With the number of gastronomical options available these days whowouldn’t want to eat to their hearts content? Oily street food, deep friedveggies, cheese and ham- all mouthwatering delights. However doctors warn thatif you don’t watch what you eat, your cholesterol will go through the roofcausing complications that may be irreversible as you grow older.
Which brings us to thequestion of exactly what our little cloggy friend may be. Cholesterol is nothingshort of a waxy, fat-like substance produced in the liver and othercells which are also found in certain foods. This includes food fromanimals, dairy products, eggs and meat. The body needs a small quantity ofcholesterol in order to function properly and produce hormones, vitamin D, and bileacids that help to digest fat. But it is merely a limited amount of cholesterolthat is required to meet the body’s needs. When too much is present, healthproblems begin to arise, such as heart disease.
Dr Stacey Moraes says, “The only way you can control cholesterolis through a proper diet and exercise. Avoid oily foods and red meat. Try tostick to white meat, as much as possible. High cholesterol leads to thickeningof your blood vessels which in turn is responsible for lack of blood reachingyour heart or brain. One needs to check their cholesterol at least once everytwo years if not more.”
Various factors can affect cholesterol levels such asdiabetes, diet, amount of exercise, age gender and heredity. According to DrAntonio Rodrigues, a general practitioner and a cardiologist in Margao,“Exercise is an excellent preventive measure. One must avoid food withsaturated fat. Junk food is bad for you as a lot of it contains oil that is re-used.”
Food of animal origin, such as dairy products, egg yolks,poultry, red meat and certain types of shellfish contain dietary cholesterol.Food that comes from plants, such as grains, fruit and vegetables, can containtrace amounts of dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol in your bloodstream comesfrom two sources: dietary cholesterol and cholesterol that is producednaturally by your body. Your body tries to maintain a healthy balance betweenthese two types of cholesterol. When you consume more cholesterol than youneed, your body usually compensates by manufacturing less cholesterol.
Basically the idea to stay healthy is to eat healthy. Thatmantra coupled with plenty of exercise is the key to keeping your cholesteroldown, and avoiding a trip to the doctor.
