Cholesterol and Lipids
Lipids are fats or fat-like substances found in plants and animals, however, cholesterol only comes from animals. Cholesterol is an important lipid, which in spite of its bad press, is an essential nutrient necessary for digesting food, repairing cell membranes, manufacturing vitamin D on the skin's surface, and creating hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. The body acquires some cholesterol through diet, but the majority is manufactured in the liver, its production stimulated by saturated fat. Cholesterol and some other lipids, including triglycerides, are transported in the blood packed in sphere-shaped bodies called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are categorized into five types according to size: chylomicrons (largest in size and lowest in density), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL), the smallest and most dense. Other lipid-carrier molecules coming under scrutiny are lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein B, and so-called remnant lipoproteins, which are byproducts of chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), or both.
It is estimated that over 50 million Americans need treatment for high cholesterol - that's 1 in 5 people.
Your cholesterol and lipid levels are mainly inherited. If you are eating a high saturated-fat diet and you change to a lower saturated-fat diet, you may be able lower your cholesterol by as much as 10-15%. Unfortunately, many people will still be at high risk for cardiovascular disease and cholesterol lowering medicines should be considered.
