Guide To Understanding Cholesterol And What Causes Levels To Rise

Obesity

Obesity can be a significant factor in the development of high cholesterol. Clinically obese individuals are at least twenty percent heavier than their ideal body weight. Seventy-eight million Americans meet this criterion, which means more than one in three individuals. Heavier individuals have a higher risk of cholesterol issues. There are specific changes to a cholesterol panel that can be observed. Like with diabetes patients, it's common for a patient's high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels to be too low while their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are too high. These combined factors increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. Eating foods full of saturated fats can have an effect, and this can also sometimes be a contributing factor to obesity. When individuals are obese, their liver creates more LDL cholesterol, but their body doesn't clear it from the blood as easily. Some individuals might experience this because their bodies don't adjust LDL cholesterol levels based on changes in the fats they eat. It's also common for obese individuals to experience widespread inflammation, which changes how the body responds to dietary changes.

How To Increase The Good Cholesterol

Keeping good cholesterol levels high while simultaneously lowering bad cholesterol levels is not overly difficult, however, it will take some time and discipline to achieve. To increase the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol within the body, a patient is recommended to exercise regularly, quit smoking or using tobacco products if they do, and maintain a healthy weight for their age, height, and bone density. Regarding food, individuals should also reduce their saturated fat intake, which includes butter, animal protein, and fried foods, while incorporating more unsaturated fats into their diet, such as avocado, olive oil, and nuts.