The Causes of Increased Cholesterol and its effect on the Body

Cholesterol

The word Cholesterol is enough to infuse terror in the hearts of many people but we actually do not know what it really is. Cholesterol is made by the liver, released in the blood stream and converted into hormones needed by various glands and organs in your system (including the thyroid, adrenal and reproductive system.

Locating Cholesterol

Cholesterol is found in foods such as meat, fish, chicken or milk-derived products like cheeses and yogurt. There are different types of cholsetrol found in the body and blood tests can locate the type and quantity.

Types of Cholesterol

  • HDL (High Density Cholesterol) cholesterol can be likened to an oil of very high grade which does not break down easily under adverse situations (like extreme friction or high temperature) and which continues to keep things running smoothly in an engine.
  • LDL cholesterol is like a cheap oil which actually can break down, not do its job and can gums up the works.

Influence of Cholesterol

Cholesterol has been linked to cardiovascular disease. There is some interesting information that most people do not know like having too low cholesterol is very harmful. People who have cholesterol levels generally below 135 are at a much higher risk for strokes than those who have cholesterol above 200.

This is because when cholesterol is below 135, much of the cholesterol can be found to be pooling in the liver, creating deposits and plaques.

Controlling Cholesterol Levels

The doctor will need to identify what vitamin or mineral deficiencies you might have that could be causing a cholesterol problem. Many nutrients affect cholesterol and there are many different vitamin and mineral substances that the body uses to regulate its own cholesterol levels. There are far greater results in supplying the body with correct amounts of these nutrients to lower cholesterol as opposed to doing it by diet. Studies showed herbs playing a vital role in controlling and maintaining this system.

Many glands and organs in the system have a profound effect on cholesterol. Many times excess cholesterol will build up into the system, due to a deficiency of the functioning of the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands, the thyroid gland or the reproductive glands. This is because these glands may not be properly using the cholesterol to convert to hormones which means the cholesterol is not used and is therefore found in excess. Some people, when they go on the proper nutritional program for cholesterol, actually find their cholesterol levels soaring very high for several months then dropping dramatically. This occurs because many times cholesterol becomes congested in the liver. When special vitamins and herbs are taken (which help to emulsify or break down the cholesterol) it is released from the liver into the blood, showing high for up to several months. Once all the cholesterol is dissolved from the liver cholesterol levels in the blood will then drop to normal or ideal levels.

Exercise is important in keeping cholesterol levels under control. A proper amount of exercise stimulates the metabolism and allows the body to burn up and use cholesterol correctly so that is does not build up in the system, resulting in better health from within.