Find out more about triglycerides and cholesterol

The real question is: what you need to know about cholesterol and triglycerides?

Often the two terms is made much confusion and especially the term cholesterol evokes physical problems and misfortunes. Actually both triglycerides cholesterol are important for the well being of our body.

Let’s see in detail

The cholesterol is an important fatty substance for the human body, since it has different functions in the body: it takes part in the digestion process, the production of vitamin D – useful for bone health – and the training of nervous system, leading to the formation of hormones (testosterone and estrogen). Being produced in the liver, cholesterol is found only in animal products.

This substance, however, is likely to become detrimental if present in excessive amounts in the blood because it could result in the narrowing of the blood vessels, which can lead to heart attack or stroke; it is therefore necessary to monitor levels in our body by undergoing withdrawals, especially in old age.

It is important, first and foremost, to be aware of the distinction of three types of lipoproteins: there are the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). It may happen that the special cells capture LDL depositing fat on the walls of blood vessels. This event is known as atherosclerosis, because it leads to inflammation of the arteries as a result of the accumulation and oxidation of lipoproteins. Cholesterol thus deposited can cause narrowing of the blood vessels and thus to heart attack and / or stroke. The LDL is called bad cholesterol, while HDL good cholesterol, because it deals with the bad cholesterol back to the liver, reducing the risk of heart attacks. It is for this reason that it is necessary to become aware of both LDL levels that those of HDL.

How does the absorption of fat?

The fat we take into our bodies is absorbed from the intestine before reaching the liver, from which must be distributed to the rest of the body to produce energy and to be deposited in fat cells. The liver converts fat in two types of lipids: cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cholesterol and triglycerides are collected and transported by lipoproteins to be then distributed to adipose cells through the circulation of the blood.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the main components of our adipose tissue; They are part of the family of glycerides and are found both in vegetable and in animal fat. Represent an important energy reserves and create a natural barrier against low temperatures, which also function as thermal insulators.

Triglycerides can also be synthesized by the liver and, once this is done, blend with those proteins VLDL (very low density lipoprotein). Thanks then insulin, triglycerides can reach the cells, thus increasing the amount of fat in our blood; that’s why people afflicted with diabetes can go against cases of dyslipidemia, or alteration of the amount of fat in our body.

You may also like to read another article on MenHealthCare: Heart failure: What is it and how to cure it?

Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia: Causes

To know the amount of triglycerides, you should do a test called triglycerides, which normally should include values from 50 to 150-200 mg / dl. In the case of superiority to these values, you can be exposed to the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and / or atherosclerosis.

Total cholesterol levels, however, should be less than 190, but for people suffering from heart disease even lower than 160. The checks should be made every 1 or 2 years, if the levels are too high then the doctor will recommend a possible treatment.

The main reason why there may be high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood are definitely linked to poor diet based on fat (red meat, milk, yogurt, condiments animal …).

But it is not absolutely excluded that cholesterol top is hereditary.

There are some people who, suffering from diseases like obesity, thyroid or diabetes, you reveal more prone to high cholesterol.

Periods of high stress and / or a lifestyle characterized by physical inactivity, finally, are not to be underestimated.

Unfortunately, although many people ask themselves what are the symptoms related to high cholesterol, you cannot recognize them accurately, a reason to have regular analysis especially in old age.

That’s why a healthy, balanced diet helps control cholesterol and triglycerides, so here is what foods can help keep you in perfect health by encouraging the production of good cholesterol.