Cholesterol

A high-fat/high-cholesterol diet can cause the buildup of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Excess cholesterol in the blood accumulates in the walls of the blood vessels. Over time the arteries become narrowed, and eventually the flow of blood is reduced, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol is carried in the blood in protein packages called lipoproteins. The form of these lipoproteins determines whether the cholesterol is categorized as "good" (HDL) or "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. Excess body fat and a diet high in saturated fat tend to increase the LDL levels. Regular exercise, maintaining appropriate body weight, and not smoking help to increase the HDL levels.

Where does cholesterol come from?


Most of the cholesterol in your blood is manufactured by your liver. The body uses cholesterol to form hormones and cell membranes and produces about 1,000 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol each day. In addition, the average American consumes 400 to 600 mg daily from food. The U.S. Surgeon General's office and the American Heart Association recommend a maximum of 300 mg of cholesterol per day from food.

The cholesterol derived from dietary sources is essentially the same as the cholesterol the body manufactures. Although dietary cholesterol is found only in animal products, excess fat in the diet (especially saturated fat) increases the amount of cholesterol the body produces.

What determines blood cholesterol levels?


  1. Genetics. Some individuals, no matter how prudent their diet or how regularly they exercise, can't achieve a low cholesterol level without the use of blood cholesterol-lowering medications.
  2. Diet. Foods high in saturated fat increase blood cholesterol levels. These include butter, whole milk products, palm and coconut oils, cheese, beef, pork, and egg yolks. In addition, many packaged and processed foods are high in saturated fat or hydrogenated oils, which also have a cholesterol-raising effect.

    A diet low in total fat, with fat intake primarily from unsaturated fat sources, reduces cholesterol levels. Unsaturated fats include olive, corn, safflower, sesame, canola, soybean, and sunflower oils. High fiber foods, especially oat bran, apples, carrots, oranges, and legumes (beans, peas and lentils) decrease cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Fish and fish oils, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, also decrease cholesterol levels. Read more about the types of fat on the page about fats.
  3. Smoking, stress and some medications also raise cholesterol levels.
Suggested reading on cholesterol:
www.americanheart.org
www.webmd.com
www.medicinenet.com