You may be surprised, but cholesterol is essential to life. Though we usually think of him as a villain, he’s not always as bad as they paint him. Be sure to read what the famous Mona Lisa had to do with cholesterol and what can raise its level.
- Your body’s cholesterol levels – a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells – can tell you a lot about your future heart health
- It is high cholesterol that is the most common cause of its diseases
- That is why it is so important to prevent such a state and to treat the diagnosed problems
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Cholesterol level can be tested with a simple blood test, which should be permanently included in the range of preventive examinations that we perform. The lipidogram will tell you what your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides are. Increased cholesterol is most often the result of a bad and unhealthy diet, but not only it affects our health. It turns out that there are quite a few things we don’t know about cholesterol.
Nine surprising facts about cholesterol
1. You can’t live without cholesterol
Everyone is born with cholesterol in their cells. And babies get it from mom’s milk – that’s why cholesterol is added to infant formula. Cholesterol is essential because all our hormones and cells need it to function properly. It is also the building block of each of the body’s cells. Additionally, cholesterol is necessary for the liver to make fat-processing acids.
2. Every third adult has high cholesterol
In the United States, high cholesterol is a real health scourge, but the situation is of similar magnitude around the world. High cholesterol is not a disorder reserved only for the elderly, so it is worth checking its level as a preventive measure, starting from the age of 20, every five years. Since many different factors can affect cholesterol levels – for example, diet and stress – the most accurate results can be obtained by performing two independent tests one week apart. However, this practice is rare.
If you want to control your cholesterol level, order Cholesten cholesterol Pharmovit – a dietary supplement available at an attractive price on Medonet Market.
- Also check: This drink will lower your cholesterol. Include it in your diet
3. High cholesterol may be genetically determined
Considerable attention is paid to controlling cholesterol levels through dietary and exercise changes, but genetics is a major contributor to high cholesterol levels. According to the expert, as much as 75 percent. cholesterol is genetically determined, the remaining 25 percent. it is the influence of diet and lifestyle. This does not mean that lower-risk people can eat poorly with impunity.
When you eat cholesterol-containing foods such as meat, fish, and dairy, if your body is functioning properly, it will get rid of the excess. However, how much cholesterol is left in your body depends on your genes. People with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), an inherited condition that affects about 1 in 200 people, cannot effectively lose excess cholesterol. You may be at risk of high cholesterol if you have a family history of hypercholesterolaemia or have had early heart attacks (before the age of 50).
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4. Even children can have high cholesterol
Most people think of high cholesterol as an adult problem, but little ones may also have high cholesterol levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for cholesterol in all children between the ages of 9 and 11. This test is especially important for children at high risk of developing cholesterol problems. The risk factors include:
- obesity,
- family history of heart attacks,
- a family history of hypercholesterolaemia.
5. Sweating can raise your good cholesterol levels
In addition to eating a healthy diet, including foods like heart-healthy salmon and avocado, you can raise your good cholesterol (HDL) levels, which protect against heart disease, through exercise. Interval training turns out to be the best solution.
Researchers conducted a study in women with type 2 diabetes and found that three weeks of high-intensity interval training significantly increased HDL levels in women (by 21 percent) and lowered triglyceride levels (by 18 percent). In contrast, men who ran and then did the same training but at increased intensity saw significant improvements in HDL levels over the eight weeks of adherence.
- Editors recommend: A hamburger washed down with orange juice is healthier
6. Supplements can lower cholesterol
Unless you are at high risk of a heart attack or have familial hypercholesterolaemia, diet and exercise are the best ways to lower your cholesterol levels. However, in the absence of effectiveness of natural remedies, in addition to medications prescribed by a doctor, cholesterol levels can be influenced by other, gentle methods. According to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, a healthy diet including 2-3 grams of stanols and plant sterols per day can reduce LDL levels by 6-15 percent, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.
The major downside to supplements is that they need to be taken daily and don’t work at night. They are not always a good solution. If needed, your doctor will prescribe medications to lower cholesterol, such as statins.
To support your body in the fight against cholesterol, try the CHOLESTEROL Set from Herbapol in Krakow. It contains both cholesterol capsules, herbal tea and an artichoke elixir.
7. There is an increasing number of people who should be taking medications to lower cholesterol
Doctors do not prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to everyone, but only to people who have an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. However, along with the increase in the prevalence of civilization diseases, the number of patients requiring pharmacological treatment due to high cholesterol levels increases.
It is recommended to use medications for high cholesterol if:
- you have had a heart attack, stroke, angina or peripheral arterial disease
- have a very high LDL level (190 mg / dL or more) or someone in your family has hypercholesterolaemia
- you have diabetes and are between the ages of 40 and 75.
8. The Mona Lisa may have had high cholesterol
Did you know that you may be able to tell if someone has familial hypercholesterolaemia just by looking at them? There is a theory that the famous Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci may have been the first known case of a person suffering from high cholesterol. The mysterious muse was painted as a 20-year-old and died just after 30. If you look closely, you can see a visible symptom of hypercholesterolaemia: xanthelase, which is yellowish fat deposits in the left eye, and possibly also on the left hand.
9. Women’s cholesterol levels change throughout life
Although women tend to have lower cholesterol levels than men, changes in cholesterol levels can occur throughout life. During pregnancy, cholesterol levels in women increase, which experts say helps in the development of the brain in the fetus. Mother’s milk, high in cholesterol, is also believed to protect the baby’s heart. After pregnancy, cholesterol levels should return to normal, but after the menopause, LDL (bad cholesterol) in women goes up, while good HDL goes down. By the age of 75, women tend to have higher cholesterol levels than men.
Check if you have cholesterol in check. Buy the «Lipid profile» test package at Medonet Market.
Read also:
- The most popular myths about cholesterol
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- Ranking of cholesterol supplements – which pills should you choose?