High Cholesterol

Nathaniel Fuller
Professor Don Vernon
Final Research Paper
7:00-9:50
Throughout our life, nutrition plays a vital role in the type of life we live. It can affect

our health in a myriad of different ways. We can become extremely ill, or incredibly

healthy, all from eating correctly. Choosing to ignore dietary guidelines could

endanger your health. Nutrition and regular exercise can solve many health

concerns, but it cannot protect you from every health problem that you may

encounter. There are numerous other factors that could increase your likelihood of

disease and other health complications. Family history, for example, can counteract

and negate many health benefits of eating correctly and regular exercise. A risk of

high cholesterol is a prime example of this. Cholesterol plays a vital role in our

bodies, but if there is too much cholesterol, it could put you on the path of many

other health complications.

Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance found in animal cells and is produced by

the liver, intestine and the skin. It is found in the blood and is a form of fats named

lipids. It travels through the blood stream with the help of proteins, because it is a

fat and cannot travel through the blood without help. Because of this combination of

cholesterol and proteins it is called lipoprotein (Krimmel pg. 9). There are three

types of lipoproteins that are focused on and classified by weight and density; Very

low density lipoprotein (VLDL), Low density lipoprotein (LDL), and High Density

lipoprotein (HDL) (verywell.com and Krimmel pg. 9). VLDLs contain very little

cholesterol, but are comprised mostly of triglycerides, which are produced mainly

when there are too many calories consumed. It may be stored as fat and are slowly

turned into LDLs. LDLs carry about 75-80% of cholesterol in the blood (Krimmel

pg. 9). It is mainly used for body function. HDLs comprise the remainder of the

cholesterol in the blood. They are the transports of cholesterol from the blood into

the liver where it can then be disposed of.

 In the body cholesterol is essential. It is a vital substance for cell walls, it is

crucial for brain and nerve growth, helps with hormone production and a wide range

of other necessary bodily functions. Cholesterol allows us to function properly and

carry out our day to day lives without problem. Cholesterol however becomes a

problem when there is too much LDLs within the blood. There are many risks

associated with raised levels of LDLs and VLDLs. Atherosclerosis, or the narrowing

and hardening of the heart, which leads to many life-threatening diseases. It is

caused by plaque buildup. The plaque, which is comprised of cholesterol, fats,

calcium and other cellular waste can build on the inner wall of arteries causing

complete blockages, called clots. This process is slow and continuous, and mostly

arises in mid adulthood. It can lead to Coronary Heart Disease, heart attack,

Myocardial infarction, stroke and many other circulatory problems. Nutrition can

help avoid these debilitating effects of high cholesterol.

Fast food, refined sugars, chips, fried foods, and other high fatty and high

sugar foods can raise the levels of LDL in ones body. The amount of saturated fat

that you eat plays a vital role in keeping cholesterol levels low. Many people who are

stagnant and eat high sodium, calcium, protein with low carbohydrates and

saturated fat diets need to take heed in the health of their circulatory system.

Individuals who are obese, smoke, abuse alcohol and have a family history of high

cholesterol are in danger of plaque buildup and heart disease (KMS Publishing). No

matter the fitness level or the balanced diet that you eat, if you have a family

history of high cholesterol, your arteries may still be susceptible to plaque buildup

(verywell.com). Many people believe that men are the ones that should be most

afraid of atherosclerosis and plaque buildup. But women must pay close attention

to their levels of cholesterol. Heart disease is the number-one killer of women. In

America, heart diseases kill nearly half a million women per year, more than the

next seven causes of death, including all forms of cancer (Khaleghi pg.194).

Womens risk of heart disease caused by high cholesterol spikes during pregnancy

and continuously rises after menopause. Race also plays a component in the

amount of cholesterol in the body. Usually, those of African American decent have

the highest amounts of LDLs. Additionally, according to the CDC, African-American

women have the greatest risk of dying from heart disease of any racial, ethnic, or

gender population (verywell.com). Even though these populations and others are

affected by high cholesterol, nutrition and exercise play a vital role in the amount of

LDLs inside the body.

To aid in the prevention of high cholesterol, there are numberless thoughts on

how limit the buildup of plaque in an individuals body. Cutting out high caloric, high

saturated fat and high refined sugar food from your diet will help diminish the

likelihood of clots in the arteries. Exercise is also essential for the prevention of

atherosclerosis. Exercising at moderate or high intensities triggers biochemical

changes in your body to lower bad LDL cholesterol and boost good HDL levels

(Rubin and Brasco pg.55). A lipid panel test should be conducted regularly; this will

allow you to see the LDL and HDL levels within your blood and indicate a change

that needs to occur. With proper exercise and diet, removing saturated fats will

allow you to increase the HDL levels within your blood. For every point gained in

your HDL count, the risk of heart disease declines by 3 percent for women and 2

percent in men (Rubin and Brasco pg.55). As we continue to focus on a balanced

diet and a regular exercise routine, we will be able to live a life, with a decreased

risk of heart attack and stroke caused by high cholesterol.

 Works Cited

1. Khaleghi, Murdoc, MD; The Everything, Low Cholesterol Book-2nd Edition;

Adams Media, a
division of F+W Media, Inc., 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322;

2010; Print.
2. KMS Publishing; The Ultimate Collection Of Tips For Bringing Down The

Deadly Cholesterol:
Health Tips For Diet, Lifestyle Changes, Medication And Natural

Remedies To Lower High Cholesterol To A Safer Level In Just Weeks; K

M S Publishing; January 25, 2011; Print

3. Krimmel, Patricia and Edward; Cholesterol Control; Franklin Publisher, P.O. Box

4915, Pittsburgh,
PA 15206; 2002; Print.
4. Rinzler, Carol Ann and Graf, Martin W.; Controlling Cholesterol for Dummies;

Wiley; April 27,

2011; Print.
5. Rubin, Jordan and Brasco, Joseph; The Great Physicians Rx for High

Cholesterol; Nelson,
Thomas, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; May 17, 2010; Print.
6. Various authors on verywell.com/cholesterol-basics; 2016; April September;

What is High
Cholesterol, Do Women Need to Worry About High Cholesterol?,

What is the link

between family history and high cholesterol?;
https://www.verywell.com/cholesterol- basics-4014507