The Good and the Bad of Cholesterol
We’ve all heard the evils of cholesterol. But the fact of the matter is there is such a thing as good cholesterol. So, which is which?
Bad Cholesterol
Bad cholesterol is also known as LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol stands for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. LDL is the major cholesterol carrier in blood. If you have too much LDL cholesterol circulating in your blood, it can build up in the walls of the arteries feeding your heart and brain. Over time, cholesterol build up in your arteries can form plaque. Plaque is a thick, hard substance that can clog those arteries. If too much plaque builds up in your arteries, a clot can form, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. That's precisely why LDL cholesterol is considered "bad" cholesterol.
Good Cholesterol
Good cholesterol is also called HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol stands for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is known as good cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. Medical experts think that HDL cholesterol carries LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. It is also believed that HDL cholesterol removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing its buildup.
How to Reduce Your Cholesterol - Naturally
High cholesterol plagues thousands of people every day. Because of the food they eat, people with high cholesterol have high health risks and poor health overall. However, all is not lost for someone with high cholesterol. High cholesterol can be controlled and even lowered a few ways. Of course prescription drugs is one way you lower your cholesterol level, but there are also natural ways to attack you high cholesterol that don’t involve a doctor’s visit. For starters, you can exercise regularly. Exercise helps keep the heart pumping and your blood flowing strong. Regular exercise can do wonders for your high cholesterol. No prescription drug can attack your high cholesterol like regular exercise can. So if you have high cholesterol, don’t run off to the doctors for some pills. Open the door and take a run around the block.
Another great way to lower your cholesterol naturally is to stop eating junk food. Eliminate junk food as much as you can from your diet. Replace junk snack foods with vegetables, foods low in fat, and foods high in fiber. Oatmeal is known to also help reduce your cholesterol level. For additional, natural ways to lower your cholesterol through exercise and diet, consult a nutritionist or your doctor.
Cholesterol comes in both good and bad forms. And as long as fast food tastes good, high cholesterol will continue to plague us. If you want to keep your cholesterol level under control, watch what you eat, exercise, and increase your intake of good cholesterol. Leave the bad cholesterol at the curb.
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