![]() ![]() Genetic variations in the APOE gene have been shown to create differential responses to dietary saturated fat. Part of the discrepancy may be related to the strong effect of genetic variation in an individual’s response to dietary changes. In contrast, other studies have found the opposite, particularly after adjusting for the saturated fat content of foods. Some studies have found that high cholesterol foods like eggs and meats can increase total cholesterol levels. There is some debate about whether or not cholesterol in foods can lead to high cholesterol in the blood. Foods high in saturated fats include fatty meats, fatty dairy products, prepackaged processed baked goods, and palm oil. Specific dietary patterns increase the risk of high cholesterol, including diets high in saturated fats, processed carbohydrates, processed meats, and sugary drinks. Medical conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease can also cause high cholesterol. Lifestyle factors like smoking, excessive alcohol use, and lack of exercise can cause higher cholesterol levels. If very high cholesterol runs in your family, you should get tested for one of these disorders. Genetic conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia can cause high cholesterol that is not affected by diet. There are natural ways to change the type of cholesterol in your bloodstream, which we’ll review below. High levels of LDL are more dangerous than levels of HDL. “Bad” cholesterol is a term that’s generally used to refer to LDL cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins that are bigger molecules, which tend to more readily form plaque than high-density lipoproteins (HDL or “good” cholesterol). ![]() ![]() You may have heard these referred to as “good” and “bad” cholesterol. ![]() There are different types of cholesterol in the blood, and some are more likely to form plaque than others. Ischemia can lead to symptoms like chest pain with exertion, fatigue, and severe health consequences like heart attack, stroke, and organ failure if left untreated. This pathological lack of blood supply is referred to as ischemia. This plaque causes the width of blood vessels to narrow, and as a result, blood cannot fully perfuse tissues and organs. When cholesterol and other lipids build up in the bloodstream, they can adhere to the walls of blood vessels and form arterial plaque. Proper cholesterol levels are essential for maintaining memory, cognition, and more. This is partially because cholesterol insulates nerves and helps with signal transduction between synapses. Cell membranes in the brain generally contain ten times more cholesterol than cell membranes elsewhere in the body. Second, cholesterol is essential for endocrine health because it is involved in producing sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and DHEA), adrenal hormones (cortisol and aldosterone), and vitamin D.Ĭholesterol also makes up a large portion of brain tissue roughly ¼ of the body’s total cholesterol is found in the brain. Keeping cell membranes healthy, fluid, flexible, and protected from oxidation is a mainstay of functional medicine, and optimal cholesterol levels are a vital component of this approach. Increasingly, cell membrane health is becoming a focus of preventive medicine efforts because cell membranes are often damaged by oxidative stress, leading to a cascade of adverse effects that lead to illness. First, it makes up cell membranes, which are responsible for cell signaling, metabolic health, and more. This article will cover natural treatments for high cholesterol, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, supplements, vitamins, etc.Ĭholesterol is a lipid, or type of fat, that has many critical roles in human physiology. Cholesterol is an essential nutrient critical for making hormones, vitamin D, and cell membranes in the body.Ībnormal elevations in cholesterol, however, are linked with an increased risk of the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, which increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. It affects approximately 31% of adults (or 73 million people) in the United States each year. Hypercholesterolemia is the term for elevated cholesterol levels - a type of fat - in the blood. ![]()
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