What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in every cell in your body. It is produced mostly in the liver but is found throughout the body, especially in fats, blood, nerve tissue and bile. Some cholesterol is also supplied by your diet. 

In addition to being the starting point for the production of steroid hormones, including the sex hormones, cholesterol forms an integral part of all cell membranes.

Your body needs cholesterol to:

• Form cell membranes
• Make certain hormones and vitamins
• Digest food efficiently

Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein(HDL) is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol, make up your total cholesterol count, which can be determined through a blood test.

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol

When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.

HDL (good) Cholesterol

About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.

Triglycerides

Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body. Elevated triglycerides can be due to overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of total calories or more). People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL level and a low HDL level. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.

Lp(a) Cholesterol

Lp(a) is a genetic variation of LDL cholesterol. A high level of Lp(a) is a significant risk factor for the premature development of fatty deposits in arteries. Lp(a) isn’t fully understood, but it may interact with substances found in artery walls and contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits.

Other risk factors:

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Smoking
• Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Family history of premature heart problems
• Being overweight

By taking these factors into account, your healthcare professional can calculate your risk of suffering from hearts problems within the next ten years.

Remember: There are "good" and "bad" fats.  You need some "good" fat (e.g. Omega 3 (from fish and plants), Omega 6) in your diet as it is an important source of energy, supply essential fats that your body cannot make for itself, help cells absorb fat-soluble vitamins and adds taste and flavour to your food.

"Good" fats or oils are polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats.  They can help lower cholesterol levels.

"Bad" fats are saturated fats or trans fats. They increase cholesterol.

The good news ...

You can reduce your cholesterol levels by:

• Eating a heart healthy diet
• Stay active
• Maintain a sensible weight and shape (carrying too much fat around the middle - so called apple shape - is associated with greater heart health problems than carrying extra weight on your hips - so called pear shape.

Heart healthy eating tips: