For normal functioning, cholesterol must be present in the body. This natural fatty alcohol, an organic substance, is filled with the outer layer of all cells of the human body.

Cholesterol plays an important role in metabolism. Without it, sex hormones, in particular testosterone, would not be produced.

Through the blood vessels, cholesterol in conjunction with transport proteins is carried to all corners of the body.

But its usefulness has a quantitative limitation. Excess cholesterol is a serious threat to human health and even life. Therefore, it is necessary to keep its level under control and prevent the growth of the substance above the established norm.

What does high cholesterol mean?

The norm of cholesterol is calculated by specialists. If it is exceeded by more than a third, then the amount of cholesterol is at a level that is threatening to health.

But not all cholesterol is dangerous, but only that part of it, which is called low density lipoprotein (LDL).

LDL is called "bad" because they have a bad ability - they can accumulate on the walls of blood vessels. After a certain time, atherosclerotic plaques form on them.

A blood clot may gradually appear inside the vessel. It contains platelets and blood proteins. The clot makes blood flow in the same place and prevents the free movement of the life-giving fluid. A piece can come off from it, which, together with the blood flow, will reach the place where the vessel is narrowed. There he will get stuck, thoroughly disrupting blood circulation. As a result, certain internal organs will certainly suffer.

Most often, this blockage threatens the arteries of the intestines and lower extremities, kidneys and spleen. Stroke and myocardial infarction are also possible.

That is why it is important not to allow the growth of blood levels of "bad" cholesterol.

Why does cholesterol rise? Causes

Elevated cholesterol levels can be due to the following reasons:

  • Genetic ailments, which should include:
    • familial hypercholesterolemia;
    • hereditary dysbetalipoproteinemia;
    • combined hyperlipidemia.
  • Kidney pathologies, manifested in the form of:
    • nephroptosis;
    • kidney failure;
    • glomerunephritis.
  • Hypertension.
  • Diabetes.
  • Liver diseases such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Pancreatic pathologies in the form of:
    • acute and chronic pancreatitis;
    • neoplasms.
  • Ailments of the lungs of a chronic nature.
  • Insufficient production of growth hormone.
  • Age-related ailments that begin to appear after fifty.

The list can be continued. But cholesterol rises not only due to diseases. Not the last role belongs to the way of life, but precisely to its components:

  • The structure of the everyday menu. If fatty, fried and smoked food predominates in its composition, cholesterol will surely rise sooner or later. Constant overeating will lead to the same result.
  • Static lifestyle, lack of movement, sedentary work, lack of physical activity - these factors are decisive in the increase in cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis.
  • Excessive weight - it appears as a result of the two previous components. People who are obese to one degree or another are more likely to increase cholesterol.
  • Tobacco smoking and unhealthy drinking. Their excessive use gradually destroys the human body, all its organs and systems. The normal metabolism is disrupted, and the emerging chronic diseases lead to an increase in cholesterol levels.

The growth can be caused by drugs. Many of them have a negative effect on the lipid profile - they lower good cholesterol and increase bad cholesterol. This is how anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, birth control pills can work.

Symptoms of high cholesterol

An increase in cholesterol levels has no external signs for a long time, that is, it cannot be seen or felt.

The process is slow and completely imperceptible. The first symptoms can be felt only when the artery is more than half clogged. What exactly they will be depends on the place of accumulation of "bad" cholesterol.

It is important to pay attention to the following symptoms:

  • The appearance of pain and weakness in the legs, even with short walking or little physical exertion. Its cause is a decrease in the lumen of the vessels supplying blood to the tissues of the limbs. Lameness may develop.
  • Compressive pain in the heart - angina pectoris. It occurs because the coronary arteries of the heart are narrowed.
  • A light gray rim appears along the edges of the cornea. If it is visible in a person who is less than 50 years old, then this is a sign of a predisposition to high cholesterol.
  • In the area of ​​the eyes (eyelids), skin neoplasms with yellowish fatty inclusions appear.
  • Shortness of breath and acute heart failure.
  • Fainting, dizziness, mini-stroke.
  • Colic and bloating, vomiting. Such symptoms appear if the formation of a blood clot occurs in the arteries that feed the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Often this leads to chronic intestinal ischemia, or abdominal toad.

When at least one of the listed symptoms is noticed, you need to consult a doctor. After all, high cholesterol signals that serious pathological processes are taking place in the body.

How to lower cholesterol?

To normalize cholesterol levels, medical experts advise you to adjust your daily routine.

I. First of all, it concerns nutrition.

There is no need to torment yourself with a low-fat, low-calorie diet. A person will not be able to tolerate hunger for a long time, even if he is threatened with a stroke or heart attack.

In the diet, it is worth adhering to the following recommendations:

  • Reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed, stay away from foods that contain a lot of them (white sugar, confectionery, pasta).
  • Never overeat at night, but eat your fill.
  • Limit the consumption of animal fats. Refuse pork, duck, sausages and sausages. You should also forget about butter.
  • Increase the proportion of fatty fish and seafood in the menu. Seaweed is very useful. The microelements contained in it help to thin blood clots and prevent the development of blood clots.
  • Dairy products should contain a minimum of fat, meat should only be lean.
  • Legumes are another must-have in the diet. Beans, green peas, lentils replenish the body with phospholipids, which are able to dissolve cholesterol and remove it from the body in time.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables, preferably fresh. Such food helps to slow down the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. It, like a sponge, absorbs bile substances, then they are excreted naturally.

In response to such efforts, the body will produce more "good" cholesterol.

II. Closely related to nutrition body mass... Keeping it normal is one of the conditions for normal cholesterol. After all, the fuller a person is, the more the body produces cholesterol. Studies by Dutch scientists have shown that a weight gain of only half a kilogram increases cholesterol by two percent.

Bringing back the level of a harmful substance is another motivation to lose weight.

III. Weight loss will help doing sports... They have a direct effect on how fat and cholesterol are used in the body. It is very useful and effective to do:

  • walking;
  • swimming;
  • sports games: tennis, volleyball, basketball;
  • cycling;
  • running.

You need to start small and not overdo it.

IV. Improving health and lowering cholesterol will help quitting smoking and consuming spirits.

Not everyone is able to achieve these lifestyle changes. Therefore, the last weapon that can lower cholesterol comes into play. These are statins and fibrates - drugs that reduce its production in the liver.

Medicines can block the work of an enzyme that is involved in the production of cholesterol. As a result, its blood level declines and returns to normal.

But taking these drugs is necessary only as directed by a doctor. The negative thing is that once you start drinking them, you can no longer stop. Cancellation of medications after a few days will return the cholesterol level to its original positions. It may even go up.

And the use of statins is fraught with side effects, including such an undesirable ailment as severe depression.

Therefore, it is advisable to lower cholesterol levels without resorting to medications.

Features of increasing cholesterol in women, men and children

Cholesterol levels are influenced by a person's age and gender.

Medical statistics informs that most often the content of the substance increases in men who are 35 years old. The decisive role here is played by addiction to tobacco smoking, excessive consumption of beer and stronger drinks.

Women are more resistant to pathological processes. They have an increase in cholesterol occurs mainly after the onset of menopause. But this happens in the absence of a variety of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

A distinctive period is the time of bearing the child. During pregnancy, the body undergoes processes that contribute to the growth of "bad" cholesterol. At the same time, the level of the "good" substance falls.

After menopause, most women have the same cholesterol levels as men of the same age.

In children, the substance also exceeds the norm. At an older age, this can lead to serious problems.

Even in childhood, plaque can begin to accumulate on the walls of the arteries, and by the age of 13, real atherosclerotic plaques have already formed.

This is especially dangerous for those children whose parents suffer from heart ailments and have high cholesterol.

Such babies should be under special supervision. After the age of two, all of them must do a test to determine the content of cholesterol in their blood.

Parents need to remember that in babies, the following factors affect the level of the substance:

  • nutrition;
  • heredity;
  • excess weight.

If nothing can be done about heredity, then the parents are fully responsible for the other two factors.

Health

If you think that cholesterol is a harmful substance found in fatty foods and causes various diseases, then this article is for you.

An organic molecule is much more complex than we think. From a chemical point of view, cholesterol is a modified steroid - a lipid molecule that is formed as a result of biosynthesis in all animal cells. It is an essential structural component in all animal cell membranes and is required to maintain the structural integrity and fluidity of the membranes.

In other words, a certain amount of cholesterol is absolutely essential for survival... Here's everything you wanted to know about what cholesterol is for, how to reduce high cholesterol, and what is average cholesterol.

Blood cholesterol


1. Cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood; it is transported through the blood by carriers called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins: low density lipoproteins(LDL) known as " bad cholesterol" and high density lipoproteins(HDL) known as " good cholesterol".


2. Low-density lipoproteins are considered "bad cholesterol" because they contribute to the formation of cholesterol plaques, which clog the arteries and make them less flexible. High-density lipoproteins are considered "good" because they help move low-density lipoproteins from the arteries to the liver, where they are broken down and excreted from the body.


3. Cholesterol itself is important for us, performing important functions in our body. It helps in the formation of tissues and hormones, protects nerves and aids in digestion. What's more, cholesterol helps shape the structure of every cell in our body.


4. Contrary to popular belief, not all of the cholesterol in our body comes from the food we consume. Actually most (about 75 percent) of it is naturally produced by the liver... The remaining 25 percent comes from food.


5. In some families, high cholesterol levels are inevitable due to such a hereditary disease as familial hypercholesterolemia... The disease affects 1 in 500 people and can cause a heart attack at a young age.


6. Every year in the world high cholesterol leads to 2.6 million deaths.

Cholesterol level


7. Children also suffer from unhealthy cholesterol levels. According to research, the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries begins in childhood.


8. Experts advise people over 20 have their cholesterol checked every 5 years. It is best to take an analysis called " lipoprotein profile"before which you need to abstain from food and drinks for 9-12 hours to get information about total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides.


9. Sometimes you can find out about high cholesterol levels without tests. If you have a white rim around your cornea, your cholesterol levels are likely high. White rim around the cornea and visible fat bumps under the skin of the eyelids are some of the surest signs of cholesterol buildup.


10. Eggs contain about 180 mg of cholesterol- this is a fairly high indicator. However, cholesterol in eggs has little effect on blood LDL cholesterol levels.


11. Low cholesterol levels can also be unhealthy like tall. Cholesterol levels below 160 mg / dL can lead to serious health problems, including cancer. Pregnant women with low cholesterol levels are more likely to give birth prematurely.


12. In the case of high cholesterol levels, there are even more health problems. In addition to heart attack, high blood cholesterol levels can cause kidney failure to liver cirrhosis, Alzheimer's disease and erectile dysfunction.


13. Paradoxically, cholesterol is (normally) responsible for your libido. it the main substance involved in the production of the hormones testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.


14. The highest cholesterol levels in the world are found in western and northern European countries such as Norway, Iceland, Great Britain and Germany, with an average of 215 mg / dL.

Cholesterol in men and women


15. Although men have higher total cholesterol levels than women before menopause, in women, it usually rises after age 55 and becomes higher than in men.


16. In addition to the above functions, cholesterol also helps protect the skin being one of the ingredients in most moisturizers and other skin care products. It protects the skin from UV damage and is essential for the production of vitamin D.


17. Although usually about a quarter of all cholesterol in our body comes from food, it has been found that even if a person does not consume cholesterol at all, the liver is still able to produce cholesterol necessary for body functions.

Cholesterol in foods


18. Most commercial foods, such as fried foods and baked goods, chips, cakes and biscuits that claim to be cholesterol free on packaging, actually contain trans fats in the form of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which increase the level of "bad cholesterol", and lower the level of "good cholesterol".


19. As soon as cholesterol begins to accumulate in the arteries, they gradually become thicker, harder and even take on a yellowish appearance cholesterol. If you saw what cholesterol-clogged arteries look like, you will notice that they seem to be covered with a thick layer of butter.

High cholesterol diet


20. To prevent the risk associated with high cholesterol levels, it is most often recommended to make changes in your diet. It is worth increasing your intake of cholesterol-lowering foods such as vegetables, fish, oatmeal, walnuts, almonds, olive oil, and even dark chocolate.


21. However, to lower the level of "bad cholesterol" and increase the level of "good cholesterol" you can not only eat right. Experts also recommend engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.


22. Pregnant women naturally have higher cholesterol levels than most women. During pregnancy, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels reach their maximum levels. High cholesterol levels are essential not only for conception, but also for childbirth.


23. On the other hand, couples where both men and women have high cholesterol levels are more likely to have difficulty conceiving. For example, a couple may take longer to conceive if one of the partners has too high a cholesterol level.


24. In addition to unhealthy diets, genetic predisposition, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol abuse and stress can all contribute to high blood cholesterol levels.


25. Breast milk contains a lot of "good cholesterol" and the fat in breast milk is easily and efficiently absorbed by the baby. In infants, cholesterol helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and plays an important role in the development of a child's brain.

The rate of cholesterol in the blood by age

At the word "cholesterol" we frown in annoyance, imagining fatty plaques on the walls of blood vessels, overweight, threat and other horrors that frighten us with modern propaganda of a healthy lifestyle. But before giving this concept an almost abusive meaning, let's figure out what cholesterol is and what is its role in our body?

Cholesterol is a building material with which cells are renewed and vital substances are produced: hormones, enzymes. About 80% of the liver provides us with cholesterol, but we must get another 20% from food to stay healthy. The name of the person involved in today's conversation is formed from two Latin words: bile (chole) and solid (stereo), since for the first time cholesterol was found in the form of a solid yellow substance in gallstones. But if we need it so much, then why does everyone say that an excess of cholesterol threatens a person with negative consequences?

The fact is that cholesterol is of two types:

    LDL - low density lipoprotein;

    HDL is a high density lipoprotein.

The first type is usually called "bad" cholesterol, and the second type - "good". The fundamental difference between them is not in chemical composition, but in structure and physical properties.

Bad cholesterol is liquid and sticky, therefore, leaving the liver, it spreads through the vessels and sticks to their walls, especially in those places where there are damage, worn out areas and irregularities. Of course, the older a person is, the more such defects he has, and the higher the risk of cholesterol plaque formation.

Good cholesterol is dense and hard, so, on the contrary, like a dish brush, it cleans up debris from the inner surface of blood vessels. That is why it is safe to say that not only an excess of bad cholesterol, but also a lack of good cholesterol, leads to negative health effects. And if we want to reliably insure against, heart attack and, we need to move in two directions at once, and, increasing the level of good cholesterol is much more important than reducing the level of bad.

A 1% decrease in the level of LDL in the blood leads to a decrease in the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by 1%, while an increase in the level of HDL by 1% reduces the same risk by an average of 2-4%.

Anyone over the age of 45 who is overweight should have an LDL, HDL, and triglyceride blood test twice a year so that they can take timely action in the event of a critical imbalance. And today we will tell you how you can quickly and effectively reduce the level of bad cholesterol and raise the level of good cholesterol at home, without resorting to medications, in order to maintain good health for many years.

Ways to lower blood cholesterol without pills

The first thing that comes to mind is, of course, a change in diet, because the lipid balance of our blood depends on the foods we eat. But we will start this important conversation not with diet, but with physical activity. Simply by making friends with sports and regularly finding time for simple and enjoyable activities, you can significantly improve your health.

The most serious danger is not high LDL cholesterol, but its combination with low HDL cholesterol. Therefore, a simple review of the diet is not enough to correct the situation - you will have to add physical activity.

How to increase the level of "good" cholesterol and reduce the level of "bad" through exercise?

Cardiologists and fitness trainers reveal the secrets of great well-being and reliable protection against cardiovascular diseases:

    Aerobic exercise, especially running, is the best way to deal with bad cholesterol. When a person performs monotonous rhythmic movements in the open air for a long time, an even, slightly rapid pulse is established. At the same time, oxygen entering the blood ensures the gradual burning of fatty deposits, including bad cholesterol, inside the vessels. He simply does not have time to stay and be deposited in the form of dangerous atherosclerotic plaques. It has been proven that in professional runners, LDL in the blood burns 70% faster than in people who do not play sports at all;

    The muscles of a person must constantly be in good shape, this prevents bad cholesterol from doing its "dirty deed". Therefore, even elderly people who are very overweight and have complex health problems should, by all means, give themselves feasible physical activity: walk in the fresh air, ride a bicycle, dig in the garden. The longer a person lies on the bed, indulging in apathy and a bad mood, the sooner the day will come when he will not be able to get out of this bed at all;

    Studies by Western cardiologists show that elderly patients who take a forty-minute walk in the fresh air every morning, the risk of sudden death from heart attack and stroke is halved - by 50%! It is only important to ensure that the pulse of an elderly person during walks does not increase by more than 15 beats from the physiologically normal value.

If the male, and especially the female, figure begins to resemble an apple, this is a signal to think about health. The waist circumference of an adult man should not exceed 94 cm; for an adult woman - 84 cm. The normal ratio of waist to hip circumference for men is no more than 0.95, for women - no more than 0.8. In other words, if your belly is almost thicker than your thighs, it's time to sound the alarm and lose weight!

9 proven steps towards lowering bad cholesterol

Step one: quitting smoking

The harmful effects of smoking on health lie not only in the clogging of the lungs with tar and the development of persistent nicotine addiction. Regularly buying cigarettes, a person buys infertility, impotence and cancer with his own money. The entire body is gradually destroyed: the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, blood vessels. There is no organ or type of tissue that is not adversely affected by smoking. Moreover, modern cigarette manufacturers are doing everything to reduce the cost of their products as much as possible. This means that there is less than half of natural tobacco in a pack, everything else is chemical additives, flavors, essential resins and carcinogens.

Tobacco tar is the strongest carcinogen. Scientists conducted experiments that showed that if a rabbit's ear is smeared with tobacco tar several times, it will develop in this place after a few months. And tobacco carcinogens act on humans in the same way as on animals!

Step two: the right approach to drinking alcohol

Extremes are rarely beneficial, and a person's attitude toward alcohol is no exception. Alcohol abuse is very harmful: in addition to the formation of persistent dependence and the loss of a person's moral character, alcoholism leads to the gradual destruction of the brain, liver, kidneys and blood vessels. But a complete rejection of alcohol is a loss of natural opportunities, since high-quality alcohol in small doses has a beneficial effect on the composition of the blood and the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

The doctors' advice on this matter is contradictory: someone threatens with a green snake, and someone calls for abandoning obscurantism and drinking in moderation. This is a tribute to fashion, but human history is a much more serious indicator than the momentary mood of the medical community, lobbied by manufacturers of drugs and alcohol. Countries where the consumption of good wines and spirits is an integral part of the culture, show higher life expectancy rates, and not such depressing statistics of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, as in Russia. Let's take the same France, Spain, Portugal or Scotland with its love for good whiskey.

So how much should you drink to lower your bad blood cholesterol? For this, 50 ml of strong alcohol or 200 ml of dry red wine per day is enough. No less and no more. For our mentality, these are ridiculous numbers: it is believed that since we drink, so drink. But the correct drinking culture does not imply the desire to get drunk, but the dosed use of good alcohol at lunch or dinner to improve digestion and enrich the blood composition.

Step three: green tea instead of coffee

If health, in principle, allows you to consume drinks containing caffeine, then let it not be coffee, but natural. It contains flavonoids that help break down LDL cholesterol, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, and increase HDL levels. It is important to learn how to brew this drink correctly and use it correctly. Green tea should not be strong and bitter, and it is recommended to arrange tea drinking no more than twice a day, and in the first half of the day.

Step four: juice therapy

Natural organic acids contained in freshly squeezed juices from fruits and vegetables effectively dissolve bad cholesterol, and therefore are the fastest and most effective way to cleanse blood vessels at home. Juices are also a delicious source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and just a good mood. They heal, rejuvenate, help fight overweight, cellulite and atherosclerosis, improve the complexion, the quality of nails, skin and hair. Therefore, buying a convenient, high-tech juicer is a smart investment in your health and that of your family.

A five-day course of cleansing blood vessels from bad cholesterol using fresh juices is carried out according to the following scheme:

    1st day: 130 ml of carrot juice + 70 ml of juice from the stems;

    2nd day: 100 ml of carrot juice + 70 ml + 70 ml, kept in the refrigerator for 2 hours to remove unwanted substances;

    5th day: 130 ml.

Step five: fish oil and coenzyme Q10

Regular intake of fish oil significantly improves the levels of C-reactive protein in the blood, the so-called CRP. There are two more important amino acids for human health: DHA and EPA, the content of which can be artificially increased.

According to the American Heart Association, a daily intake of 2-4 grams of DHA and EPA reduces triglycerides to physiological levels, and even one gram of these amino acids per day is enough to protect against the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How to provide yourself with essential amino acids? For example, you can take coenzyme Q10 at a dosage of 90 mg / day, this will increase the level of DHA in the blood by 50% in a few months. However, keep in mind that taking statins (drugs that lower LDL cholesterol) together with coenzyme Q10 is undesirable, since in such a combination the coenzyme is less well absorbed.

Step six: avoiding trans fats

Trans fats are a real disaster of our time, because they are the bad cholesterol in its pure form, moreover, they are found in almost all ready-made products: confectionery, fast food, sausages and sausages, margarine and mayonnaise. Whatever we buy in the store, in order to save time on cooking, we will get trans fats that will be deposited on the walls of our vessels.

Research shows that cutting your daily calories by just 1% by cutting out trans fats can cut your risk of heart disease in half!

Just remove 2 grams of trans fats from the menu, subtract only twenty (but the most harmful) calories from two thousand calories and you will make yourself the best gift.

When buying ready-made products in the store, carefully read the information on the label. If it says that a product does not contain trans fat, in practice this means that there is less than 0.5 g of it per serving. And yet - under the concepts of "saturated" or "hydrogenated" is hidden all the same trans fat that threatens us, heart attack, stroke and cancer.

Step seven: take magnesium

The endothelial cells lining our vessels from the inside cannot effectively repel LDL molecules if they lack magnesium. A deficiency of this valuable mineral leads not only to an increase in bad cholesterol levels, but also to development, muscle and heart weakness, etc.

In people suffering from migraines all their lives, the frequency and severity of attacks are reduced by 40% with the regular use of vitamin-mineral complexes enriched with magnesium.

If you are diagnosed with magnesium deficiency, it is recommended that you start taking it at a dosage of 250 mg per day, and best of all, in combination with calcium, since these micronutrients are better absorbed and bring more benefits. It is recommended to add fatty fish, whole grain bread, pumpkin seeds and wheat germ to the diet - these are the best natural sources of magnesium.

Step eight: cut back on sugar

A lot has been said about the dangers of white sugar, but do you know how much excess consumption of it exacerbates the situation with high levels of bad and low levels of good cholesterol?

Studies have shown that if you reduce the glycemic index of foods consumed from 61 to 46, you can raise your blood HDL level by 7% in a week.

It is also important that sharp jumps in the level arising from the intake of large doses of simple carbohydrates increase the stickiness of red blood cells, that is, they thicken the blood and provoke the formation of blood clots. Therefore, if you want to protect yourself from atherosclerosis and, reduce the use of sugar or give it up altogether, replacing, for example, with natural honey.

Step Nine: Take Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is called the solar vitamin: for example, during one day of being on the beach, our skin cells produce from 10-20 thousand M.E. of this valuable substance, but even residents of sunny, warm regions suffer from vitamin D3 deficiency. According to various estimates, from 60 to 80% of the population of our country need to take vitamin supplements in order for the condition of blood vessels, skin and bones to remain good until old age.

Previously, it was believed that vitamin D3 should not be taken in large doses, since then it can have a toxic effect on the body.

But more recent research shows that taking at least 500 M.E. vitamin D3 per day can reduce the level of CRP, an indicator protein of bad cholesterol, by an average of 25%. In some patients, an increase in HDL levels occurs at the same time. In general, a vitamin D3 surplus reduces the risk of developing all dangerous diseases leading to death in a person.

You can also provide yourself with an important vitamin in a natural way: for example, in a glass of whole cow's milk it is about 100 M.E., and in one hundred grams of oily fish sockeye - as much as 675 M.E. Keep in mind that taking vitamin D3 capsules or tablets is contraindicated in people with severe kidney and thyroid dysfunction, as well as in sick people.

What foods lower blood cholesterol?

Some foods contain phytosterols, natural styrenes that effectively regulate the ratio of bad to good cholesterol in the blood. Knowing about your problems, you can enrich the diet with appropriate foods, and normalize lipid balance, without making any effort.

For example, if you eat 60 grams daily, you can increase your HDL content by 6%, while simultaneously reducing your LDL content by 7%.

List of record holders among products containing useful phytosterols (per 100 g of weight):

    Sprouted wheat grains - 400 mg;

    Brown rice bran 400 mg

    Flax seeds - 200 mg;

    Almonds - 200 mg;

    Olive oil - 150 mg;

Avocado

This nutritious fruit is the leader in beta-phytosterol content of all fruits and vegetables. Just one half of a medium avocado, that is, seven tablespoons of pulp, is enough to reduce total blood cholesterol and triglycerides by 8% and increase good cholesterol by 15% in three weeks.

Nuts and seeds

All seeds and nuts are very rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which means they enrich our body with good cholesterol. Doctors recommend pampering yourself with a handful of 30 g of your favorite nuts at least five times a week: hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds, Brazilian, pistachios. Seeds, especially flaxseeds, contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, so they should also be added to your diet, for example, as a savory seasoning for vegetable salads. Try sprinkling lightly toasted sesame and flax seeds on your food for flavor, flavor, and HDL levels.

Each tablespoon of good olive oil adds 22 milligrams of phytosterols to your food. Replacing all the animal fat used in cooking with olive oil can reduce your blood LDL cholesterol level by 18%. And unrefined olive oil also has a positive effect on the state of the endothelium, healing minor damage inside the vessels and preventing the formation of cholesterol plaques.

Fatty fish

The main supplier of healthy omega-3 fatty acids to our table is fatty ocean fish (salmon, halibut, chum salmon, sardines, mackerel, sockeye salmon). The only drawback of this category of food is the high cost due to the difficulties in obtaining and breeding. Salmon and sockeye salmon contain the highest amount of omega-3, while they have the lowest content of heavy metals, in particular mercury, among marine fish. But such valuable breeds are regularly caught by poachers, and they are reluctant to spawn in artificial ponds. That is why red fish is so expensive, but if the budget allows, you should definitely buy and eat this healthy product.

Fish, fried in a pan with fat, loses almost all useful properties, and even gains harmful ones. To preserve the precious omega-3 fatty acids, it needs to be baked in foil or steamed. It is also not recommended to heat fish (and any other food) in a microwave oven, as microwaves destroy the cellular structure of food.

Fruits and berries in blue, purple and red

The red, purple and blue color of the fruit indicates the content of polyphenols in them, and these natural substances naturally regulate the lipid balance of the blood, stimulating the production of good cholesterol by the liver and removing bad cholesterol from the vessels. If you consume 150 g of berry puree or juice daily for at least two months, you can increase your HDL level by 5%. Blueberries, red and especially blueberries, which, in addition to polyphenols, contain a large amount of antioxidant vitamin C, are very useful in this regard. Half a glass of cranberry juice a day will allow you to increase your HDL level by 10% and, along the way, insure against cancer.

Absolutely all fruits and berries of red, burgundy, purple, blue and gray colors contain useful polyphenols that regulate cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Therefore, adding such fruits and berries to your diet is necessary for all people with poor lipid blood tests.

Whole grains and oatmeal

If you have high levels of bad cholesterol, the first thing to do is skip white bread sandwiches and buns for breakfast. Instead, it is better to eat cereals, muesli, whole grain bread and oatmeal, so you will enrich the body with fiber and help eliminate LDL from the body through the intestines. All unprocessed grains are healthy: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, millet, wild rice. And refining removes valuable fiber from them, leaving only carbohydrates. Sprouted grains are also good because they contain a lot of fatty acids that increase HDL levels. Muesli with nuts is perfect for breakfast for the same reason.

A group of students from an American medical university replaced their usual breakfast with two oat bran scones for four weeks. As a result, the level of LDL in their blood decreased by 5.3%. Another study involved two groups of people: the first simply ate a healthy, low-cholesterol diet, and the second ate 2.3 cups of oatmeal daily. As a result, it turned out that oatmeal accelerates the normalization of blood lipid balance by 20%.

Corn

Corn grains are lower in calories compared to other cereals - 100 g contains only 97 kcal. There is no cholesterol in them, but there is a lot of fiber, vitamins and trace elements, in addition, corn is one of the most delicious cereals, therefore modern American nutritionists are actively promoting the regular use of corn flakes, bread and cereals. This allows you to lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood no less effectively than using oatmeal or wheat.

Policosanol

This substance is obtained from sugar cane and is sold in health food stores and pharmacies as a dietary supplement. Policosanol not only lowers LDL, but also prevents blood clots, suppresses appetite, helps to lose weight and normalize.

Heart disease is one of the first on the list of fatal ailments among all categories of patients. The main reason for many of them is high blood cholesterol levels and related disorders and pathologies in the cardiovascular system. What is this substance and what is its danger?

Cholesterol is a fat-like accumulation that is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, reducing their permeability to blood and causing arterial disease, hypertension and strokes. The so-called cholesterol plaques can completely block the vessel, and stop feeding the heart or other organ. If the carotid artery is affected, an ischemic stroke develops, which is life-threatening to the patient. In this regard, it is necessary to closely monitor the level of cholesterol in the blood, especially for those patients who have a bad heredity.

The initial stage of the disease has no symptoms and proceeds latently, gradually increasing the threat to the heart and the whole body. To determine the level of cholesterol in such cases, you can use a blood test that takes into account the ratio of "good" and "bad" cholesterol.

The first is called HDL and is essential in the body, increasing the strength of cell membranes and preventing the risk of stroke and heart attack. Thanks to this substance, excess fat accumulations are removed from the vessels and returned to the liver, where they are synthesized. "Bad" LDL cholesterol causes plaque formation in blood vessels and arteries and the development of atherosclerosis. When conducting laboratory analysis, the ratio between them is taken into account, and a verdict is made on the presence of hypercholesterolemia.

Cholesterol and atherosclerosis

An increase in the level of cholesterol in the blood indicates, first of all, an existing metabolic disorder. Such a patient falls into the risk group due to the possible development of atherosclerosis. At the same time, there is a clear relationship between the content of LDL in the blood and the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases:

  • High risk: more than 6.21 mol / L.
  • Borderline state: 5.2–6.2 mol / L.
  • Low risk: less than 5.17 mol / L.

The factors provoking atherosclerosis are obesity and diabetes mellitus. At the same time, it has been scientifically proven that the consumption of food rich in cholesterol is not always the main cause of atherosclerosis. Protein compounds such as low and very low density lipoproteins play a major role in this.

What are lipoproteins

The complex of proteins and lipids, which is part of cell membranes and nerve fibers, freely circulating in the blood, is called lipoproteins. This component has a different chemical structure and is divided into 4 main groups:

  1. High density phospholipids. The ratio of proteins and lipids in them is 52 to 48 percent.
  2. Low density cholesterol (LDL). The constituents have a ratio of 21 percent protein to 79 percent lipid.
  3. Very low density triglycerides (VLDL), lipids greater than 91 percent.
  4. Holomicrons, almost entirely composed of lipids.

The more high-density lipids in the blood, the lower the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer's disease. Normally, the blood can contain up to 0.5 mmol / l. VLDL and 2.1-4.7 mmol / L. LDL. The increase in these indicators is associated with several reasons.

The most common is metabolic disorder. If this pathology manifests itself in a decrease in the number of receptors that are sensitive to LDL, this type of lipoproteins does not have time to penetrate into tissues and is deposited on the walls of blood vessels. As a result, atherosclerotic plaques appear, which are dangerous to the patient's health.

Another reason for the violation of the ratio of lipoproteins in the blood is associated with malnutrition, when a person has been on a strict diet for a long time or, on the contrary, consumes a lot of fats and little protein food. Atherosclerosis can also develop due to diseases of the liver, which produces lipoproteins, as well as the kidneys and intestines, which transport and excrete this component.

Speaking about the norm of the level of cholesterol in the blood, they mean the correct ratio between HDL and LDL (VLDL). This coefficient in adult patients should not exceed three. The more low-density lipoproteins in the body, the higher the risk of dangerous cardiovascular pathologies and fatal diseases. Below is a table with indicators of the norm of cholesterol

The average rate in adults should be estimated taking into account age, since in women after menopause and in men after 50 years, the level of cholesterol in the blood increases. As for children, it is considered necessary to check these indicators only when there are concomitant serious diseases or poor heredity. For other pediatric patients, it is not advisable to check cholesterol before the age of 9.

Symptoms of high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia)

The diagnosis of this pathology is very complicated due to the fact that there are no clinical manifestations of the disease, and it is often asymptomatic. Indirectly, high cholesterol is indicated by:

  • Pressing pains and discomfort in the chest and in the region of the heart.
  • Memory impairment.
  • Peripheral vascular thrombosis.
  • Early menopause in women.
  • Hereditary predisposition.
  • Pain in the legs and weakness of the lower extremities due to circulatory disorders.
  • High blood pressure.

A clear sign of atherosclerosis is the appearance under the skin of the eyelids of yellow-gray nodules consisting of cholesterol (xanthelasm). Suspicion of hypercholesterolemia requires careful diagnosis to identify its causes and eliminate the underlying disease. Patients are prescribed the following studies:

  • Blood chemistry.
  • Genetic analysis to identify the hereditary factor.
  • Measurement of blood pressure.
  • General urine analysis.
  • Lipogram.

The doctor also collects data about the patient's existing chronic diseases and the presence of bad habits. This allows you to start treatment in a timely manner and prevent such serious complications as stroke, transient ischemic attack and heart attack.

Causes of increased blood cholesterol

Common factors affecting the development of atherosclerosis and an increase in cholesterol levels include unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, age over 50, and heredity. Such concomitant diseases as diabetes mellitus and hypertension associated with metabolic disorders should also alert the doctor.

The body of a healthy person synthesizes about 5 grams daily. cholesterol and receives an additional "portion" of it with food. If the metabolism is at a normal level, then this amount of lipoproteins is spent on the following needs:

  • To restore the structure of the nerve sheath in the brain and spinal cord - 20 percent.
  • For the formation of bile acids and proper digestion - 60-75 percent.
  • For the production and structure of sex hormones - 2 percent.
  • For the synthesis of vitamin D - the rest of the cholesterol.

In hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, cholesterol utilization processes are impaired. What can cause the appearance of signs of hypercholesterolemia. In some cases, the content of cholesterol in the blood increases with the use of certain drugs (immunosuppressants).

Treatment of cholesterol metabolism disorders

To eliminate lipid metabolism disorders, drug treatment and mandatory correction of the disease with the help of diet are prescribed. Of the drugs, the most effective are:

  • A nicotinic acid.
  • Antioxidants
  • Statins.
  • Sequestrants that bind cholesterol in the intestine.
  • Fibrates that accelerate metabolism.

In case of impaired absorption of fats in the intestine, Pancreatin and Guarem are prescribed, for liver diseases - Essenicale. To restore the ratio of good and bad cholesterol in the blood - Probucol. Additional therapy includes injections of vitamin B2.

To have clean blood vessels without sclerotic plaques, you need not only to lead a healthy lifestyle and control the blood cholesterol content, but also to monitor your diet, taking into account the cholesterol content in food.

To make it easier to navigate what potential danger certain foods carry, you can use the following table indicating the cholesterol content in 100 grams of food:

Meat

Fish and seafood

Dairy products

Eggs

Fats

Cheeses

Pork - 380

Mackerel - 360

Cream - 110

Chicken - 570

Ghee - 280

Cream cheese 60 percent fat - 105

Pork liver - 130

Whole cow's milk - 23

Quail - 600

Butter - 240

Hard cheeses - 60-100

Beef - 90

Red fish - 300

Goat milk - 30

Beef fat - 110

Sheep cheese - 12

Veal - 99

Pollock - 110

Pork fat - 100

Processed cheese - 80

Beef liver - 400

Herring - 97

Yogurt - 8

Lard - 90

Lamb - 98

Fatty cottage cheese - 40

Vegetable oils - 0

Rabbit - 90

Cod - 30

Low-fat cottage cheese - 1

Chicken - 80

Serum - 2

Smoked sausage - 112

Shrimps - 144

Sausages - 100

Pate - 150

Foods that increase blood cholesterol

As you can see from the table above, the main source of bad cholesterol is animal foods that are high in fat. These are, first of all, meat, sausages, smoked meats, pates, liver and liver. A lot of cholesterol is found in butter, ghee and animal fats, as well as eggs. Such food is harmful to patients with atherosclerosis, liver and cardiovascular diseases. They negatively affect lipid metabolism, are poorly absorbed in the intestines and increase blood cholesterol levels.

Foods that lower blood cholesterol levels

In the presence of hypercholesterolemia, it is advisable to replace animal fats and oils with vegetable ones, to consume more lean fish, vegetables, juices, fruits and low-fat dairy products. It is also advisable to limit the amount of salt and alcoholic beverages.

Useful video

Cholesterol. Myths and deception. Why is cholesterol essential?

One day you leave the doctor's office, holding a leaflet with a blood test in your hands, on which four letters appear - LDL. What are these letters, is the high cholesterol that the doctor talked about so terrible, and how to deal with it?

“Millions of people live with this disease - and nothing,” you say. Yes it is. Cholesterol itself is not a toxic or destructive substance, quite the opposite. Without the presence of cholesterol in the body, normal human activity is impossible. And a low level of it can be no less dangerous than a high one. It is necessary to adhere to the golden mean, but not everyone succeeds.

What is cholesterol

It is a fatty substance, the formation of which occurs mainly in the liver. Cholic acids are formed from it, thanks to which fats are absorbed in the small intestine. Without it, the normal functioning of the adrenal glands, the synthesis of sex hormones is impossible. In addition, cholesterol is the main building block of the cell membrane, acts as an insulator of nerve fibers and produces vitamin D from sunlight so that it can be absorbed by our body.

What are the dangers of high cholesterol

However, if his cholesterol level is high, he turns from a helper to an enemy. Here are the most common consequences of high cholesterol (this is the scientific name for this substance).

  • Cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels gradually narrow their lumen, which ultimately can lead to blockage of the arteries.
  • As a result, the arteries that transport blood to the heart are damaged, and this leads to the onset of coronary heart disease.
  • If blood and oxygen cease to flow to the heart muscles due to a blood clot, myocardial infarction will not be long in coming.
  • With a blockage of blood vessels, the risk of atherosclerosis and angina pectoris also increases.
  • If the blood supply to the brain is impaired, the risk of stroke is high.

Remember what happens when the drain in the kitchen or bathroom gets clogged? There comes a time when the amount of garbage in it is so great that it is simply no longer able to pass wastewater. But if in such a case the problem is solved with the help of a plumber, then in the case of the human body, rupture of blood vessels or arteries leads to a serious, if not fatal, outcome.

Signs of high cholesterol

Listen to your body. By detecting and starting treatment in time, many unpleasant consequences can be avoided. Signs of high cholesterol, as a rule, are signs of atherosclerosis, which appears due to the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels, and they consist mainly of cholesterol. These symptoms include:

  • Angina pectoris, which is a consequence of narrowing of the coronary arteries of the heart.
  • Pain in the legs during physical activity due to narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs.
  • Presence of blood clots and damage (rupture) of blood vessels.
  • The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques leads to coronary thrombosis, which in turn provokes the appearance of heart failure.
  • The presence of yellow spots on the skin called xanthomas. They are most often seen around the eyes.

Causes of high cholesterol

Basically, the reasons for high cholesterol levels are hidden in our lifestyle.

Improper nutrition is the main culprit. There are many cholesterol-rich foods that do not have much of an effect on blood levels. They contain good cholesterol - HDL. The danger for us is represented by foods high in saturated fats - flour, fatty meats and cheese, chocolate, mayonnaise, chips, all fast food. They lead to the accumulation of bad cholesterol - LDL.

A sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of this disease. Having loaded in the office in front of a computer monitor, we move too little. Because of this, excess weight appears - another reason for raising cholesterol. Tobacco and alcohol also contribute to this.

The predisposing factors for the development of this disease are heredity, gender (men are more likely to suffer from this ailment) and age - the older we get, the higher the chance of detecting high cholesterol levels.

Normal cholesterol

Lower cholesterol

Before resorting to medication, think about it, could it be just an unhealthy lifestyle? Having adjusted it, you can get rid of the disease without the use of drugs. Exercise more, get enough sleep, watch your weight, get rid of bad habits, limit your intake of foods rich in saturated fat, eat more vegetables and fruits, whole grains, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, nuts.