Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced in the liver. The liver produces 75% of one's cholesterol needs. The other 25% comes from the foods that we consume. The cholesterol consumed are of two types - bad cholesterol or LDL (low density lipoproteins) and good cholesterol or HDL (high density lipoproteins). How we lower cholesterol depends on our consumption of good cholesterol and our avoidance of bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol is necessary for the proper functioning of the body. It is needed for the production of hormones, Vitamin D and the bile acids that help digest fat. The body however only needs a certain amount and certain type for these purposes. With most modern day foods, these are normally packed with high levels of bad cholesterol and consumption usually leads to heart disease. Your cholesterol strategy should consist of lowering your LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising your HDL (good cholesterol).
Lowering your LDLs can be achieved by limiting or eliminating those foods that are high in saturated fats and trans-fats. Raising your HDLs can be achieved by eating many portions of fruits and vegetables every day as well as using olive oil and canola oil instead of butter and margarine. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily and if you have heart disease you consume less than 200 milligrams.
Cholesterol lowering drugs may be necessary to lower one's cholesterol. A doctor will normally prescribe the appropriate medication depending on the number of risk factors one has for heart disease. Persons who have multiple conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension have no alternative but to take the medication to control their bad cholesterol level. There has however been some reports within recent years of side effects from these drugs that are quite unacceptable - immune system suppression, kidney failure, general weakness and susceptibility to cancer.
A lower cholesterol strategy usually involves a total lifestyle change - a changed diet, an elimination of the smoking habit, a reduction in the consumption of alcohol, and a regular exercise program. A simple blood test can determine one's cholesterol profile. Thereafter an appropriate diet and lifestyle regimen could be adopted.
While in the short term prescription drugs may have to be continued, the real solution to this problem relies on an embrace of a diet largely comprising of what Providence provides for human beings to consume naturally, these are, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, ground provisions and pure water.
Nigel Gittens is a writer and researcher on Nutrition. You can get more great free information on lower cholesterol, visit http://www.lowercholesterolstrategies.com/
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