Contents:
- Medical Video: LDL and HDL Cholesterol | Good and Bad Cholesterol | Nucleus Health
- 1. Cholesterol is actually needed by the body
- 2. There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol
- 3. High cholesterol can occur due to genetics
- 4. Small children can have high cholesterol
- 5. Physical activity can increase good cholesterol
- 6. Supplements can reduce cholesterol levels
- 7. Cholesterol levels in women are always changing
Medical Video: LDL and HDL Cholesterol | Good and Bad Cholesterol | Nucleus Health
You may often hear "don't eat fried foods, then high cholesterol" or "eat junk food later on cholesterol". These statements are often mentioned by people around you. But do you know what true cholesterol is? Consider the following 7 facts about cholesterol.
1. Cholesterol is actually needed by the body
You can't avoid cholesterol. Why? Cholesterol is a complex fat compound, shaped like a wax that is white and spread over various body tissues, especially in nerve tissue. This substance has an important function, namely as a basic ingredient in hormone formation and body cell walls. In addition, cholesterol also plays a role in fat metabolism. It helps the liver to break down fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Cholesterol is not always a problem when levels increase in the body, but when cholesterol decreases, this will have a negative impact on health. Research shows that mothers who are pregnant and have low cholesterol levels will result in premature babies. Low cholesterol levels are usually associated with depression and result in fatigue.
2. There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol
Cholesterol is divided into triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is usually called good cholesterol while LDL is called bad cholesterol. HDL is called good cholesterol because it is responsible for the fat scavenger in the blood vessels, so that the blood vessels are clear of fatty deposits. While LDL does the opposite, because it is called bad cholesterol. High levels of HDL in the body prevent you from atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
3. High cholesterol can occur due to genetics
Many recommendations are intended to reduce cholesterol levels in the body, the most frequently mentioned ways are changes in lifestyle, proper diet, and exercise. But what if high cholesterol is caused by hereditary genes?
Actually, as much as 75 percent of cholesterol in the body is a genetic result, and another 25 percent is obtained because of diet and lifestyle. When you eat foods that contain cholesterol, such as meat, fish, and milk, the body that is in a normal state will excrete excess cholesterol. However, how much the body can 'eliminate' the excess cholesterol, depending on your genes.
For example, people who have a familial hypercholesterolemia gene cannot remove excess cholesterol effectively. Familial hypercholesterolemia is owned by at least one in 200 people in the world, or as many as 34 million people. You might have the gene if you have a family member who has heart disease or high cholesterol but is still under 50 years old. If there is, immediately take a medical examination.
4. Small children can have high cholesterol
Most people think that high cholesterol is only experienced by older people or adults, but it is not always like that. The American Academy of Pediatrics checks cholesterol in children aged 9 to 11 years. The results of these examinations show that almost some of them have high cholesterol levels in the body. This is related to diet, physical activity, and genes of each child.
5. Physical activity can increase good cholesterol
As mentioned earlier, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol in the body. When you do physical activity such as exercise, this will increase the level of good cholesterol or HDL in the body. Research conducted in a group of women with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed that doing 3 weeks of regular exercise increased HDL levels by up to 21 percent and lowered bad cholesterol levels by 18 percent. Other research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that men do jogging every week, showing a significant increase in HDL levels. Of course, high HDL levels and low LDL are good for body health.
6. Supplements can reduce cholesterol levels
Supplements can indeed reduce cholesterol levels in the body, but slowly and require a long time. However, the best thing to reduce cholesterol is to do regular exercise and improve your diet. Supplements can be consumed if you have a familial hypercholesterolemia gene and it has been proven by the medical.
7. Cholesterol levels in women are always changing
In general, cholesterol levels in women are lower than men. But cholesterol levels in women experience more changes, such as during pregnancy, women's cholesterol levels will increase. Increased cholesterol in pregnant women is believed to help the growth and development of the fetal brain. After delivery, cholesterol levels will return to normal. In addition, when entering menopause, cholesterol levels increased again and those who tended to increase were triglyceride levels while HDL decreased. So, at the age of 75 years, women's cholesterol levels are higher than in men.
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