Fact #1: Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in cell membranes in the body.
Essentially, cholesterol is like a lipid, which is broadly defined as any fat-soluble, naturally-occurring molecule, such as fats and oils. Cholesterol is naturally made in the body via the liver, however can be created in small amounts through your diet. Cholesterol plays an important role in the body as a building block for cell walls and bile acids and it is needed to produce hormones and vitamin D. A low level of cholesterol in the blood is natural and healthy. Cholesterol only becomes a problem when there is more cholesterol in the blood than the body needs. It can cause the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries, reducing blood flow in arteries and may subsequently become a problem for a heart health.
Fact #2: There are Good and Bad Types of Cholesterol
There are indeed two different types of cholesterol in the blood, which are carried in special transport packages, called: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol), takes cholesterol from the liver to the body tissues. If there is a high level of bad (LDL) cholesterol in the blood it can build up in the walls of the blood vessels and cause them to narrow High-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), takes cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver to be eliminated and a high level of good (HDL) cholesterol is thought to be heart healthy Your total cholesterol is made up from both LDL and HDL cholesterol. Hence, the total cholesterol level recommended for heart health for Australians adult is 5.5 mmol/L or lower. To help keep your heart healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle, it is important to keep your bad (LDL) cholesterol low and your good (HDL) cholesterol high.
Fact #3: Eating Too Much Saturated Fats Causes High Cholesterol Levels
Although there are many factors which may cause your cholesterol levels to exceed the target level of 5.5 mmol/L, the most common dietary cause is eating too much fat and in particular too much saturated fat. High intakes of saturated fat can raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and in effect cause heart health risks. Usually, saturated fats can be found in fatty meat and milk products, butter, cheese, chips, and other snacks. We can reduce the intake of saturated fat by consuming fewer foods rich in saturated fat, such as butter, fatty meats and full fat dairy; and by preferring foods low in saturated fats instead such as margarine spreads, oily fish, walnuts and pumpkin seed.
Fact #4: Physical Exercise Will Lower Cholesterol Levels
An increase in body weight usually increases blood cholesterol, blood pressure and generally the risk of negative effects on heart health. The body shape is also important: an “apple” body shape carries a higher risk than a “pear” body shape. Besides keeping the body weight in balance, physical activity can also lower blood pressure and increase overall health and wellbeing. Things you can change to lower cholesterol level:
Your weight and shape (an increase in weight tends to increase cholesterol levels)
Whether you are physically active (it lowers LDL cholesterol)
Whether you are under stress
Whether you eat a healthy diet (especially saturated and trans fats increase cholesterol levels)
How much alcohol you drink (a small consumption increases the good HDL cholesterol, however more than two standard drinks per day will increase your overall cholesterol)
Whether you smoke Things you can’t change:
your gender (men tend to have higher cholesterol levels than women, until menopause when men and women are at equal risk)
your age (cholesterol levels increase with age)
your ethnicity (some ethnic groups have a higher risk than others)
your family history (if your family is affected by cholesterol then you are likely to be affected by it).
Fact #5: Lowering Cholesterol through Healthy Food sources
Your food choices can affect the cholesterol levels, especially if you diet consist predominately of saturated fats. Butter and dairy blends (made from a blend of butter and plant oils) are high in saturated fat, which is the type of fat that negatively influences cholesterol levels. Limiting these foods in your diet will help lower your blood cholesterol levels. A healthier choice in your dietary intake, as well as a healthy, active lifestyle will keep your cholesterol within the recommended levels. A sensible healthy meal should include the following:
Lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs or vegetarian meat alternative such as legumes, beans, lentils or nuts, and
Pasta, rice, noodles, couscous, potato or bread, and
Plenty of vegetables and salad As a general guide, aim for half your dinner plate to be vegetables, a quarter of the plate to be either rice, pasta, noodles, potato or bread and the other quarter of the plate lean meat or vegetarian meat alternative. Have a side salad. Experiment with lower fat cooking methods such as grilling, poaching, steaming or using the microwave.
Senin, 06 Desember 2010
Some Complications About Diabetes
Complications of diabetes are health problems caused by diabetes. Diabetes causes your blood sugar levels to be higher than normal. Over time, a high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves Diabetic complications can be classified broadly as microvascular disease or macrovascular. Microvascular complications neuropathy (nerve damage), nephropathy (kidney disease) and blurred vision (for example retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract and cornea disease).
Sometimes, a complication of diabetes May give a clue to the presence of the disease. The principle of sequels or complications associated with diabetes are retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and arteriosclerosis. What are the inevitable consequences of diabetes over time or if they May be influenced by a diabetes control through monitoring, treatment and life-style management, including diet and supplements, rest a central theme.
Diabetes mellitus (regularly called diabetes only) includes a group of diseases in which recurrent blood sugar honey increased an average body performs is not well used. Insulin is the fuel hormone that helps regulate the body mass and make use of glucose. In people with diabetes, defects in insulin production or execute keep the body from effectively; glucose is not brought to the honour energy to bring the average advance, swelling and Section renovate. In the most common form of diabetes, the form No. 2, muscle and fat sections are high for the action of insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes May be treated with insulin to young blood of honey.
Do you think that if you have a firm grasp of the basics of this subject? If yes, then you’re ready to read the next section.
Between 90% and 95% of the 16.7 million Americans already diagnosed with diabetes have the form No. 2, according to the Centers for Disease command and Prevention (CDC). Researchers at the U.S. Department of Welfare and the military mind (HHS) think twice that many Americans actually have the disease but about half do not know. Whatever the request for documents, diabetes is the situation of millions of Americans for setting up very resolute force consequences that their illness is managed smoothly.
The symptoms of diabetes complications
* Diabetic retinopathy is showing symptoms of pain in the eyes May and even cause loss of vision. * Renal (kidney) shows symptoms of disease swelling (oedema) in the feet and legs. It then passes on the total body and as the disease progresses, blood pressure is also increasing.
How can I help to have complications of diabetes?
When complications are at the beginning, maybe you just have to take medication to prevent disease progression. Only lifestyle changes minor May be necessary. For example, if you have the beginning of diabetic kidney disease, you can take medication to prevent further damage
Sometimes, a complication of diabetes May give a clue to the presence of the disease. The principle of sequels or complications associated with diabetes are retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and arteriosclerosis. What are the inevitable consequences of diabetes over time or if they May be influenced by a diabetes control through monitoring, treatment and life-style management, including diet and supplements, rest a central theme.
Diabetes mellitus (regularly called diabetes only) includes a group of diseases in which recurrent blood sugar honey increased an average body performs is not well used. Insulin is the fuel hormone that helps regulate the body mass and make use of glucose. In people with diabetes, defects in insulin production or execute keep the body from effectively; glucose is not brought to the honour energy to bring the average advance, swelling and Section renovate. In the most common form of diabetes, the form No. 2, muscle and fat sections are high for the action of insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes May be treated with insulin to young blood of honey.
Do you think that if you have a firm grasp of the basics of this subject? If yes, then you’re ready to read the next section.
Between 90% and 95% of the 16.7 million Americans already diagnosed with diabetes have the form No. 2, according to the Centers for Disease command and Prevention (CDC). Researchers at the U.S. Department of Welfare and the military mind (HHS) think twice that many Americans actually have the disease but about half do not know. Whatever the request for documents, diabetes is the situation of millions of Americans for setting up very resolute force consequences that their illness is managed smoothly.
The symptoms of diabetes complications
* Diabetic retinopathy is showing symptoms of pain in the eyes May and even cause loss of vision. * Renal (kidney) shows symptoms of disease swelling (oedema) in the feet and legs. It then passes on the total body and as the disease progresses, blood pressure is also increasing.
How can I help to have complications of diabetes?
When complications are at the beginning, maybe you just have to take medication to prevent disease progression. Only lifestyle changes minor May be necessary. For example, if you have the beginning of diabetic kidney disease, you can take medication to prevent further damage