Cholesterol is Important for Many Body Functions

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Cholesterol is important for many body functions (eg for the synthesis of many hormones). Cholesterol is required in the membrane of mammalian cells for normal cellular function, and is either synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, or derived from the diet, in which case it is delivered by the bloodstream in low-density lipoproteins. Cholesterol is found only in animal products and by itself does not raise blood cholesterol levels as fast as saturated fat. To travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens).

Dieticians, nutritionists and doctors have been tellingus that fat is a killer. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, and it is particularly high in egg yolk and organ meats. A regular diet containing fish oils improves fat tolerance. Diabetics are at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease and any dietary intervention that could decrease this risk would be of great importance. Researchers at the University of Western Australia have just released the results of a study that clearly demonstrates that a weight-loss diet combined with daily fish consumption is highly effective in reducing blood pressure, lowering triglyceride levels while increasing "good" (HDL2) cholesterol levels and in improving glucose tolerance. The balance can be redressed with exercise, a healthy diet, and sometimes medication.

High cholesterol is commonly linked to obesity: Eating an abundance of meats, dairy products and other foods rich in saturated fats contributes to both problems, as does lack of exercise. It's also a good idea to get plenty of exercise to help control the amount of cholesterol in your blood and keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. Aerobic exercise helps to open up blood vessels and, in combination with a healthy diet, may improve blood-clotting factors. Combined with exercise, cholesterol appears to play a role in contributing to muscle gain. If you are unable to lower your cholesterol to safe levels through diet and exercise, then your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication.

A high cholesterol is not dangerous by itself, but may reflect an unhealthy condition, or it may be totally innocent. Now consider that more than 90 % of all cardiovascular disease is seen in people above age 60 also and that almost all studies have found that high cholesterol is not a risk factor for women. Most studies of young and middle-aged men have found high cholesterol to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease, seemingly a contradiction to the idea that high cholesterol is protective. However, the bottom line is that a high level of plasma cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and strokes