All About Cholesterol

It sounds unbelievable but cholesterol is not the major culprit when it comes to heart disease. I know this is hard to believe when our doctors and the media both tell us of the dangers of high cholesterol. It is not the cholesterol rich foods or cholesterol levels that cause heart disease themselves but those foods and other things that cause inflammation to the body, as well as blood pressure and diabetes.


So, what exactly is cholesterol?


Cholesterol is found in all of your body's cells and in amongst the fats (lipids) in your bloodstream, like a soft and waxy substance. An important role for cholesterol in a healthy body is to form cell membranes. Cholesterol is also important in aiding the creation of bile to help digest fat and to help in the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K.


When someone is at risk of a heart attack, it is quite often wrongly accused that cholesterol is the main factor due to the high levels of cholesterol and plaque found in the arteries. High levels of cholesterol are found as the cholesterol is transported to specific tissues in an attempt to repair damage as part of an inflammatory response. Plaque and cholesterol only stick around if the artery has become damaged. This damage is a product of inflammation in the artery.


Can we decrease the amount of inflammation in our bodies to lessen the chance of cholesterol lodging in our arteries?


Firstly, we can stay away from certain foods that cause inflammation in our bodies. All foods that make your blood insulin levels rise quickly will cause inflammation. To be specific, these foods include white breads, sugar, some dairy products and the majority of packaged and processed foods. This will leave you with a list of fresh, wholesome foods such as veges, fruit, nuts, water and lean animal proteins. Consuming more omega 3 foods can also improve the amount of inflammation in your body, which includes walnuts and salmon.


There are many people these days taking cholesterol lowing drugs but this has not stopped the increasing number of us suffering from heart attacks and heart disease. By managing your diet and keeping foods that cause inflammation to a minimum, your chances of decreasing heart attacks and heart disease will be far greater. The most effective weight loss programs, or healthy eating programs that i have come across, is The Diet Solution Isabel De Los Rios created, that makes it easier to stick to an inflammation-lowering diet plan.