6 tips to lower cholesterol levels according to an expert
“Excess cholesterol is bad for your health. and can lead, in the long term, to myocardial infarction, stroke or arteritis of the lower limbs”, warns the French Federation of Cardiology.
You must know that Cholesterol is an essential lipid in the body. Indeed, “it composes and maintains the structure of the membranes of the cells of our body and plays a role in the synthesis of certain hormones”, describes the French Federation of Cardiology. Most of the cholesterol needed by the body is made by your liver while the rest of the cholesterol comes from your diet.
Two proteins are responsible for transporting cholesterol in the body, via the blood:
High density lipoproteins (HDL)which correspond to “good” cholesterol. Their role is to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the arteries.
Low density lipoproteins (LDL)which refer to the “bad” cholesterol. Unlike HDL, these proteins distribute excess cholesterol to different organs, which promotes lipid deposition on the walls of the arteries and therefore the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques.
What are the dangers of bad cholesterol?
If it is in excess in the blood, bad cholesterol can be dangerous. Indeed, it deteriorates the arteries and participates in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. This phenomenon promotes clots and cardiovascular accidents (stroke, heart attack).
However, “having high cholesterol is not always so bad, provided you not having associated risk factors: being a smoker, having poorly regulated diabetes, being overweight or being a man (and yes, it is a risk factor)”, explains to Medisite Raphaël Gruman, nutritionist. “In the event of a risk factor, in particular with tobacco or diabetes, cholesterol oxidizes and binds to the walls of the arteries causing plaques of atheroma and stiffening of the arteries responsible for cardiovascular pathologies.”
To prevent cholesterol from becoming dangerous for your health, Dr. Megan Rossi, doctor of British nutrition, shares for the DailyMail the 6 tips to reduce your rate.
