Table of contents:
- 1. Cholesterol is actually needed by the body
- 2. There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol
- 3. High cholesterol can occur due to genetics
- 4. Young children can have high cholesterol
- 5. Physical activity can increase good cholesterol
- 6. Supplements can lower cholesterol levels
- 7. Cholesterol levels in women are always changing
You may often hear “don't eat fried food, high cholesterol later” or “eat junk food later cholesterol”. These statements are often mentioned by people around you. But do you know what cholesterol really is? Check out the 7 facts about cholesterol below.
1. Cholesterol is actually needed by the body
You may not be able to avoid cholesterol. Why? Cholesterol is a complex fat compound, shaped like a white wax and spread in various body tissues, especially in nerve tissue. This substance has an important function, namely as the basic material for the formation of hormones and body cell walls. In addition, cholesterol also plays a role in fat metabolism. It helps the liver to break down fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Cholesterol is not always a problem when levels increase in the body, but when cholesterol does decrease, this will have a negative impact on health. Research shows that mothers who are pregnant and have low cholesterol levels will result in premature births. Low cholesterol levels are usually associated with depression and lead to fatigue.
2. There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol
Cholesterol is divided into triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is usually called good cholesterol while LDL is called bad cholesterol. HDL is called good cholesterol because it is responsible as a “scavenger” of fat in the blood vessels, so that the blood vessels are clean from fatty deposits. Meanwhile, LDL does the opposite, therefore it is referred to as bad cholesterol. High levels of HDL in the body prevent you from atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
3. High cholesterol can occur due to genetics
There are many recommendations aimed at lowering cholesterol levels in the body, the most frequently mentioned ways are changes in lifestyle, having a proper diet, and exercising. But what if the high cholesterol is caused by heredity, aka genes?
In fact, as much as 75 percent of the cholesterol in the body is a result of genetics, and the other 25 percent is obtained due to diet and lifestyle. When you eat foods that contain cholesterol, such as meat, fish, and milk, the body that is in a normal state will excrete the excess cholesterol. However, how much the body can "get rid" of the excess cholesterol depends on your genes.
For example, people who have the familial hypercholesterolemia gene cannot get rid of the excess cholesterol effectively. Familial hypercholesterolemia is owned by at least one in 200 people in the world, or as many as 34 million people. You may have the gene if you have a family member with heart disease or high cholesterol but are under 50 years of age. If there is, immediately carry out a medical examination.
4. Young children can have high cholesterol
Most people think that high cholesterol is only experienced by older people or adults, but it's not always like that. The American Academy of Pediatrics performs cholesterol tests in children aged 9 to 11 years. The results of these tests showed that almost some of them had high cholesterol levels in the body. This is related to the diet, physical activity, and genes of each child.
5. Physical activity can increase good cholesterol
As mentioned earlier, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol in the body. When you do physical activity such as exercise, this will increase the levels of good cholesterol or HDL in the body. Research conducted on a group of women with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed that doing 3 weeks of regular exercise increased HDL levels by 21 percent and reduced bad cholesterol levels by 18 percent. Another study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that men who do jogging each week, indicating a significant increase in HDL levels. Of course, high HDL and low LDL levels are good for your health.
6. Supplements can lower cholesterol levels
Supplements can indeed reduce cholesterol levels in the body, but slowly and take a long time. However, the best thing to lower cholesterol is to do regular exercise and improve diet. Supplements can be consumed if you have the familial hypercholesterolemia gene and have been medically proven to do so.
7. Cholesterol levels in women are always changing
In general, cholesterol levels in women are lower than men. However, cholesterol levels in women often change, such as during pregnancy, women's cholesterol levels will increase. Increased cholesterol in pregnant women is believed to help fetal brain growth and development. After delivery, cholesterol levels will return to normal. In addition, when entering menopause, cholesterol levels increase again and what tends to increase is the triglyceride level while the HDL decreases. Thus, at the age of 75 years, cholesterol levels in women are higher than in men.
