If you have found out that you have really high cholesterol levels and are wondering why this is the case. You are probably also asking how you can lower these levels, what the risks are, and just plain, what is this? Many people with high cholesterol levels focus on trying to lower these without actually understanding the nature of cholesterol. While it is not imperative to know, it is a good idea to have some insight into just what is cholesterol. Understanding more about cholesterol will help you to understand why you should keep cholesterol levels low.
So what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is quite simply a class of aerobic chemical compounds that are mostly hydrophobic in nature. So what the heck does that mean? Well, if you never took organic chemistry or biochemistry in college, or never went to college, it doesn't mean a whole lot. Even if you took those classes, it still doesn't tell you very much.
Cholesterol is not all bad, it is absolutely vital to the existence of any animal; this includes us humans. The cell membranes of the human body have to remain fluid and flexible, unlike that of a plant. Plant cell membranes are rigid and have no flexibility. This is where cholesterol comes to the fore, this substance keeps the cell membranes of the animal flexible. The cell membranes of an animal/human consist of two layers of lipids. Both lipid cell layers have a head and a tail, these are hydrophilic and the head aligns with the watery exterior and interior of the cell while the tail aligns in the relatively water free centre of the cell. Cholesterol, travels between these two layers of lipids, keeping the membranes elastic. Kind of like a layer of oil between the surface of a piston ring and sleeve.
From this we conclude that the presence of cholesterol is vital to the life of an animal. Cholesterol is carried through the body on lipoprotein carriers, the most important are HDL and LDL. LDL or low-density lipoproteins are the dangerous ones. When LDL levels are high, there is a great risk of them clogging arteries.
So, what is cholesterol? In broader terms it is something we cannot live without but in terms of LDL, it could be something that could kill us. Essentially cholesterol is a building block of the body, it is produced naturally in the liver and we do not need to eat or take any kind of supplements to ensure its production. You liver will produce all the cholesterol you will ever need. Therefore there is nothing you need to eat to produce it. Cut out all LDL cholesterol producing foods and your body will continue to run just fine without them. - 15438
So what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is quite simply a class of aerobic chemical compounds that are mostly hydrophobic in nature. So what the heck does that mean? Well, if you never took organic chemistry or biochemistry in college, or never went to college, it doesn't mean a whole lot. Even if you took those classes, it still doesn't tell you very much.
Cholesterol is not all bad, it is absolutely vital to the existence of any animal; this includes us humans. The cell membranes of the human body have to remain fluid and flexible, unlike that of a plant. Plant cell membranes are rigid and have no flexibility. This is where cholesterol comes to the fore, this substance keeps the cell membranes of the animal flexible. The cell membranes of an animal/human consist of two layers of lipids. Both lipid cell layers have a head and a tail, these are hydrophilic and the head aligns with the watery exterior and interior of the cell while the tail aligns in the relatively water free centre of the cell. Cholesterol, travels between these two layers of lipids, keeping the membranes elastic. Kind of like a layer of oil between the surface of a piston ring and sleeve.
From this we conclude that the presence of cholesterol is vital to the life of an animal. Cholesterol is carried through the body on lipoprotein carriers, the most important are HDL and LDL. LDL or low-density lipoproteins are the dangerous ones. When LDL levels are high, there is a great risk of them clogging arteries.
So, what is cholesterol? In broader terms it is something we cannot live without but in terms of LDL, it could be something that could kill us. Essentially cholesterol is a building block of the body, it is produced naturally in the liver and we do not need to eat or take any kind of supplements to ensure its production. You liver will produce all the cholesterol you will ever need. Therefore there is nothing you need to eat to produce it. Cut out all LDL cholesterol producing foods and your body will continue to run just fine without them. - 15438
About the Author:
Dane Masters is an accomplished author. To learn more about Avoiding Heart Bypass Surgery, please visit Drink for Healthy Joints for current articles and discussions.
