Cholesterol is a word that we hear an increasing amount as we age, but many people are still unaware of what cholesterol is and the dangers it can pose.
Cholesterol is an essential fatty substance that is carried around the body in your bloodstream. When cholesterol combines with proteins they become lipoproteins. There are two main types, which have very different effects on the body:
- Low-density lipoprotein is the ‘bad’ cholesterol. They carry cholesterol away from your liver to the cells that need it.
- High-density lipoprotein is the ‘good’ cholesterol that carries cholesterol away from cells and back to the liver to be broken down.
- Smoking
- Diet high in saturated fat
- Not enough exercise
- Kidney or liver disease
- Engage in regular exercise
- Don’t smoke
- Don’t drink excessively
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and fibre
- Don’t eat a lot of saturated fat