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As a citizen of this modern day world, I know that LOL stands for “laugh out loud”. Yes, I am truly up to date! But how about the acronyms that get thrown about when you are discussing your cholesterol, such as LDL or HDL? Which is good cholesterol? Which is bad cholesterol? And what is downright ugly?!
Cholesterol is something that everybody has and for the most part it does a lot of good things in our bodies. But sometimes it does the wrong thing in the wrong places and that is when plaques can form inside your arteries, which lead to a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
Despite all the acronyms, there is actually only one type of cholesterol but it is carried around your body by different carriers which are deemed “good” or “bad”. LDL-Cholesterol (carried by low density lipoproteins) is known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol because it dumps all the cholesterol in your artery walls forming those plaques. HDL-cholesterol (carried by high density lipoproteins) is known as the ‘good’ cholesterol as it transports cholesterol away from your arteries to your liver. There are also triglycerides that store and transport fat in your blood.
A telling risk of heart attack or stroke is your total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. (Total cholesterol equals LDL plus HDL plus triglycerides). As a rule of thumb, a lower risk is a ratio of less than 4.0. But your ideal ratio might be different, depending on your health and family history.
While we can change our diet somewhat to help with our cholesterol levels, it is worth noting that only 25 percent of cholesterol in our bodies come from our diet. The other 75 percent is produced by your liver. So what can you do?
Eat porridge: research indicates that the fibre in oats helps decrease LDL-cholesterol levels.
Medication, prescribed by a doctor, may be used to lower cholesterol. It can keep a good many people living a lot longer. However, some of these medicines (statins) may lower Co-enzyme Q10 levels, which can leave you feeling tired. Co-enzyme Q10 is available in tablet form for replacement. However always see your health care professional for advice about what is suitable for you.
Pharmacist
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