Cholesterol - written by Alex Fyfe

Cholesterol is a kind of fat, which is present in all of our bodies. Cholesterol is considered a vital compound which assists in generating the building blocks of life i.e. cells and as well as the hormones.

The cholesterol is transported and distributed to parts of the body by proteins. The human body has the ability to produce cholesterol in the liver and a small amount of cholesterol is obtained from the regular diet. The name cholesterol comes from the Greek word chole, which means bile and stereos meaning solid.

Cholesterol is a kind of a waxy alcohol, which is essential for human life but when it exceeds certain levels becomes harmful as it causes atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is the product of synthesis of the body cells though we obtain a certain amount from our diets as well. Though cholesterol is considered as a fat, it is important because it helps to build and maintain the cell membranes and helps to regulate the fluidity of the membrane even over a high degree of temperature.

The cholesterol is of two types, which are - Bad cholesterol, is also known as low density lipoprotein Good cholesterol, is also known as high density lipoprotein Bad LDL cholesterol creates blockages in our arteries Good LDL cholesterols wash away the extra cholesterol from our arteries, by breaking it down and recycling it. To identify the effect of cholesterol in our body we have to measure the level of cholesterol in our body, which means you will have to find out the amount of good and bad cholesterol present in the body.

If the level of cholesterol is within limits then it isn't a matter of concern but if the level of cholesterol is high then it can lead to alarming medical conditions. Although, high level of cholesterol is not considered as an illness but it is associated with many ailments. When the level of the cholesterol increases, it means that the level of BAD LDL has increased. So controlling the level of cholesterol is a wise precautionary measure to save oneself from diseases.

Cholesterols are very important for your body as it has various functions like preparing bile salts, vitamin D, hormones etc. Cholesterols are mainly produced by the liver. The LDL cholesterol among the two kinds gets deposited in the artery walls and forms plaques. With formation of more plaques the artery lumens gets narrower and the blood flow is gradually checked.

The cholesterol level in the blood gets elevated due to many reasons like trans fatty acids, saturated fats and not the dietary cholesterol. Infact there are many foods, which helps in controlling LDL levels. The Food components like polysaturated fats (nuts and fish) and soluble fibers (fruits, oats, legumes, barley) are some of them. The good HDL promotes health as it carries away the excess cholesterol from the blood and transports them to the liver for excretion.

It even removes the extra cholesterol deposits present in the artery walls. This ensures a smooth blood flow and prevents an individual from threats of heart disease. Regular exercises and workouts also help to raise the level of HDL cholesterol.

There are certain factors, which affect the level of cholesterol in blood. Factors like age, gender, genetic problems, body weight, eating problems, body shape and level of exercises are also responsible for increasing cholesterol levels. People aging within 35-45 must check their cholesterol levels and consult an expert to reduce it, if required. If somebody wants to check his cholesterol level, he should make some changes in his lifestyle as well; like quitting all bad habits like smoking and incorporate all good habits like regular exercises.