Every day we get bombarded with advice from everybody, “Watch your cholesterol! “ Even a small incidence with cardiac implications triggers paranoia. Well meaning, free and scary advice follows. Of course all this is loaded with their understanding and perceptions of the disease. However the good doctor is the master. Ignore his advice at your peril.

So! What is cholesterol? What does it do? Why do we need to monitor it? How much is acceptable? How do we control it?

This is my attempt to answer these questions.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a steroid lipid, found in cell tissue of all animals. WOW! Makes a lot of sense doesn’t it? Yes! Except for, the Steroid Lipid part of it. Steroid is defined as …… Well! It is all very, very and even more very complicated to a person with no specialization in Medical pathology. I have read through at least 10 information sites but, it made no sense to me at all. Let’s ignore it.

However, this is what it is all about. Almost all cholesterol is produced inside the human body. Diet is not an origin for it. Great! That is Good news! I think. It is found in elevated concentration in liver, brain, vertebral column etc., Cholesterol is instrumental in many biochemical functions.

Cholesterol is found in every cell in human body, and resembles fat in consistency. The function of this matter is to assist digestion of fat, making cell membranes robust and in production of hormones.

Increase of cholesterol levels in blood causes it to deposit fat on the walls of arteries, narrowing them down. The restriction of space restricts blood supply to the heart, may increase the incidence of generation of blood clots that almost certainly results in cardiovascular disease and strokes. Cholesterol is carried all through the body by lipoproteins, which are unique carriers comparable to boats in a stream of water.

There are mainly two types of lipoproteins called, low density lipoprotein, (LDL), and, high density lipoprotein, (HDL). Commonly, LDL is referred to as the Bad Cholesterol and HDL as the Good Cholesterol.

Cholesterols are produced in the lever, in Bile, carried throughout the body, ultimately reabsorbed into the body in intestines. When secreted in higher concentration, and if found excessive in excretory glands like the gall bladder, it may crystallize, to form stones.

Cholesterols are minimally soluble in water and fats are not at all soluble. So it is not possible for these to be absorbed and carried in the blood stream, as blood, is to a great part, water. Lipoproteins act as the boats, enabling the cholesterol and fats to reach all parts of the body via the blood stream. The key to the origin of fat extraction and the destination for deposition is the type of protein constituting the surface of the lipoprotein.

Largest of the lipoproteins carry cholesterol and triglycerides fat absorbed by intestines, to the liver. Some of these are transformed into LDL. LDL carries triglycerides and cholesterol to other body cells. A healthy subject has a very small amount of LDL, which are relatively large in size. The deposition, which is the main function of cholesterol, is the problem. LDL related deposition is generally the cardiac area, and so LDL is very strongly associated with cardiac malfunctions.

HDL transports these depositions back to liver for excretion. The effectiveness of this varies due to some factors in the body, to a large extent. It is assumed generally, that more of HDL present, is generally a good factor. What is to be understood is that HDL and LDL are identical, what differentiates them is the carrier protein, the lipoprotein.

Per say, cholesterols are essential to human body, offering stability to cell structure, playing a vital part in amalgamation of vitamins, steroidal hormones, governing among others, sexual functions.

What are the acceptable levels of cholesterol? Most of the pathological laboratories take these as bench marks

TOTAL Cholesterol. (mg/dl-unit of measurement- milligrams per deciliter.)
Desirable: Below 200
Borderline: 200-239
Undesirable: 240 and above

LDL Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Desirable: Below 130
Borderline: 130-159
Undesirable: 160 and above

HDL Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Desirable: Above 45
Borderline: 40-45
Undesirable: Below 40

As a matter of abundant caution, a physician should be consulted and cholesterol levels monitored. There is effective medication to correct anomalies, assisted by a diet plan and an exercise regime. With all these put together, you health will be just fine.

As far as exercise is concerned, brisk walk for a minimum of 1 hour finds favor with me, a cycle that goes nowhere is also good, but not as effective.

Herbal remedies are also effective. I have found the combination of a total vegetarian diet consisting of 50% salad vegetables, raw, predominantly fiber rich and without any dressing, chewing a cinnamon stick and 2 clove buds after the 3 principle meals, a brisk walk of an hour twice a day and most importantly the medication prescribed by my doctor to be very effective in bringing my cholesterol levels under control very fast. I have stopped the medication on medical advice, but am continuing diet, exercise and the spice chewing. My cholesterol has been stable for the last 8 months.

Take good care of yourself.