Cholesterol is solid lipid found within every cell in our bodies, it is used in the production of cell membranes, hormones, and digestive substances. Doubtlessly cholesterol is essential for growth and digestive functions, but the it is often connoted as a harmful byproduct of fatty foods due to the frequency of high cholesterol causing heart complications. While cholesterol is a ubiquitous lipid found in every cell of our bodies it is responsible for coronary heart disease which clogs arteries through a buildup of plaque. On a yearly basis 3 million U.S. Americans are diagnosed with high cholesterol and risk coronary heart disease, which begs the question: how do we balance something so essential to bodily growth and function?
There are two types of cholesterol: high density cholesterol and low density cholesterol. Low density cholesterol (LDC) is the type of cholesterol you will hear the most about as it is the type that builds up on the walls of your arteries and increases the risk of heart disease. High density cholesterol (HDC) ironically serves to prevent low density cholesterol from collecting on the walls of your arteries thereby reducing your blood pressure. Typically nuts, seafood, and olive oil increase HDC while red meat, processed meats, and fatty baked goods will contain LDC.
An improved diet and occasional exercise sessions will assist with reducing LDC levels and help to prevent heart disease, but curbing habits is far easier said than done. At the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island medicinal measures and wellness programs are used to assist people with cardiac issues. ICCLI offers everything from weight loss and nutritive programs to integrated medical care. The wellness programs are personalized for each patient and are handled by an experienced staff. Take the preemptive against heart disease and see if any of the wellness programs will benefit you.