The Human Body – Cholesterol

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is essential for your body to function day to day. A certain amount of cholesterol is healthy as it forms part of the cell walls and is also necessary to make hormones.

There are two main types of cholesterol – LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is beneficial to the body. However, if there is too much LDL cholesterol it can be deposited along the walls of arteries, forming atheroma (fatty material) and cause blood vessels to become narrowed or blocked.

Over time, a gradual build-up of atheroma can narrow the arteries that supply the heart with blood. This process is called atherosclerosis and may eventually cause symptoms of angina or result in a heart attack or stroke. One cause of high LDL cholesterol is a diet high in saturated fat.

Target Cholesterol Levels:

• Total Cholesterol = Less than 5mmol/L
• LDL (Bad) Cholesterol = Less than 3mmol/L
• Triglycerides = Less than 1.7mmol/L
• HDL (Good) Males = Greater than 1mmol/L
• HDL (Good) Females = Greater than 1.2mmol/L

If you have Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, or if you have had a Stroke your doctor may prescribe a lower cholesterol target level.

Fat in Foods

A small portion of fat is needed in our diet, but fat is considered to be less healthy than other nutrients as is can raise our blood cholesterol, increase our risk to heart disease and are high in calories which can lead to weight gain. Some fats are healthier than others. There are three main types of fat in food: saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. A diet high in saturated fat can increase our ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. Replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fats is an important dietary change to reduce cholesterol levels. You should avoid saturated fats wherever possible as these can raise your blood cholesterol level.

Fat Explained:

1. Saturated Fat

Saturated fats are found mainly in animal products such as fatty meats, processed meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, coconut oil as well as cakes, biscuits, chocolate and many processed foods.

Low-fat options have less saturated fat.

2. Monounsaturated Fat

Monounsaturated fats should be used in moderation.

Using this type of fat may help reduce cholesterol levels.

It is found in oils such as olive oil and rapeseed oil, olive oil based spreads as well as nuts and seeds.

3. Polyunsaturated Fat

Polyunsaturated fats should be used in moderation.

Using this type of fat may help reduce cholesterol levels.

It is found in vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, nuts and seeds, polyunsaturated spreads, oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout and herring.

Note: All types of fat are high in calories and can lead to weight gain.

Tips to help lower Cholesterol levels

• If you are overweight, aim for 1-2 pounds weight loss per week.
• Choose wholegrain varieties of cereal, bread, rice and pasta.
• Aim for 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day.
• Limit red meat to maximum three times per week. Red meat includes beef, lamb, pork, veal and venison and ham. 1 portion of red meat should be no bigger than the palm of your hand. Make sure the red meat is lean and well-trimmed of visible fat.
• Replace red meat with chicken, turkey, fish, eggs or beans.
• Choose fish twice per week, with at least one day being oily. Examples of oily fish include sardines, mackerel, trout, herring or salmon. These foods are high in omega 3 oils which are good for your heart.
• Choose low-fat dairy products e.g. low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese. Remember low fat dairy has the same amount of calcium as full-fat dairy. Focus on getting your calcium from low-fat milk and yoghurts, as opposed to cheese.
• Limit cheese to less than two matchstick box size of cheese (approx. 30g) per week.
• Eat no more than 4-6 eggs per week.
• Choose healthier cooking methods – bake, boil, poach or grill food rather than fry.
• Choose heart healthy oils when cooking e.g. rapeseed oil and use sparingly.
• Choose a low-fat polyunsaturated or monounsaturated spread and spread it thinly.
• Limit foods and drinks high in fat, sugar or salt (crisps, biscuits, chocolate, soft drinks).
• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation by keeping within the recommended weekly limits, which are 17 units for men and 11 units for women. Excessive alcohol can increase a type of cholesterol called triglycerides. Alcohol intake should be spread out over the week, aiming for at least two alcohol-free days per week.
• 1 standard unit is:
• One-half pint of beer, stout or lager
• A small glass of wine (100mls)
• One Irish pub measure of spirits
• Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This can be broken down into 30 minutes on 5 days per week, or bouts of 10 minutes accumulated over the day.

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