Wellness Articles

Understanding Cholesterol -
Cholesterol Control for Healthy Hearts

Wellness Index

Cholesterol is essential for life. The body needs cholesterol to make strong membranes, steroids and other hormones, and to ensure proper function of the nervous system. But too much cholesterol in the blood has been linked to the formation of fatty plaques that can narrow arteries, including those that supply the heart muscle itself. Chest, throat or shooting arm pains, called angina, or myocardial infarction — a heart attack — can result when the supply of blood to the heart is partially or completely shut off by a protruding plaque. Changes in your diet may help reduce serum (blood) cholesterol and help you eat for a healthier heart.

"Good" and "Bad" Cholesterol

Cholesterol is cholesterol no matter what. But depending on how it's transported in the blood, cholesterol can be either "good" or "bad." Cholesterol is harmful when it's bundled in a ball of protein called low density lipoprotein, or LDL. LDL can stick to the arterial wall where it is absorbed into slowly growing plaque. High density lipoprotein (HDL) — the "good" cholesterol, may help "unstick" LDL from the artery wall and may slow or even prevent, the development of plaque. A high level of HDL is associated with low risk for heart disease.

Eggs: Yes or No?

A single egg yolk contains 250 mg. of cholesterol, or about the maximum daily intake recommended by the American Heart Association. Just two eggs a day puts you over the limit. And eggs are high in fat, which is also implicated in heart disease. But the egg white is an excellent source of inexpensive protein. So, some nutritionists and doctors argue that it's unfair to single out the egg as the primary culprit for heart disease. While researchers continue to debate the issue, it's probably best to heed the old adage "Everything in moderation." There is little reason why most healthy people cannot include a few eggs in the diet, particularly if they have reduced the other important risk factors for heart disease: high-fat foods, smoking, lack of exercise, and excess weight.

Other Considerations

Quitting smoking, getting more exercise, using alcohol in moderation, and eating less saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, have all been shown to increase the amount of "good" cholesterol in the blood. That's why making these simple lifestyle changes significantly reduces your risk for heart disease. Persons of any age can benefit from these healthy habits, but it's never too early to start. Children stand to benefit most if they adopt a healthy lifestyle and stick to it.

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