High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat that is essential for the functioning of our body and is present in cell membranes, liver, intestines, heart, brain, nerves, and muscles. Its vital functions include the transmission of nerve impulses, formation of vitamin D, synthesis of hormones, and the formation of bile.

Did you know that part of cholesterol is produced by our body? Yes, it is true! About 75% of cholesterol is produced by our body, it is the liver and other cells that produce it, and the remaining 25% comes from our diet, from the animal foods we eat.

 

Types of cholesterol

It is generally considered that there is a "good" and a "bad" cholesterol. An imbalance between them increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

• HDL, the "good" one
  • refers to high-density lipoprotein (HDL);
  • prevents LDL from becoming lodged in the walls of the arteries, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease;
  • This is why it is considered the "good" cholesterol.
• LDL, the "bad" one 
  • refers to low-density lipoprotein (LDL);
  • When elevated, it becomes lodged in the arteries, forming atheroma plaques;
  • The arteries thus become narrower and the blood passes through with more difficulty;
  • is therefore considered the "bad" cholesterol.

High cholesterol is diagnosed when a person has elevated levels of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

For cholesterol not to become a problem, the Portuguese Atherosclerosis Society considers as reference values for total cholesterol less than 180 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol more than 45 mg/dl, and Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl.

High cholesterol is not a disease in itself, but may be the cause of several cardiovascular problems.It is associated with serious diseases, however, its presence alone does not cause any symptoms and is thereforeconsidered a "silent" disease.Thus, the only possible way to detect high cholesterol levels is by performing blood tests.

Thus, by having frequent monitoring of your cholesterol values through analysis you will be able to keep track of your values, or otherwise you will only know when you develop a complication as a consequence of this increase. This can have serious consequences for your health and well-being, because, as we have seen, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) negatively influences your cardiovascular health.

Note: Your doctor will be able to advise when you should have this type of test, as well as help you interpret the results.

Even when there are extremely high cholesterol values, you may have no symptoms. Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitation may be associated with a disease caused by increased cholesterol levels such as agnina pectoris or even an acute myocardial infarction.

However, excess cholesterol can cause a fatty deposit in the liver, in which small yellow spots can appear on the eyelids, resulting from fat accumulated under the skin.

The "bad" cholesterol, LDL, is produced by the body, but some people inherit a greater tendency to produce it in large amounts. In these cases, it should be noted that consumption of fats and foods high in cholesterol increases the risk of serious problems.

As mentioned, high cholesterol is a major cause of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. This risk may increase in people who have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. There are also other factors that can increase the risk, such as:

• Genetic propensity;
• Lifestyle you lead, in particular:
  • A diet rich in saturated fat;
  • Sedentarism;
  • Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
  • High consumption of carbohydrates, mainly refined ones;
  • Smoking;
  • Overweight and obesity.

Therefore, it is very important to modify your lifestyle or even, and if necessary, to seek specialized medical support.

A healthy lifestyle is the key to fighting "bad" cholesterol, and diet plays a crucial role here!

The goal of Functional Nutrition is to adapt the diet to you and your daily life. It is necessary to re-educate, gain new habits and achieve a new lifestyle.

With nutrition consultation, you are given useful and simple tools to apply in your daily life, learn to make the healthiest, most conscious choices, and also to:

• Learn to read food labels;
• Know what to eat when you are away from home;
• Know the snacks that are adequate to their tastes;
• Learning about dozens of new and interesting foods - that there is variety;
• Learn how to take advantage of food: how to prepare, cook and season it;
• Understand that our surroundings influence our well-being: dealing with stress, emotional hunger, having good sleep hygiene, and including exercise in our daily lives.

In addition to having ongoing support that you can rely on.