{"id":21876,"date":"2024-01-16T02:52:37","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T01:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=21876"},"modified":"2024-01-16T02:53:59","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T01:53:59","slug":"cholesterol-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/cholesterol-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Health: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word \u201ccholesterol\u201d? For most people, cholesterol has a negative connotation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which is understandable. According to the World Health Organization (<\/span>WHO<\/span><\/a>), an estimated 39% of adult males and 40% of adult females have elevated cholesterol levels. They also estimate that high cholesterol levels account for about 4.5% of deaths annually across the globe. But that\u2019s not the whole picture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reality is that cholesterol is widely misunderstood, and does not necessarily deserve its reputation. What\u2019s more important is to understand where this mentality comes from, what cholesterol is, and understand the good and bad it does for the human body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is cholesterol?<\/h2>\n

Cholesterol is not some foreign substance wreaking havoc on your body, it\u2019s found in every one of your cells. This waxy, fat-like substance is needed to make vitamin D and hormones and helps you digest your food.<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, but it is also found in many of the foods we eat, especially animal products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood\u201d vs \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol<\/h2>\n

There are two different types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are considered \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol, while low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are considered \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol.<\/span><\/p>\n

HDL cholesterol has an important job in the body. It\u2019s responsible for carrying cholesterol back to your liver where it can be flushed from the body. Contrary to popular belief, high levels of HDL can even lower the risk of stroke and heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

High levels of LDL on the other hand can lead to plaque, which is when LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your blood vessels. This plaque buildup is called <\/span>atherosclerosis<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

People often lump in <\/span>triglycerides<\/span><\/a> with cholesterol. While they are both a type of lipids, triglycerides are a type of fat that helps provide the body with energy and store unused calories. Like cholesterol, high triglyceride levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

The risks of high cholesterol<\/h2>\n

Remember the plaque buildup that can come from high levels of LDL cholesterol? Over time, this plaque buildup can cause the insides of your blood vessels to become more narrow, which can restrict and block blood flow to your organs \u2013 including your heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Restricted blood flow to the heart can lead to serious complications including heart attacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Risks of high cholesterol<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n