Lower Cholesterol - Can Your Low Cholesterol Level Be Bad?

We know how importance lower cholesterol levels are. It can decrease our risk for heart disease, stroke and heart attack. But can our cholesterol levels be too low? Since our bodies make cholesterol it makes sense our body needs this chemical, but what happens if the body doesn't have the cholesterol it needs?

First, abnormally low cholesterol levels have been linked with anxiety, depression, suicide, and violent behavior. An article published in the periodical Psychosomatic Medicine in May of 1999 makes a startling revelation. It refers to a study of healthy young women with total cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dl. It reports these women were more likely to make high scores on tests used to measure levels of depression and anxiety than those with normal cholesterol levels.

Medical data has also shown men with low cholesterol levels are 50-80 percent more likely to be the victim of a homicide, suicide or fatal accident than those with normal cholesterol levels. Researchers suspect there may be a link between low cholesterol levels and low serotonin level. Serotonin is a "feel good" chemical found in the brain. People with low levels of serotonin are those who have problems with depression and anxiety. So, these lower cholesterol levels can cause depression.

Other studies into the effects of abnormally low cholesterol also show there may be some link between low blood cholesterol and cancer. Researchers are finding the lower the blood cholesterol level the higher the risk for cancer. Seemingly, the lower cholesterol levels may also increase your risk for cancer.

Perhaps the most surprising result of all is that having abnormally low cholesterol can increase your risk for a stroke. While it is generally reported to be the other way around, there are studies that show abnormally low levels of cholesterol can cause more strokes than high cholesterol. According to information in an article entitled The Cholesterol Myth posted on the website Second Opinions states studies of the Japanese people have backed up the fact lower cholesterol than normal may cause more strokes.

The Japanese were an ideal people for the stroke study because they have had a rapid change over the past couple of decades in their eating habits. They have evolved from eating a low cholesterol diet high in rice and vegetables to eating more high fat foods. While it seems the Japanese who ate a higher fat diet would be more likely to have strokes, the number of strokes has decreased among the Japanese as their dietary fat increased.

Further studies have shown there are two different types of strokes, those caused from clots and those caused from hemorrhaging. While high cholesterol does increase your risk of clot type strokes, research shows chances for a hemorrhagic stroke is increased by an abnormally low cholesterol level.

As you can see, while it is dangerous for your cholesterol to be too high, it is also dangerous for your levels to be too low. Research has shown that abnormally low cholesterol may be linked to depression and anxiety as well as an increase in strokes. Lower cholesterol may not necessarily be better.

Get the latest in lower cholesterol know how from the only true source at http://www.lowercholesterollog.com Check out our lower cholesterol pages.

 

Cholesterol, An Insight: Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an important part of cell membranes and is important to the structure and function of all of your body's cells. Liver makes about 80% of the cholesterol for your body. Animal products are the source for the rest of the 20% of cholesterol of the body.

First let get familiar with some widely used scientific terms. Cholesterol can either be good or cholesterol or bad cholesterol depending upon its usage and effects. Now, cholesterol is transferred in the body along with a protein. This cholesterol-protein package is called Lipoprotein. Good cholesterol is basically high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol which cleans up low density lipoprotein (LDL) from blood vessels. LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol as it combines with other substances to form plaques in blood vessels which are responsible for blockage in the blood vessels.

High amount of Cholesterol in your blood vessels shoots up your risk of cardiovascular disease. When the level of this waxy, fatty substance and triglycerides(blood fat) increases considerable, you get more likely to develop plaques in your blood vessels which furthers narrows the arteries slowly and gradually. Hence you are at larger risk to various heart-related diseases.

Do's And Dont's

. Go in for fibrous foods such as salads, fruits, soya milk, oats, soya flour etc

. Eat Omega-3 fatty acids mainly in fish such as salmon, mackerel etc

. Choose best fats for yourself such as olive oil.

. Don't take too much of flour, rice , lard, nuts etc

. Also avoid animal products like red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, butter, cheese etc

. Avoid oils like coconut, palm or any other tropical oils.

. Keep date with your gym or exercise schedule and do visit a doctor for perfect guidance.

About the Author

Jasdeep : for http://weightloss-health.com/ your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

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Understanding Cholesterol - What is Cholesterol and Why Do You Want Lower Cholesterol?

There is quite a bit of confusion about cholesterol. What is HDL? What is LDL? Which one is bad for you to have too much of?

In order to understand why it is essential to lower your cholesterol, it is required that you first have a handle on what cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a fatlike waxy substance and is created by the liver. Even though cholesterol has a purpose and is actually vital to overall health and body function, having too much cholesterol in the body can have seriously destructive effects.

Cholesterol forms every cell within the body. When the cholesterol level is correct, cholesterol plays a positive life-giving part in many functions of the body. When cholesterol is at a healthy level it works to build and mend cells, creates hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and produces bile acids which have demonstrated the ability to assist in the digestion of fat.

When you have too much cholesterol in the body, the levels build up and bring about damage by blocking your arteries. This can put you at serious risk for heart disease and stroke. In truth the key cause of heart attacks and strokes is clogged arteries due to overly high levels of cholesterol.

When you consume foods high in saturated fat such as dairy, meat and eggs your cholesterol levels rise. However, when you eat foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains you can sustain better health as they do not elevate unhealthy cholesterol.

High cholesterol is avoidable! With a nutritious diet, the adult American population with high cholesterol can get back their good health and lessen their risk of disease.

High cholesterol is a condition can be managed effectively! It is suggested that you see your doctor on a regular basis to keep an observant watch on your cholesterol levels. You truly can apply healthy ways to manage your cholesterol levels.

To get more information about lowering your cholesterol, go to

how can I lower my cholesterol

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http://cholesterol-and-your-health.com

Lower Your Cholesterol Level - The Difference Between Good Cholesterol And Bad Cholesterol

We all nowadays know the importance of trying to reduce cholesterol and many of us actively take steps to achieve a lower cholesterol level in our blood. I am frequently asked the question: "what is the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol?"

So what is hdl cholesterol? (the good cholesterol) and what is ldl cholesterol? (the bad cholesterol). Read on and find out.

Cholesterol circulates in our blood attached to a protein called a lipoprotein. There are two basic types of lipoprotein. High density lipoprotein (HDL) or low density lipoprotein (LDL).

HDL is usually labelled as "good cholesterol" because the molecule is mostly protein and does not carry a high quantity of free fat along with it.

LDL on the other hand is a molecule that only has a small amount of protein and for the most part is made of of freely available and very easily disolved cholesterol fat. LDL is often referred to as "bad cholesterol."

If you have a lot of good cholesterol or HDL in your system then your heart will be quite well protected from the effects of fat. If you have a lot of LDL - or bad cholesterol - then you will be at greater risk of heart attack or stroke. This information has now been shown to be correct in countless medical studies throughout the world.

If you are having a cholesterol check or cholesterol blood test then your doctor will look at your blood test result and check the level of the Total Cholesterol count. He or she will then examine the count for the level of the good cholesterol or HDL. The ratio of the total cholesterol divided by the HDL level is thought to be a reflection of the "true cholesterol level" in your blood and as such is a good predictor of future heart attack or stroke problems.

For example - a total cholesterol count of 6.0 and an HDL count of 1.5 will give a ratio of 4.0. This is a healthy level and will usually indicate good cardiovascular health. A total count of 6.0 and an HDL count of 0.5 will give a ratio of 12.0: very bad news indeed from the point of view of stroke and heart attack risk.

(Note - these are UK values for typical results - US values will be different but the ratios will be the same: the UK and the US use different units to measure cholesterol levels.)

If you have a high cholesterol then get focused and take steps to change your lifestyle now. If you don't know what your cholesterol level is then make plans to speak to your doctor about whether you need it checked or not.

Dr Gordon Cameron is a doctor based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has a special interest in blood pressure treatment. You can discover how to lower high blood pressure and about the problems of low blood pressure treatment by visiting Dr Cameron's websites.

He has also written about using acupuncture for high blood pressure.