Cause of high cholesterol

If you are living an unhealthy lifestyle, you are increasing the risk of developing high cholesterol. Having high cholesterol is bad because it increases the risk of you having a heart attack, stroke, or high blood pressure. Cholesterol is a white crystalline substance found in animal tissues that is normally synthesized by the liver. It is important as a constituent of cell membranes, and a precursor to steroid hormones. Cholesterol is made by the body and consumed in food products that come from animals. It primarily travels in the blood as two compounds: high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). HDL is often referred to as the good cholesterol, while LDL is considered the bad cholesterol.

The primary cause of high cholesterol comes from the unhealthy foods you eat. Foods that are high in saturated fat such as butter, cheese, and whole milk are the most prone to giving a person high cholesterol. As you eat, cholesterol from food is absorbed by your digestive tract. Generally, all foods that are of animal origin have the highest amount of cholesterol.

High cholesterol makes you feel tired, moody, and irritable. The hardest part about managing your cholesterol is refraining from the good fattening foods that we’ve enjoyed for years. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t notice lower cholesterol after the first day. Improving your health is a marathon, not a sprint.

If you currently have high cholesterol or have a family history of this illness, then there are healthy steps you can take to manage it.