cholesterol level is? When was the last time you hadit checked? Or have you ever had it checked? How are you doing with yourcholesterol management? And do you need to be concerned about it? Let's look at some statistics The average American eats 165 pounds of meat, 276 eggs, 17 pounds ofbutter or margarine and 18 pounds of ice cream annually. Daily, the averageAmerican consumes the equivalent of a full stick of butter in fat andcholesterol. This diet contributes to a 1-2% increase in the cholesterolaccumulating in the arteries each year. Remember, high cholesterol levels arenot something you can feel. To determine if your blood cholesterol level iscontributing to your risk of heart disease, have it tested by a qualified healthprofessional through laboratory analysis. Cholesterol is manufactured in theliver and is absorbed from the diet. S nce the major lipids or fats are notsoluble in blood, they are carried in the bloodstream by protein carriers calledlipoproteins. These lipoproteins vary in size and are termed highdensitylipoprotein (HDL), low- density lipoprotein (LDL) and a very low-densitylipoprotein (VLDL).All cholesterol is not responsible for heart disease. HDL and LDL mainlycarry cholesterol and play opposite roles in the body. HDL's are the heaviestand have the greatest amount of protein. As they move through the body, theyare able to collect cholesterol and transport it to the liver. There, thecholesterol is processed and then removed. Since it tends to clean up excesscholesterol, HDL has been called a scavenger. LDLs, on the other hand, takecholesterol from the liver to cells, where it is used for hormone synthesis.LDL is also a constituent of cell membranes, or arterial plaque deposits. HighLDL levels can contribute to atherosclerosis.A ratio of at least one LDL to three HDL is desirable for circulatory systemhealth. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are chiefly responsible for areduction of HDL levels. HDL levels can be ra...
