The impact of high cholesterol on human health

Thread Content

This post was last edited by slll611 on 2016-4-15 at 18:27. When it comes to cholesterol, what comes to mind is mostly the diseases caused by high cholesterol levels. What role does cholesterol play in the human body? What causes high cholesterol levels, and what are the symptoms when cholesterol is high? What are the harms of high cholesterol to the human body? How can we lower cholesterol levels in the body? Let’s take a look together. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a lipid substance; in the human body, some cholesterol comes from food, while the rest is synthesized by the body itself. It is a major component of cell membranes and biological membranes. Without cholesterol, cell membranes would not exist, and cellular life would be impossible; therefore, cholesterol is an essential substance for the human body. The dangers of excessive cholesterol: Under normal conditions, the total amount of cholesterol consumed through food and produced by the body is in dynamic balance with the total amount of cholesterol that is broken down, ensuring that the cholesterol level in the body remains within the range of 100–150 grams. However, too much cholesterol can cause significant harm. Excess cholesterol deposits in the walls of arterial blood vessels, causing atherosclerotic plaques to form on the inner layer of these walls, which leads to the aging, weakening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial blood vessels. Why does cholesterol levels rise in the human body? An increase in cholesterol levels in the human body is mainly due to a disruption in the balance of sphingolipids. The main issues are increased cholesterol absorption, hyperactive cholesterol synthesis, and reduced breakdown and metabolism of cholesterol. First, saturated fatty acids contain cholesterol themselves, and they stimulate the liver to produce more cholesterol. Therefore, strictly controlling the intake of saturated fatty acids is the most effective way to reduce cholesterol levels in the body and blood. Firstly, animal fats such as butter, cream, and lard contain more saturated fatty acids than plant fats. Among animal foods, meat is the richest in fat, and that fat is mostly composed of saturated fatty acids; excessive consumption of such fats can lead to elevated cholesterol levels. Secondly, many studies have shown that prolonged mental stress can lead to an increase in blood cholesterol levels. On the other hand, some people tend to consume a lot of high-fat foods as a way to cope with stress, and this is also an important factor contributing to elevated blood cholesterol levels. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a balanced diet and reduce cholesterol intake.