Cholesterol is an integral part of the lipoproteins found within the fats and oils food class.
Having a high amount of cholesterol can have very destructive effects on our health affecting mainly the cardiovascular system consisting of the heart and blood vessels.
The normal values of cholesterol in the blood ranges from between 80 to 250mg/dl and values above this are considered dangerous.
Other lipoproteins are VLDL, LDL and HDL, of these HDL is considered to be of benefit to health.
You may want to ask; how do we get cholesterol into our system? The answer lies in the food we eat particularly those of animal origin.
Examples include eggs, chicken, liver and beef.
Plant sources include palm oil which is considered to be 100% fat.
We don't usually cook with this kind of oil in the western world maybe due to the kind of meals we prepare but it is used commonly in the African continent and some parts of Asia where its used in preparing stews and soups and often added to many meals as well.
Cholesterol can also be gotten from alcohol consumption, however this is a not a direct source.
Excess alcohol is metabolized in the liver and stored as fat, of which cholesterol is a component.
All the enzymes involved in its metabolism are found in the liver, hence any disease state involving the liver and gall bladder leads to faulty breakdown of various nutrients; fats included.
Our sedentary life style which we have in our present world has not helped our situation one bit, our lack of exercise reduces blood flow within the blood vessels which disallows the dislodgement of various lipid deposits within the walls of the blood vessels.
Likewise dependence on quick processed meals which are high in sodium and preservatives and very low in fiber content leads to excessive deposits of LDL.
So how do we reduce our cholesterol and LDL levels without necessary seeking any medical intervention in form of prescription drugs? 1.
Increase our intake of food which contain fiber, these include green vegetables, fresh fruit including apples and pears.
2.
Reduce our alcohol consumption to the barest minimum.
3.
Stop cigarette smoking as cigarette deposits form plagues within the wall of the blood vessels thereby worsening the situation.
4.
Try and exercise more often, at least for 30 minutes everyday.
5.
Consumption of food containing omega 3 fatty acids has been proven to be of immense benefit.
For more information about natural ways of reducing cholesterol please visit www.
fastdietsolutionscheme.
com it contains several recipes which you can prepare to combat increased cholesterol levels.
Olayinka Oni.