I Dropped My Cholesterol, and You May Too
CAN YOU LOWER your cholesterol levels through non-dietary means? I did. Today we explore some cholesterol basics, take a look at what the numbers should be, and explore what you might want to do if you are told that your cholesterol levels are too high.
What is cholesterol? It is a substance found in your blood. We all have some, and we need it to maintain health. The liver makes this fatty, waxy substance. Cholesterol can help us make hormones and vitamin D, in addition to being a building block for the membranes of our cells. Unfortunately, some of us have too much cholesterol.
Our body typically makes enough cholesterol to meet its needs. Diet, however, may add additional amounts of the substance, depending on the food.
If you have an excessive amount of cholesterol, your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems is, in general, higher than people with normal levels of cholesterol. In fact, the higher your cholesterol, the higher your risk of getting one of these health problems.
Cholesterol comes in many flavors. Here is what showed up on my blood test results: First, total cholesterol. Then, the results from its components, including LDL cholesterol. You may know this as “bad cholesterol.” If your LDL level is too high, you have an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes…
