Cholesterol is a fatty substance that’s produced by your liver and is present in all of your cells. It helps you process vitamin D, break down foods, and make hormones.
There are two main kinds of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. You don’t want elevated levels of LDL because it can accumulate in your blood vessels, block blood flow, and cause blood clots. These problems can lead to serious problems such as heart attack or stroke. สมัคร ufabet
However, high levels of HDL are good, as HDL helps transport LDL out of your arteries.
The National Institutes of Health previously recommended the following healthy levels:
- Total cholesterol: less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- LDL (“bad”): less than 100 mg/dL
- HDL (“good”): 60 mg/dL or higher
These guidelines were updated in 2013 in the United States, and the LDL target was removed due to insufficient evidence. The European Union still uses LDL targets.
Food and cholesterol levels.
The foods you eat affect your levels, as do how much you exercise, your genetics, and your weight. Any foods that contain cholesterol will add some to your bloodstream. But the main dietary culprits are saturated and trans fats. These fats increase your LDL levels and lower your HDL levels. The American Heart Association suggests consuming less than 7 percent of your calories from saturated fat and less than 1 percent from trans fats.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, on the other hand, are considered “healthy” fats. They add to your total fat grams but don’t cause any increase in LDL levels.