Cholesterol - a lipid produced by the liver
Function:
1. build and maintain cell membranes
2. determine the molecules that can pass into the cell
3. involve in the production of hormones
4. aid in the bile production
5. convert sunshine to vit D
6. important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins (ADEK)
7. insulate nerve fibers
Category of Cholesterol Level in Blood:
- Desirable: <200mg/dL
- Borderline high: 200 - 239 mg/dL
- High : >239mg/dL
- Optimum: <5mmol/L
- Midly high: 5-6.4mmol/L
- Moderately high: 6.5-7.8mmol/L
- Very high: >7.8mmol/L
Danger of high Cholesterol:
- Atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries.
- Higher coronary heart disease risk - an abnormality of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
- Heart attack - occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. This causes your heart muscle to die.
- Angina - chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood.
- Other cardiovascular conditions - diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Stroke and mini-stroke - occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or vein, interrupting the flow to an area of the brain. Can also occur when a blood vessel breaks. Brain cells begin to die.(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php)
Recommendation:
National Cholesterol Education program (NCEP): <200mg/day
However, our liver is capable of making all the cholesterol needed to meet our daily requirement. Hence, we don't really need to get cholesterol from our diet. (http://cholesterol.about.com/od/aboutcholesterol/a/howmuch.htm)
Cholesterol Content in Our "Common" Food:
Today, I brought my mom to Gribbles to some blood test. And, I found a list of food with their cholesterol content, which I think can be served as a guide for us in food selection/diet formulation:
