| High blood cholesterol has been shown to be a leading | | | | The problem food in your diet is saturated fatty acids |
| cause of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart | | | | (SFAs). The Seven Countries Studies of over 11,000 |
| disease and stroke. However cholesterol itself is | | | | middle aged men in 7 countries indicated a strong |
| essential to several important processes within the | | | | independent correlation between eating SFAs and |
| body, including cell membrane structure and function, | | | | CHD. |
| making of hormones and the digestion and movement | | | | It's been found that SFAs in your diet raise total blood |
| of fats to all parts of the body. | | | | cholesterol approximately twice as much as |
| So why does an essential compound result in such big | | | | polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) lowered it. |
| problems? | | | | Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were found to |
| The answer lies in a more detailed understanding of | | | | be neutral and dietary cholesterol, like that in egg yolks, |
| cholesterol, how it can result in high blood cholesterol | | | | has only a comparatively small effect. It is thought that |
| and the reasons high blood cholesterol results in blood | | | | the body adapts to a high cholesterol diet in several |
| vessel damage. | | | | ways: |
| Interestingly, the body can make all the cholesterol it | | | | * Reduction of intestinal absorption |
| needs although typically it makes around 2/3rd and the | | | | * An increase in conversion to bile acids |
| remaining 1/3rd comes from your diet. Further, not all of | | | | * Reduction in the amount made in the body |
| your diet sourced cholesterol is absorbed and | | | | * Changes in LDL-C receptor activity |
| absorption rates vary widely. A range between 20% | | | | While the general effect is small some individual's |
| and 80% is possible with an average of around 60%. | | | | response is more extreme. Half of this variation is put |
| Absorption appears to be regulated so that cholesterol | | | | down to genetic factors. |
| levels remain at a constant level within your body. | | | | How Does High Blood Cholesterol Result in Blood |
| It is widely thought that high blood cholesterol is the | | | | Vessel Damage? |
| main risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. Evidence | | | | Cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries. |
| from several major studies suggests that high blood | | | | This build up of cholesterol is called plaque and over |
| cholesterol causes coronary heart disease (CHD). It's | | | | time it can cause narrowing of the arteries. This is |
| estimated that it accounts for around half of the | | | | called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The |
| increased risk of CHD in a middle aged man with total | | | | arteries that bring oxygenated blood to supply the |
| blood cholesterol of 6.2 mmol.L-1. As your blood | | | | heart are called coronary arteries. |
| cholesterol increases and your HDL-C (good | | | | Narrowing of your coronary arteries due to plaque can |
| cholesterol) decreases, so your risk of CHD increases. | | | | slow down the flow of blood to your heart resulting in |
| This is supported by large studies. The MRFIT study | | | | a decrease in the amount of oxygen-rich blood it |
| followed 360,000 men for six years. It showed that the | | | | receives. If the heart doesn't receive enough oxygen |
| risk began at levels as low as 4.65 mmol.L-1 and the | | | | then angina or chest pains can result. A complete |
| risk was large. The risk of CHD for the highest 10% is | | | | blockage results in a heart attack and possible death. |
| four times that of the lowest 10%. | | | | Lowering your blood cholesterol level decreases your |
| It is now thought that LDL-C (low density lipoprotein | | | | chance for having a heart attack and may also slow |
| cholesterol) is the most damaging and rather than total | | | | down, reduce, or even stop plaque from building up. |
| cholesterol the better predictor of CHD is the total | | | | Saturated Fats You Should Reduce |
| blood cholesterol to HDL-C (high density lipoprotein | | | | * Animal fat especially fatty meat: salami, sausage |
| cholesterol) ratio. | | | | meat, minced meats, trim the hard white fat from red |
| Contrary to what may seem obvious the level of | | | | meats and remove the skin from poultry. |
| cholesterol in your diet doesn't show a significant | | | | * Full-fat diary products |
| independent correlation to your risk of CHD. Although it | | | | Use vegetable oils in cooking instead of animal fat. |
| had been shown to be the case in animal studies an | | | | Good examples include canola and olive oil. |
| analysis of the Framington Heart Study indicated that | | | | The message is clear. If you want to be healthier then |
| dietary cholesterol was not a predictor of total blood | | | | lower your saturated fat intake and exchange it for |
| cholesterol or of LDL-C levels in women. | | | | polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. |