How Should Cholesterol Normal Levels in the Body?

Roseous.com - How Should Cholesterol Normal Levels in the Body?.Maybe you think cholesterol is the thing that should really be avoided. However, not all cholesterol in the body is evil, because the body also needs good cholesterol to perform its functions. There is bad cholesterol and good cholesterol in our body. Both should be within normal limits for you to be healthy. Too high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood or too low levels of good cholesterol in the blood can certainly be bad for your health, such as increasing the risk of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that comes from your body and from the food you eat. The body, especially the liver, produces the cholesterol you need and then releases it into the bloodstream. The liver will produce more cholesterol when you consume a lot of foods that contain saturated fat and trans fats.

Too much cholesterol in your bloodstream can lead to the formation of plaque, which in turn can inhibit your blood circulation. If a blockage of blood flow occurs in the bloodstream to the brain, it can cause a stroke. If a blockage of blood flow occurs in the heart, it can lead to a heart attack.

There are two types of cholesterol in our body, good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

Good cholesterol

High amounts of good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood are good for your health. HDL cholesterol can protect your body from heart disease because it can help remove bad cholesterol in your bloodstream. HDL cholesterol will take the excess of bad cholesterol present in the bloodstream and bring it to the liver to be broken down and removed from the body. Thus, high levels of HDL cholesterol in the bloodstream can make you avoid heart disease or stroke.

Bad cholesterol

The higher the bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood, the higher your risk of heart disease. LDL cholesterol can clog your blood vessels, which can lead to heart disease or stroke. You can lower your LDL cholesterol levels in your blood by changing your eating habits, doing regular exercise, or taking cholesterol-lowering drugs if necessary.

What is the limitation of cholesterol in the body?

Cholesterol levels in the blood are measured at least once every five years in any person over the age of 20 years, these tests commonly referred to as lipid profiles. It's important to know your cholesterol levels in your body, so you can prevent yourself from getting cholesterol-related diseases.

After you have done this cholesterol test, then the results you will get is the total amount of cholesterol in the body, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Total cholesterol shows the amount of LDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipid components. Meanwhile, triglyceride is the amount of fat in the blood that is obtained from the food we eat. Excess calories, alcohol, and sugar in the body will be converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells in the body. High levels of triglycerides in the body can put you at a high risk of heart disease.

Read also: Sugar Consumption Rules When Pregnant.

For children

• Good total cholesterol levels in the body is less than 170 mg / dl, including in high category when it reaches 200 mg / dl or more.
• Good LDL cholesterol in the body is less than 110 mg / dl, and can worsen your health if levels reach 130 mg / dl or more (high category).
• Good HDL cholesterol levels in the blood is 45 mg / dl or more. HDL cholesterol in the blood is said to be low when less than 40 mg / dl.
• Good blood triglyceride levels are less than 75 mg / dl (for children 0-9 years) and less than 90 mg / dl (for children aged 10-19 years). Levels of triglycerides are said to be high if they reach 100 mg / dl or more (for children aged 0-9 years) and 130 mg / dl or more (for children aged 10-19 years).

For adults

• A good total cholesterol level in the blood is less than 200 mg / dl, including in the high category when levels reach 240 mg / dl or more.
• A good LDL cholesterol level in the blood is less than 100 mg / dl, and will harm your health if levels reach 160 mg / dl or more.
• Good HDL cholesterol levels in the body are 40 mg / dl or more, and can be said to be low if the levels are less than 40 mg / dl.
• The levels of good triglycerides in the blood are less than 150 mg / dl, and are included in the high category when levels reach 200 mg / dl or more.

How to keep cholesterol levels in the body?

1. You can be your body's cholesterol level to be in a good range by applying a healthy lifestyle. Here are the things you can do:
2. Make healthy eating choices. Eat foods that contain high fiber because fiber can help eliminate bad cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition, choose healthy fats for your consumption, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts. The fat present in these foods will not increase your LDL cholesterol levels. One more important thing is to limit your fat intake, such as foods that contain high saturated fats.
3. Do regular exercise, at least for 30-60 minutes per day. Exercise can help you lose weight, increase HDL cholesterol levels, and lower LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
4. Keep your weight in the normal range. Being overweight can tend to increase your cholesterol levels and can also increase your risk of heart disease.
5. Quit smoking. Because tobacco in cigarettes can increase triglyceride levels in the blood.
6. For some people, cholesterol-lowering drugs may be needed to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.