Control Your Cholesterol

How to Control Your Cholesterol

The word Cholesterol holds the lime light in today’s medical arena. Almost everyone is cautious about the after effects of Cholesterol and this is reflected on the food packages which mention the cholesterol within itself. Cholesterol is not fat and it does not have calories. So, you cannot get energy from it.

Cholesterol holds the cell membranes together similar to cement holding bricks together. It is a vital part of myelin sheath that provides insulin to nerve cells. Cholesterol helps the body in producing bile acids which help in digestion.

Cholesterol enters body from saturated fats like meat, poultry, butter and other dairy products. It goes to the liver and is transported to body cells which have low density lipoproteins or LDL. If the cells have enough cholesterol, they refuse to accept the delivery. As a result, cholesterol is deposited in the walls of arteries atherosclerotic plaque. As the plaque develops the artery walls become narrow, hindering the flow of blood.

But that is not the end. The high density lipoproteins or HDL come to the rescue. These travel like vaccum cleaner through the blood stream and suck the excess cholesterol from the over loaded plaques. If your body has the right amount of LDL and HDL, it indicates the right balance of cholesterol. Eating less fat, abstaining cholesterol rich foods, adding soy protein, fiber, nut, garlic and exercise would help a person to control his or her cholesterol.