We are sure you have heard of it (especially when you see your family doctor). But you know what it is, and how it affects us, the famed cholesterol?
Cholesterol is called a kind of fat that sits on the wall that surrounds and protects every cell of our body. This substance is essential for synthesizing steroid hormones, a hormone that play a lot of functions within the organism.
As we all know, cholesterol can be very harmful to our health, especially when it accumulates in different walls of blood vessels (ie arteries) because in this way begins a hardening of the same.
This process, called atherosclerosis, the effect is less clarity, and predisposes people to developing heart attacks and strokes.
The amount of cholesterol necessary for the biochemical function of the body, is formed within the body. However, when consumed a large amount of animal fats, eggs and oils and other derivatives, there is an excess of that substance.
Persons at risk
There are many reasons that can lead a person to suffer from coronary vascular problems. However, statistics show that is family history, smoking too much, or lead a very sedentary life, which leads the risk of these problems.
In addition, twenty different studies conducted in fourteen countries, they noted that those people who have high cholesterol, are prone to diseases in the coronary vessels, prematurely.
In the same studies, showed that the three main risk factors relate to:
1. increased cholesterol,
2. increased blood pressure and,
3. smoking excessively.
Normal cholesterol numbers
The normal amount of cholesterol in the blood of healthy adults varies by age, sex, place of residence, as it also depends on environmental conditions (at lower temperatures, increased cholesterol).
In fact, there is another parameter that has blood banks and such varied figures. However, in no case should exceed cholesterol 200 mg / dl, as in this case would have serious risks of heart disease. Difference between plant and animal fat, and other important data
Animal fats-also called saturated-greatly increase cholesterol levels. However, vegetable fats, also called poly-have no harmful effect.
Only one quarter of the cholesterol circulating in our blood comes directly from our digestive system, or more specifically, of the same foods.
Part of the cholesterol found in blood, is taken up by the same liver, where it is metabolized and secreted by the bile through the gallbladder.
But that power can intelligently varying successfully combat this evil.
For example:
- The artichoke liver acts as an antioxidant and prevents the accumulation of cholesterol, also favoring the secretion of bile and decreasing the amount of sugar in the blood of diabetics.
- Onions are a source of vitamins and minerals and silica content relaxes the arteries.
- Vitamin C helps fight heart disease, and is present in citrus fruits, kiwifruit and peppers.
- Oils: Use only olive, corn, soybeans and sunflowers.
- Oats allows better food transit through the small intestine and contains specific fibers that reduce cholesterol absorption.