Cholesterol

Experts Recommend:

• From the age of 35 in men and from 45 in women, with a periodicity of 5 years if the values ​​are normal.
• Before age 35 when there are diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, etc.
• 1 time a year if you take medicine to control high cholesterol.
• During the gestation period
• When menopause comes

Cholesterol is a natural fatty substance present in all cells of the human body necessary for the normal functioning of the body..

An important part of the cholesterol in our body is produced in the liver. The rest is provided through the diet and the cholesterol present in the bile, part of which is re-absorbed in the intestine.

It's recommended that cholesterol levels are between 120 and 200 mg / dl.

According to one study, very low levels of cholesterol in the blood have been associated with higher mortality than high levels; if it rises, it is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors since it can cause hypercholesterolemia. In fact, people with blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg / dl have twice the risk of having a heart attack than those with levels of 200 mg / dl.

Is cholesterol necessary?

The answer is yes, cholesterol is necessary and it has many functions in our body.

• Sex hormones: It is a precursor of sex hormones such as testosterone, progesterone, or estrogens.
• Nervous system: Cholesterol helps improve the nerve impulse and the connection between neurons.
• Bile salts and bile: in bile we can find cholesterol, although this is produced by the liver to facilitate the digestion of fats.
• Vitamin D: essential to manage calcium levels in our body. Cholesterol derivatives are transformed thanks to sun exposure and vitamin D is obtained.

According to one study, very low levels of cholesterol in the blood have been associated with higher mortality than high levels.

What does good cholesterol and bad cholesterol mean?

Cholesterol is a non-water soluble fat that travels through the bloodstream attached to proteins called lipoproteins (let's visualize the image of the separation that occurs when we put oil in a glass of water).

We are going to differentiate good cholesterol from bad depending on its density:

- LDL (bad cholesterol). Low-Density Lipoproteins carry cholesterol from the liver to all cells in the body, and if it is in excess, it can cause it to accumulate on the walls of the arteries. High LDL cholesterol is for this reason one of the risk factors for coronary heart disease. Your optimal level should be between 70 and 120 mg / dl.

- HDL (good cholesterol). High-Density Lipoproteins carry cholesterol from the arteries to the liver to be eliminated. Its optimal level would be greater than 35 mg / dl in men and 40 mg / dl in women.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are the main type of fat found in the blood.

It is advisable to keep your levels within normal ranges (below 150 mg / dl), since high levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. They come from food, especially butter, oils, and other fats that we eat.

What is the difference between cholesterol and triglycerides?

They are both fat, but its usefulness varies:

• El cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones.
• The triglycerides stored unused calories and provide energy to the body.