Cholesterol becomes more and more a topic of debate due to the fact that victims of hypercholesterolemia or of low level of cholesterol increase in number constantly. In order to reduce cholesterol we first have to gain a better understanding of what this substance is. Learning some things about how this type of lipid affects our organisms, realizing that it is at the same time both essential for a normal functionality and pernicious if it exceeds certain limits, as well as finding out what disorders may trigger if neglected.



All these may convince us that reducing cholesterol is an urgent measure. First of all it must be mentioned that the main two agents carrying cholesterol within the circulatory system are the low density lipoproteins - LDL - and the high density lipoproteins - HDL. The moment cholesterol is associated in a higher degree with low density lipoproteins, we commonly say hypercholesterolemia occurs. Again, if cholesterol does not stick sufficiently to high density lipoproteins, then we regularly refer to that aspect as to low level of cholesterol. A higher concentration of LDL and lower concentration of HDL are the basic symptoms of cholesterol issues. Therefore, when we talk about reducing cholesterol, our topic refers to LDL.

Then, is must be noted that cholesterol is a lipid present in all animal cell, and sometimes even in plants or fungi. That means that it is secreted by organisms in order to function normally. Cholesterol is crucial for the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, for the synthesis of steroid hormones and for the maintenance of cell membranes. It is true, nevertheless, that in some cases the organisms are genetically predisposed to produce abnormal amounts of cholesterol. In these cases, as well as for people suffering from hypercholesterolemia regardless of any hereditary implication, reducing cholesterol must be a priority due to the following reasons.

As in many other cases, more doesn't necessarily mean better. In fact, is means exactly the opposite. The problem with hypercholesterolemia is that it enables the accumulation of atheroma - some fatty deposits - in arteries. Thus, atherosclerosis occurs. Atherosclerosis, at its turn, triggers even more dramatic events, such as heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease. To reduce cholesterol is obviously a way to lessen one's chances of being exposed to all those risks. In fact, once the hypercholesterolemia established, those events are not risks any more, but they are certainties.

There are multiple ways to reduce cholesterol. Most of the nutritionists begin by recommending cutting out some of our most dear foods. Fatty meat, mayonnaise and other yolk-based dishes, cream, butter, cheese and regular milk, shrimps and pastry and what not will have to be completely removed from our diet or at least diminished. Second of all, we have to accommodate to other kinds of meals, consisting of oat, fruits an vegetables, types of nuts, fish and so on. In addition, alcohol intake must reduce dramatically, and salt intake as well. Supplements especially designed for this purpose may be ingested in order to speed up the treatment.