Foods High in Cholesterol – Do they affect Cardiovascular Disease?
Foods High in Cholesterol – Cardiovascular disease is one of the top 10 causes of death today. There is a lot of research into the links between foods containing high levels of cholesterol and the onset of cardiovascular problems.
It is true that foods high in cholesterol are often also high in saturated fats. It is under debate however whether it is the cholesterol or the saturated fat content that is the contributing factor in cardiovascular diseases?
There are several different types of cardiovascular disease, these include Angina, Atherosclerosis, Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), Cerebrovascular disease, Myocardial infarction, Congestive Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease and Peripheral vascular disease.
It has already been established that cardiovascular problems are hereditory and age related. Now it seems that our diet is also a major factor in the onset of these diseases.
People who eat large amounts of foods high in cholesterol are therefore at a greater risk of contracting these diseases. But to establish the full story we need to outline what cholesterol is.
There are 2 major types – one good the other bad. The HDL or high density lipoprotein is the bad sort and HDL or high density lipoprotein the good. Our body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function correctly. It is responsible for controlling the permeability of cell walls and allow transfer of fluids between cells through the cell membrane.
This waxy substance is produced in the liver from the saturated fats that we eat and transported around the body by the plasma in the blood. Problems only arise when there is too much in the blood stream and it deposits itself on the walls of the veins and arteries in the form of plaque.
So our bodies cannot do without it but is damaged by excess.
Diseases of the blood system and heart are affected especially by high levels of LDL the bad cholesterol. Research now suggests that this level is raised to danger levels by diets. This causes the liver to over produce LDL to a level where plaque deposits build up. This can cause blockages requiring bypass surgery and also strokes if pieces of plaque break off and cause blockages in the very fine capillary veins that supply our brain.
Prevention is definitely better than cure and reducing your input of saturated fats, especially from meat and dairy products, will reduce your probabilities of contracting these heart and blood circulation related diseases.
It’s up to you to keep your heart and blood circulation healthy, reduce your intake of saturated fats especially if they are also foods high in cholesterol.
>Sue Roberts
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Foods High in Cholesterol – Do they affect Cardiovascular Disease?