High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found throughout the body. It is vital for the production of sex and stress hormones and for healthy cell membranes, particularly in the brain. It also makes up bile, which is necessary for the digestion of dietary, fat and helps make vitamin D.
The liver manufactures most of the cholesterol in the body, although a small amount is obtained from food and it circulates round the body in the blood stream attached to specific proteins, called lipoproteins.
There are two types of lipoprotein: high density lipoprotein (HDL) often referred to as good cholesterol, which helps prevent cholesterol building up in the arteries by transporting it to the liver where it can be excreted. The other cholesterol is known as low density lipoprotein (LDL) and often labelled as bad cholesterol, which is responsible for transporting cholesterol around the body and depositing it in the arteries. Both are essential for healthy body function, however, what is important is to have them in the right amounts.
An ideal ratio should be 2:1. HDL to LDL. You will be diagnosed with “High cholesterol” if the ratio is upset in favour of LDL.
If you have high cholesterol, known as hypercholesterolemia, then this can be associated with a higher risk of problems such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
Some other symptoms of high cholesterol may include:
- Angina
- Nagging discomfort to the left side of the chest
- Breathlessness and difficulty breathing
However, more often than not there are no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages of high cholesterol. Below are some factors that may contribute towards high cholesterol:
- A family history of heart disease and high cholesterol
- Weight gain/obesity
- Type II diabetes
- Menopause
- Gall stones
- High blood pressure
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- A stressful lifestyle
- Poor diet
- Low nutrients and general poor nutrition
- Low fibre in the diet
- Constipation
- Low levels of good gut bacteria
- Age, cholesterol levels rise gradually as we get older
- High intake of alcohol
- Systemic inflammation
- Under active thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Medication
- Stress
How can nutrition help?
You will probably have been told that you need to eat a healthy diet to help lower high cholesterol, but what exactly does that mean? What we will do for you here at The Nutritional Therapy Clinic is put all the information together in a programme specifically designed to meet your needs. We can tell you what foods you need to reduce or avoid, but also advise on specific foods to increase that will actively help to lower your high cholesterol. The programme will show you how to put all the information together in a practical dietary plan, including recipes, and how to make healthy food choices from shops and restaurants.
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