CAKES, ICE-CREAM, ALCOHOL, AND "GROUNDNUT OIL" E.T.C ARE NOW SIN TO THE HUMAN BODY..............

Cholesterol is a lipid (fat) which is produced by the liver. Cholesterol is vital for normal body function. Every cell in our body has cholesterol in its outer layer.

  

*High cholesterol levels can cause:

·         Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

·         Heart attack - occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. This causes your heart muscle to die.

·         Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood.

·         Other cardiovascular conditions - diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

·         Stroke and mini-stroke - occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or vein, interrupting the flow to an area of the brain. Can also occur when a blood vessel breaks. Brain cells begin to die.

What causes high cholesterol?

Lifestyle causes

·         Nutrition - although some foods contain cholesterol, such as eggs, kidneys, eggs and some seafood, dietary cholesterol does not have much of an impact in human blood cholesterol levels. However, saturated fats do! Foods high in saturated fats include red meat, some pies, sausages, hard cheese, lard, pastry, cakes, most biscuits, and cream (there are many more).

·         Sedentary lifestyle - people who do not exercise and spend most of their time sitting/lying down have significantly higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

·         Body weight - people who are overweight/obese are much more likely to have higher LDL levels and lower HDL levels, compared to people who are of normal weight.

·         Smoking - this can have quite a considerable effect on LDL levels.

·         Alcohol - people who consume too much alcohol regularly, generally have much higher levels of LDL and much lower levels of HDL, compared to people who abstain or those who drink in moderation.

Foods that  causes High level of cholesterol

EGGS –  Chicken eggs are high in cholesterol, and a diet high in cholesterol can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels. One large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk. Therefore, if you eat an egg on a given day, it's important to limit other sources of cholesterol for the rest of that day. Consider substituting servings of vegetables for servings of meat, or avoid high-fat dairy products for that day. If you like eggs but don't want the extra cholesterol, use only the egg whites. Egg whites contain no cholesterol.

LIVER: Liver is loaded with Iron- which could be good for you- but is also high in cholesterol. Cholesterol is made and stored in the liver, and most concentrated levels of cholesterol in animal meats are found in the liver

Snacks – Trans fat can turn a healthy food into a high cholesterol food. These foods result from adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, which are then used in many commercial baked goods or fried foods such as cookies, cakes, French fries, Onion rings, and crackers.

Treatable medical conditions

These medical conditions are known to cause LDL levels to rise. They are all conditions which can be controlled medically (with the help of your doctor, they do not need to be contributory factors):

·         Diabetes

·         High blood pressure (hypertension)

·         High levels of triglycerides

·         Kidney diseases

·         Liver diseases

·         Under-active thyroid gland

What are the treatments for high cholesterol?

Lifestyle

Most people, especially those whose only risk factor has been lifestyle, can generally get their cholesterol and triglyceride levels back to normal by:

·         Doing plenty of exercise (check with your doctor)

·         Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, good quality fats

·         Avoiding foods with saturated fats

·         Getting plenty of sleep (8 hours each night)

·         Bringing your bodyweight back to normal

·         Avoiding alcohol

·         Stopping smoking

Many experts say that people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease will not lower their risk just by altering their diet. Nevertheless, a healthy diet will have numerous health benefits.

NOTE: That thing Nigerians call vegetable oil, are not, they are just animal fat. Pure vegetable oil don't get congealed on cold weather. Please avoid it. "Here is to a Healthier you and Nation".