Cholesterol - Is It THAT Bad for You?

Cholesterol - Is It THAT Bad for You?


From the mid-twentieth century, medical science and diet has tended to invest a lot of time, effort and money trying to identify one or two "key villains" in terms of unhealthy foods.

In the last 50 or 60 years, different types of foods and compounds have been identified as "ogres" in terms of our health and weight. From the point of view of health, one of the substances has been excoriated cholesterol, which has been widely associated with increased tendency toward a range of coronary and vascular diseases.

Based on statistical analysis, scientists and experts have identified the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream to be seen as being at the upper limit of healthy living.

This is because the highest levels are typically associated with, for example, an increased tendency to constrict arteries with fatty deposits.

However, a number of voices, usually residing in the scientific wilderness, have been asking for some time if such widespread and total condemnation of cholesterol is entirely reasonable.

Although the arguments are highly technical, many of them from a point of view common sense to ask why the body would produce a substance that was quite detrimental to their own welfare.

The history is fascinating understanding cholesterol and scientific debate and dispute over its role in health continues today. What is generally accepted is that:

· When elevated LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream may be an indication of increased predisposition to coronary artery disease and problems.

· By contrast, HDL cholesterol is potentially essential for maintenance of good health.

Even more recently, evidence is coming to light to suggest that there is a possible connection between very low LDL (the traditional type bad) cholesterol levels and Parkinson's disease.

So, what does all this conflicting information and scientific controversy for someone trying to eat healthily and perhaps follow the programs means healthy weight loss?

Perhaps the first thing is make sure you have some kind of professional medical examination qualified, perhaps including a blood test before starting a diet program. The result of which must be used by a qualified to advise on what should progress with fat intake as it moves forward professional.

The second thing to recognize is that there may be an error and possible serious health hazard to just completely remove a class or classes of foods from your diet. Most medical professionals would now agree that your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol in order to maintain their health and reduce the fat completely from your diet can be harmful.

Many modern diet programs are based on the concept of maintaining a healthy balance between the various types of food products containing compounds. It seems as if in the future cholesterol can not be universally described as the bad guy - a role he has played for many decades.