Facts on Cholesterol Information


Cholesterol Definitions & Related terms

Cholesterol is an essential substance in our body. In some people cholesterol is produced more than is required by the body. Higher level of cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. You should lower your cholesterol and protect your heart.

Atherosclerosis, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
A disease of the coronary arteries in which cholesterol is deposited in plaques on the arterial walls. The plaque narrows or blocks blood flow to the heart. Atherosclerosis is also called coronary artery disease, or CAD.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
A type of lipoprotein that consists of about 50% protein and 19% cholesterol. It protects against CAD by removing cholesterol deposits from arteries or preventing their formation. It is also known as good cholesterol.

Hypercholesterolemia
The presence of excessively high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Lipid
Any organic compound that is greasy, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol. Fats, waxes, and oils are examples of lipids.

Lipoprotein
A complex molecule that consists of a protein membrane surrounding a core of lipids. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol and other lipids from the digestive tract to the liver and other body tissues. There are five major types of lipoproteins.

Low Density lipoprotein (LDL)
A type of lipoprotein that consists of about 50% cholesterol and is associated with an increased risk of CAD. It is also known as bad cholesterol. LDL molecules carry cholesterol from the liver to other body tissues.

Plaque
An abnormal deposit of hardened cholesterol on the wall of an artery.

Triglyceride
A chemical compound that forms about 95% of the fats and oils stored in animal and vegetable cells. Triglyceride levels are sometimes measured as well as cholesterol when a patient is screened for heart disease.

Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL).
These lipoproteins carry mostly triglycerides, but they also contain 16-22% cholesterol. VLDLs are made in the liver and eventually become IDL particles after they have lost their triglyceride content. Cholesterol Units

Source: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Published by the Gale Group, December, 2002

Cholesterol Facts

  1. High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart attacks and angina.
  2. High triglycerides can also increase the risk of heart disease.
  3. Note that not all people with high cholesterol levels get heart disease.
    Heart disease usually takes 60-70 years to develop, but if you discover your cholesterol level is high you should see your doctor.
    About 30 per cent of the people die of heart disease and most of these are over 65 years old.
  4. The most effective way to lower cholesterol is to reduce animal fats in the diet. If your family has a history of heart disease, then you may need to make major lifestyle changes as mentioned below:
    1. Be physically active.
    2. Reduce full fat milk, full fat yogurt, ice creams, etc.
    3. Reduce cheese intake
    4. Stop using ghee and/or butter and use polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils like canola oil and olive oil.
    5. Choose lean cuts of meat and remove all visible fat.
    6. Eat skinless chicken and fish.
    7. Reduce eating pasties, cakes, pies, fish and chips.
    8. Stop smoking.
    9. Lose weight if overweight.

On the following pages you will find information on safe levels of cholesterol, details on fats, cholesterol & heart, how to reduce your cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, etc. Try the detailed information and recipes given on this site to control cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cholesterol Articles


Cholesterol Content of Foods

  1. Alcohols
  2. Cholesterol in Bread
  3. Cakes
  4. Cholesterol in Cereals
  5. Cheese
  6. Cholesterol in Chicken
  7. Cholesterol in Cream
  8. Cookies
  9. Cholesterol in Drinks
  10. Eggs
  11. Cholesterol in French Fries, Fast foods
  12. Cholesterol in Meats, Beef
  13. Cholesterol in Milk
  14. Cholesterol in Butter & Oils
  15. Cholesterol in Seafoods
  16. Cholesterol in Jams, Sugars & Spreads

Blood Pressure Topics

  1. Blood pressure
  2. High blood pressure symptoms
  3. High blood pressure diet
  4. High blood pressure foods

Liz: This is a wonderful site. I am a nurse and this site has wonderful information for people to look up. My husband has high cholesterol and he wanted some information to lower his LDL cholesterol and raise his HDL cholesterol. I found this site to be a major source of information for the ordinary person. Thank you very much...... I will definitely be back to this site.

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