Avoid bad cholesterol for good one

Despite the importance of cholesterol to the body, health experts say there are good and bad cholesterol. Mrs Serah N. Abagai Head of Department Dietetics, National Hospital Abuja, explained “Good cholesterol helps the body to absorb and deal with the bad cholesterol whereas the bad cholesterol can easily clot the blood vessel and endanger the coronary artery.  When the blood vessels are clogged, blood pressure increases.”  

High level of cholesterol is one of the factors that can increase risk of cardiovascular disease, e.g. heart disease and stroke. When too much Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)( bad cholesterol) circulates in the blood, it slowly builds up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, 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.

Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or 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.

About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack.

So for healthy hearth, it is good to have a balance between the good and bad cholesterol, Mrs. Abagai said. She said though the good cholesterol is generated internally there are foods that if eaten can help to strike a balance between the good and bad cholesterol.  When you eat good foods that help the body to generate good cholesterol, automatically the body is empowered to emulsify the bad cholesterol. This is contained in foods that are rich in Omega three 5, 6, 9 acids. They are friends of the good cholesterol, and are enemies of the bad ones. You get it in oily fish; any fish when eaten in moderation will give you enough omega three fatty acids. Soya oil, sesame oil, beniseed oil are sources of Omega three acid.

However it is good to know which food contains the bad cholesterol so we can avoid them.  Animal foods are major sources of bad cholesterol for example meat. Things like margarine, mayonnaise and other salad dressing are also culprit. Peanut butter also gives the body materiel to manufacture the bad cholesterol.

When should blood cholesterol be checked?

It is recommended that if you are over 20 years, you should have both your HDL bad cholesterol and LDL good cholesterol checked every five years.Cholesterol is easily measured in a blood sample. If high cholesterol runs in your family, it’s better to measure cholesterol at a much younger age – some time in your 20s.

Many people who suffer from high cholesterol, whether genetically determined or not, find relief and help through dietary change. So for a good heart health, it is good to have a balance between the good and bad cholesterol, Abagai explained.