Healthy Living Tips

MikeA May 21st, 2010

Foreword By The Author

Most people who are overweight are already aware of the fact that it poses a risk to their overall  health. However, many do not know the extent of that risk nor the precise aspects of an overweight lifestyle that can cause the most serious harm to the body. A lot of the data about obesity centers on the dangers to internal organs but the major risks in being overweight are most often linked to an occurrence of high cholesterol.

Mike Alexander
For all your content needs go to ClipCopy Content Solutions

Good Cholesterol And Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a form of protein and is a main component of lipids, or fat, found within the blood. There are in fact two types, commonly known as good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. High cholesterol is a phrase which is generally understood to mean a higher than normal level of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is known as bad cholesterol due to its association with blood vessel disorders. The higher the levels of LDL, the greater the chances of circulatory problems including heart disease and stroke. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), on the other hand, is known as good cholesterol.

High Cholesterol Causes

You may have inherited high cholesterol from your parents but eating too many or too much of the wrong kinds of food is the more probable cause. People who consume large quantities of foods heavy in saturated fats in particular are more inclined to have higher LDL levels than people who consume only moderate or small amounts of saturated fats. Despite the fact that having excess weight does not automatically mean you get it from fatty foods, continuous consumption of these foods will result in weight gain. Whether diet is the main culprit or not, people who are overweight generally have higher levels of LDL than those who are not overweight .

Overweight people often don’t have enough HDL either (good cholesterol) and their triglycerides are also often too high. In addition, being overweight raises the chances of getting hypertension and diabetes, both of which are linked to cardiac problems. Body mass is governed by what you eat and your way of life. Being too fat might possibly lead to heart and circulatory problems when your Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than what is normal (32% for females and 25% for males).

High Cholesterol Treatment

Physicians often recommend that those who are overweight should receive cholesterol screening, dietary guidance, a schedule of gradually increasing physical activity and, if needs be, an LDL controlling medication. They recognize that the best solution for the obese is to lose weight. Losing just 5 lbs to 10 lbs (2.3 kg to 4.5 kg) can lower your cholesterol and triglycerides. Weight loss can help to prevent hypertension and can also help lower LDL. It is especially important for those with a cluster of risk factors which include high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels and/or a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women).

Regular physical activity is highly recommended for everyone and lack of it is a known contributor to obesity. Exercise can increase good cholesterol, decrease bad cholesterol, and is particularly important for people who have elevated triglyceride levels and depleted good cholesterol levels. Putting on the weight due to bulkier muscles caused by weight training and eating plenty of protein foods does not necessarily lead to cholesterol issues, always provided that these are lean proteins.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Cholesterol Levels: A Telling Indicator of Diet and Exercise (eon.businesswire.com)
• Nutrition: 26 Ways to Lower Your Bad Cholesterol (Including Alcohol!) (blisstree.com)
• Eating Nuts Associated With Improvements In Cholesterol Levels (lockergnome.com)

If you're new here, why not subscribe to our RSS feed. BTW, thanks for visiting!

More Healthy Living Tips

• Acid Reflux And The Overweight
• What Exactly Is Cholesterol?
• Health Effects Of Being Overweight | Healthy Living Tips

Healthy Living Tips Recommends

• May 2010: New Vitamin D Recommendation Expected (Basil and Spice | Healing & Wellness)
• (5/2010) High Blood Pressure Alternatives Useful (Basil and Spice | Healing & Wellness)

Tags: cholesterol, diet, exercise, hypertension, nutrition, obesity, physical activity, stroke, weight loss

• 2. Healthy Bodies
• Comments(4)