What Do You Need To Know?
Do you really know all you need to know about your cholesterol and heart health? Does it all seem a little confusing to you? In the past, experts would only tell you about the bad cholesterol in your body, but did you know that there is also good cholesterol which your body needs?
Which one is more important? How can you make them both work for you? Is there really a way to find a balance in the cholesterol in your body? The good news is that yes, you can create a healthy balance of cholesterol, but you need to know about it first.
Good Cholesterol Versus Bad Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol in the body, HDL, or the good cholesterol helps to carry all the bad cholesterol from your body. HDL is what attaches to every single cell to help it keep it’s essential moisture level and maintain its shape. HDL is also the building block for all of the hormones in the body and that means that you really need this stuff. The liver actually makes cholesterol and can even adjust itself according to how much you consume.
The problem is that many of us actually consume too much LDL, or the bad cholesterol, which becomes problematic because too much of it builds up in the walls of the arteries and causes blockages which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. When we consume cholesterol, it is most often in the form of LDL and much of it comes from animal by products such as dairy products like milk, cheese and butter, but it can also come from meat.
What The Numbers Mean
When you have your cholesterol checked, you will not only find out what your LDL’s are, but you’re also going to find out what your HDL’s are. You want your HDL cholesterol to be high. In fact, you should think of your HDL as your body’s own special “pipe cleaner”. The more HDL you have, the more able your body will be to keep your veins and arteries clear of the buildup that too much LDL will cause you.
So, even though your health care professional will tell you that you need to work to lower your LDL cholesterol, it’s likely that he’s telling you that you need to raise your HDL and this can be tricky. The thing is that cholesterol and your heart health are very connected and it’s up to you to get your numbers in line.
Start Early
Anyone can have high cholesterol, even children, but everyone can help to change these numbers through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes, so no matter how old you are, you should be aware of your numbers. The older you get, the harder it can be for your body to eliminate all the bad LDL buildup and increase your HDL numbers, but this doesn’t mean that you should give up on it.
If you are trying to adjust your cholesterol for better heart health, there are things that you can do no matter how old you are and a healthy heart is essential for a long, healthy life.
