Cholesterol
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol has been said often we hear everyday. Keyword cholesterol is very attached to things about the delicious food, excessive weight, age, and so forth. Cholesterol tended known as something negative and we must avoid.
What is cholesterol exactly?
Cholesterol is a fatty compound complex, which 80% generated from within the body (liver) and 20%, the rest from outside the body (nutrients) for a variety of functions in the body, among others, form the cell wall.
Cholesterol is a substance which is in the foods we eat can improve cholesterol levels in the blood. But, as far as revenue is balanced with the need, our body will remain healthy.
Cholesterol is not soluble in the liquid blood, for it to be sent to the whole body needs to be packaged along with proteins called Lipoprotein particles, which can be regarded as a ‘bearer’ (carrier) cholesterol in the blood.
Is cholesterol harmful?
LDL cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol is a dangerous type so often referred to as bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol carries mostly cholesterol in the blood. High levels of LDL lead to deposition of cholesterol in the arteries. LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease as well as the main target in the treatment.
HDL cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein)
Cholesterol is not harmful. HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol from LDL and less often called good cholesterol because it removes excess bad cholesterol in the arteries back to the liver, to be processed and disposed. HDL cholesterol prevents sediment in the arteries and protects blood vessel from the process of atherosclerosis (plaque formation on blood vessel walls).
Triglycerides
In addition to LDL and HDL, which is also important to note Triglycerides are a type of fat found in blood and various organs in the body. Increased levels of triglycerides in the blood can also increase your cholesterol levels. A number of factors can affect levels of triglycerides in the blood, such as obesity, alcohol consumption, sugar and fatty foods.
High levels of triglycerides (TG) can be controlled with low-carbohydrate diets.
Why should we be controlled?
Why cholesterol should be controlled? Because if the cholesterol level in blood (especially LDL) exceed normal values, then the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke will be greater.
Excessive LDL cholesterol can settle in the walls of blood vessels that will lead to narrowing and hardening of blood vessels, called atherosclerosis (the formation of plaque on blood vessel walls).
When this narrowing and hardening of considerable weight, then the blood supply to the heart muscle is not sufficient in number, and arose pain or chest pain known as angina and if continued will lead to the death of heart muscle tissue is called myocardial infarction.
If this is widespread, it will cause a condition called heart failure (heart failure).
If this blockage of blood vessels to attack the brain, there will be a stroke. This is where cholesterol (especially LDL) contribute negatively to health and should always be controlled.