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health
Myths about cholesterol continue to rule the minds
The cholesterol remains one of the most powerful healing foods and gives our cells necessary stiffness and in-
tegrity. It constitutes at least 50 % of the
molecules the human body can ingest and produce, writes kanchan cell membranes.
Bone health— they play a vital role in the
he myths about cholesterol cholesterol— LDL cholesterol clog arter- health of our bones for calcium to be ef-
a fatty substance that liver ies and blood flow which increases the fectively incorporated into the skeletal
makes continue to confuse risk of heart attack and stroke. structure, at least 50% of the dietary fats
and mislead both doctors and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good should be saturated.
T the common people alike. The cholesterol— it remove cholesterol from Lower Lipoprotein— Lp(a), is a parti-
cholesterol is, in fact, one of the most the blood to the liver, moves harmful bad cle in our body which carries choles-
powerful healing foods and molecules cholesterol from where it doesn’t belong. terol, fat and protein. A substance in the
the human body can ingest and produce. HDL levels reduce the risk of heart attack blood that indicates proneness to heart
Cholesterol, for example, play a vital and heart disease. disease. They protect the liver from al-
role in the health of our bones for cal- cohol and other toxins, such as Tylenol/
cium to be effectively incorporated into The origin of Heart Disease paracetamol.
the skeletal structure, at least 50% of the In the 20th century Heart Disease was Enhance immunity— they enhance the
dietary fats should be saturated. considered a very rare disease. By the immune system and act as an anti-de-
In 2013, The American Heart Associa- 1950’s, it was considered a major health pressant by enhancing serotonin recep-
tion and American College of Cardiology threat. Today, despite trillions of dollars tor function. Low cholesterol is highly
couldn’t find any scientific evidence associated with violent and aggres-
that limiting dietary cholesterol had sive behaviour, depression and sui-
an effect on ‘bad’ cholesterol in the cidal tendencies.
arteries. Proper use of essential fats— they
In fact, a study in 2020 by The are needed for the proper utiliza-
British Medical Journal found that tion of essential fatty acids. Elon-
people who ate about one egg per gated omega-3 fatty acids are bet-
day were no more likely to develop ter retained in the tissues when the
coronary artery disease or stroke diet is rich in saturated fats.
than people who didn’t eat eggs. Anti-Microbial properties— short
The Dietary Guidelines for and medium-chain saturated fatty
Americans even lifted its choles- acids have important antimicro-
terol recommendation of 300 milli- bial properties. They protect us
grams per day, saying it didn’t have against harmful microorganisms
enough information to set a limit. in the digestive tract. Cholesterol
The quantities of total cholesterol plays a vital role in the repair and
level in adults are 200 milligrams maintenance of the intestinal wall,
per decilitre (mg/dL) are considered de- research and the best medical equip- preventing leaky gut syndrome, ulcera-
sirable for adults. Adults are needed to ment available, the American Heart As- tive colitis and a host of other intestinal
check their cholesterol levels in every sociation says that 48 % Americans today disorder.
4 to 6 years. Although, children are only have a chance of getting this deadly dis- Anti-Oxidant protection— cholesterol is
need to have their levels checked once or ease. As food processing began to take off now understood to be a vital anti-oxidant
twice before the age of 18. so did the occurrence of heart disease. In that protects us from free radical damage
Our body needs some cholesterol to the recent time Cholesterol has been vili- and helps to heal any arterial damage
do function properly. It helps to make fied as the major cause of heart disease. that may have occurred. Higher levels
hormones and vitamin D, which help We can vary cholesterol by different of free radical damage from oxidative
us to digest food in our body. Having too age, weight and gender. The claim that it stress.
much quantity of bad cholesterol in your clogs our arteries is known world-wide, Bile production— cholesterol produces
body is causing at risk like heart attack despite no scientific evidence to validate bile salts that help us metabolize fats in
and stroke. the idea. our diet.
Cholesterol can be measured in these The benefits of saturated fat Brain and Nervous system develop-
three categories:— (cholesterol) ment— cholesterol is important for chil-
Total cholesterol— In adults desired for Role of cholesterol in our bodies and dren and babies as they develop their
total cholesterol level are less than 200 the intake of these compounds in our brain and nervous system.
(mg/dL), diet:
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad Cell membrane health— cholesterol letters@tehelka.com
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