol is an essential nutrient for the production of hormones that are necessary for the growth of an individual.
3. Cholesterol is needed for the promoting the production of Vitamin D. Cholesterol promotes the production of Vitamin D and also maintains it. As a result Vitamin helps in improving the immune system. Cholesterol in the body gets converted in the Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D is also found to be useful in high blood pressure problems.
4. Cholesterol level in the body is also found to be useful in the protection of skin from the foreign bodies as well as harmful rays from the sun. Cholesterol is also found to heal the scar and burn injuries caused due to the over exposure to the sun.
5. Cholesterol is also involved in the production of bile acids that are used to digest the insoluble or harmful fat that enters the body through the food.
6. Cholesterol is insoluble in water and that is why used in the body to transport the Vitamin A and Vitamin E.
These all are the advantages of the cholesterol or of the cholesterol in the body that is at low level. As the coin has two sides, cholesterol also has the other side that is disadvantages of cholesterol of you can say disadvantages of excess of cholesterol. Read the rest of this entry »
HDL Cholesterol Foods
Posted by admin in Cholesterol on June 18, 2011
HDL cholesterol foods are misunderstood by a number of people. Find out some useful information about cholesterol and related foods mentioned in the following article.Cholesterol is a very important metabolite found in the blood plasma of humans and animals. It is considered as the principle sterol which is synthesized by animals for a number of reasons, one of the major ones being for metabolism. There are several types of lipoprotiens which make up the body cholesterol and they are in the increasing order of their density. They are chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). This order means that when there is less protein and more cholesterol, the lipoprotein is less dense. Therefore, HDL which has the highest density of lipoprotein is the healthiest form of cholesterol and chylomicrons are the most harmful for the body.
VLDL, IDL and LDL can cause heart diseases as they accumulate on the arteries and veins when their concentration in the blood is high. There are some foods which are rich in LDL and some which are HDL cholesterol foods. These are mentioned in the following paragraphs, so find out what are these foods that raise HDL cholesterol foods.
HDL Cholesterol Food List
The reason why HDL is known as “good” cholesterol is because it has an ability to protect the heart from diseases by removing the LDL from the blood. If there is a deposition of LDL which is the “bad” cholesterol which is responsible for many heart diseases, HDL removes it from the blood vessels and carries it to the liver where it is excreted from the body. It is commonly known that HDL cholesterol foods are rich in amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber. With these foods you can also consider taking a low cholesterol diet which is also helpful in many ways.
Fish with Omega-3 fatty acids
If you want to be a heart healthy person, you should definitely eat more amounts of fish. Fish is very rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which helps to reduce your blood pressure. This is useful to reduce the risk of developing blood clots and by using omega-3 fish oil benefits, you will surely minimize the risk of heart attacks if you are already a heart patient. Baking and grilling the fish is the best way to avoid unnecessary fats. Ground flaxseed or canola oil, are also said to increase HDL cholesterol foods, if you don’t eat fish. You should eat at least two servings of the following fish in a week.
* Salmon
* Mackerel
* Sardines
* Herring
* Lake trout
* Halibut
* Albacore tuna
Soluble Fiber Foods
There are other good HDL cholesterol foods which are rich in soluble fibers. These fibers help in our daily metabolism which gives us the strength and energy to go throughout the day. They also reduce the LDL levels and increase HDL levels from the blood and arterial system if deposited. Find more on good cholesterol foods list. These high HDL cholesterol foods are: Read the rest of this entry »