❶ Cholesterol: Our Friend Or Foe

Indeed, we are all accustomed to the fact that cholesterol is something terribly harmful that clogs our blood vessels and leads to various cardiovascular diseases. We have already heard very well from advertisements about all kinds of diets, proper nutrition and healthy foods containing little cholesterol, but unfortunately, few people know that cholesterol is not only “bad”, but also “good”. Location: Location:

So let's figure out what "good" cholesterol means and what is "bad". Cholesterol is a type of fat that is formed in our body through the liver. It is vital, as it performs many useful functions: it promotes the production of hormones, participates in the construction of cells and various biochemical processes of the body. There is little cholesterol in the blood as such, it is mainly found in protein compounds called lipoproteins in medicine. They, in turn, are just divided into low-density (LDL), which are "bad" and high-density (HDL) - "good". And if some clog the vessels with cholesterol plaques, others, on the contrary, cleanse them.

Both the one and the other cholesterol are needed by the body. The main thing is its level in the blood. Doctors recommend not to allow the excess of total cholesterol levels above 200 mg / dl, while LDL should be less than HDL, which can not be discussed.

If you are young, lead an active lifestyle, eat normally and you are doing well with your liver, then you have nothing to fear - your body will perfectly cope with cholesterol itself. Particular attention to the level of cholesterol in the blood should be paid to people with bad habits, such as smoking and constant consumption of alcohol, as well as people who are overweight and inactive.

If you do have high cholesterol, seek the advice of your healthcare professional. Usually, to normalize its level, a whole range of measures is needed: diet, rejection of bad habits, exercise and, which is very important - the absence of stress and bad mood.