What is your cholesterol like?
As the major fat going through the arteries it is super important to keep this within range. Risks of having high cholesterol are a heart and blood vessel disease. Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessel walls so they can no longer contract), vascular thrombosis (a blood clot in the vein going back to the heart) or stroke (where there’s a blood clot or blood vessel bursts in the brain) are diseases of the blood vessels.
LDL Low Density Lipoprotein
LDL usually makes up about 80% of total cholesterol in a normal person. Having high cholesterol is seen as a risk marker for heart and blood vessel disease. Two main reasons are that a family member has it (hereditary) and diet high in saturated fat. It is lucky you can change the later within weeks.
Having a low thyroid function, drinking too much alcohol or a disease of the liver or kidneys can be a reason for high cholesterol. Also some drugs like steroids, clyclosporin can cause raised LDL levels.
HDL High Density Lipoprotein
I always remember this as the good cholesterol because it has a higher amount (density) of protein. Because of this it doesn’t have much room to carry cholesterol as it returns to the liver. But the LDL Low Density Lipoprotein has a smaller protein amount and more room to carry cholesterol. This is often called the ‘bad’ cholesterol and it takes fat into the tissues.
Triglycerides
Tri (meaning 3) gly (for glycerol) is the framework on which the fat is stored. These are made from the fats and carbohydrates that you eat. They are either used up for energy or stored in the body in fat cells.
If you have on going high triglycerides it is useful to check out the other blood results too.
Reasons for high triglycerides can be that it is in the family and also that you are overweight. Not having much physical activity, diabetes, enjoying a lot of fats and carbohydrates in your food and drinking too much alcohol can all cause high Triglycerides. There maybe some other reasons like Hypothyroidism, liver, kidney and pancreatic disease. Pregnancy can also cause raised triglycerides.
CVD Risk
Finally the Cardio Vascular Risk
This compares the ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) with the “good’ (HDL) cholesterol to give an estimate of your cardio vascular risk. It is a ratio from fats going to the tissues and the fats back to the liver.
Pathocise (exercise for your pathology)
Your doctor may recommend drugs like Statins, Beta-Blockers or ACE inhibitors. Oestrogens and Selective estrogen receptor modulators like Tamoxifen, Thyroid hormones with neomycin (can result in a 25% fall in cholesterol)
Ideally get onto the right diet and remove trans-fatty acids. These are high in deep fried/fast foods. Fill yourself with better options:
Saturated fats – are solid at room temperature, like butter and coconut oil, animal fats like lard or tallow.
Good sources of polyunsaturated fats – these stay liquid at room temperature like wild-caught fish, pasture-raised meats and eggs.
Here is a guide from https://coconutsandkettlebells.com/good-fats-vs-toxic-fats/
You may also need to take some CoQ10/Ubiquinol, particularly if you are taking Statins or Beta Blockers.
Keeping the bowels open with good amounts of fibre and stabilising your glucose levels can help.
If you’d like to know more about this or other topics, you are welcome to join my free membership on face book. Thyroid, Metabolic, Hormone Harmony Hub.
I’d love to see you there
Inspiring Wellness
Beth