Cholesterol - Good, Bad...Huh? ( Part 1)

What IS Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that's stored in the fat (lipid) content of one's blood stream.  It's actually important to have a certain amount of "good" cholesterol in one's system. 

Cholesterol, and our other body fats, cannot dissolve in our blood.  They must be transported by special carriers called lipoproteins. 

While there are numerous kinds (too many to cover here), the two that are most important are the high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and the low-density lipoproteins (LDL). 

There is a third kind, which is referred to as Lp(a), which can increase one's risk of heart attack and stroke.  We'll cover that one here, as well. 

HDL, LDL, & Lp(a)...What ARE These?

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are known as "good cholesterol".  

Most experts agree that HDL moves the cholesterol from the arteries to the liver, where it is broken down and leaves the body through the natural evacuation process. 

A higher HDL level seems to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.  

Keep in mind, though, that a lower HDL level in one's body (-40 mg/dL in men, -50 mg d/L in women) is a warning signal of greater risk of one or both. 

HDL seems to remove excess cholesterol from the plaques which build up in one's blood vessels, thereby inhibiting or slowing their growth. 

This is what makes it so important to the human body.  Approximately 1/3 to 1/4 of the cholesterol in our bodies is carried by the HDL. 

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are the major transporters of cholesterol in our blood. 

One can experience a build up on the walls of the arteries which supply blood to our hearts and brains, if too much LDL enters the blood stream. 

When combined with other substances, it forms plaques.  Plaques are hard, thick coatings that can clog one's arteries and decrease blood flow to the heart or the brain.  

Should the blood not move swiftly enough, there is danger of a blood clot forming near the plaques. 

When this occurs in the arteries leading to the heart, one is at greater risk of a heart attack.  

If it happens in the arteries which lead to one's brain, there is a higher risk of stroke. 

If one's LDL level is 160 mg/dL or higher, this is an indication of a greater risk of heart disease.  

And if one has already been diagnosed with heart disease, it is strongly recommended that one maintain a level of less than 100 mg/dL. 

A little known (by the general population) lipoprotein that can also cause a greater risk is the Lp(a) cholesterol lipoprotein. 

This is a generic variation of plasma (the "fluid" which carries the blood cells through one's blood stream) LDL. 

When one's Lp(a) level is higher, one can more quickly develop the plaque build up which physicians and specialists refer to as "arthersclerosis". 

Although there has been no conclusive evidence drawn as to WHY Lp(a) contributes to the increased risk of heart disease, it is commonly believed that the natural lesions which occur in our artery walls may contain substances that interact with it.  This may lead to the build up of the fatty deposits. 

From Where Do We Get Cholesterol?

The general consensus is that the human body is capable of producing the cholesterol that one needs to remain healthy. 

The body - most especially the liver - produces roughly 1,000 mg per day.  

Therefore the cholesterol consumed (by the average person eating the typical foods such as whole milk dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish and seafood) is not really necessary to maintain the healthy level which one needs. 

Two of the biggest culprits which contribute to the excessive consumption of cholesterol are transfats and saturated fats.  But other fats consumed in foods can also raise blood cholesterol. 

While some of the excess fat is removed from the body by the liver, most heart specialists recommend that the average person limit himself/herself to less than 300 mg daily. 

And if one has been diagnosed with heart disease, that level should be less than 200 mg daily.

 If one has been diagnosed with extremely high cholesterol, even more drastic measures may be necessary to bring it under control.