The control of LDL cholesterol, popularly known as bad cholesterol, is essential for the proper functioning of the body, since it transports cholesterol to the cells, which is why it is necessary for the production of hormones derived from cholesterol.
When LDL cholesterol is high it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack or stroke, so keeping it under control requires maintaining healthy lifestyle habits to avoid smoking, exercising and maintaining a healthy diet. , in cases where these lifestyle changes are not sufficient, your doctor may recommend the use of hypolipidymic medications that help lower cholesterol.
Elevated LDL cholesterol can be caused by inherited factors, a sedentary lifestyle, diet and age.
A rich diet thanks to the defects of LDL receptors in the body’s cells, excess of this type of cholesterol is deposited in the walls of the heart and arteries of the brain, favoring the formation of fat plaques, which in the long run could restrict blood flow to these organs, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Elevated LDL cholesterol does not generate symptoms, being a silent situation that in the long run can lead to the onset of cardiovascular diseases, so routine laboratory analysis of total and fractional cholesterol levels is recommended.
The recommendation for these tests should be individual and guided by the doctor, as well as smokers, who have a history of high cholesterol in the family, who have high blood pressure, diabetes has an increased risk of LDL cholesterol if increased, as annual tests are performed.
If you think LDL cholesterol is high when you are overweight, it is sedentary and does not eat a balanced diet.
Baseline LDL cholesterol values range from 50 to 130 mg/dL, this variation depends on the individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Recommended values based on a person’s cardiovascular risk should be:
Note: Cardiovascular risk is determined by your doctor during your appointment, so age is taken into account and the individual has risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol or the presence of kidney disease.
To lower LDL cholesterol, you need to make some lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a low-fat diet and exercising. In addition, your doctor may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications.
To keep LDL cholesterol within the ideal range, it is recommended to eat a low-fat saturated diet, this does not mean that it is not possible to consume fats, it is important to know how to identify the right fat that promotes the increase of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood.
An increase in HDL in the blood has allowed LDL and VLDL levels to remain low, as well as being a lipoprotein with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In the following table, indicate which foods to include in your diet and which foods to avoid:
These are eggs and loose white leaves
See more details in a list rich in omega-3 to increase HDL cholesterol.
In addition, it is important to follow the diet with physical activity such as walking, jogging, running, playing sports or dancing, even if the accumulated fat reserves in the body are used, favoring the reduction of cholesterol in the soil, but also weight loss . .
Hypolipidic medications, also known as statins, are indicated by the cardiologist primarily for people whose diet and exercise are not enough to decrease cholesterol control.
Statins are responsible for blocking an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the body, also helping to reabsorb cholesterol that builds up in the arteries. The most common medications are simvastatin, atorvastatin or rosuvastatin.
See some examples of cholesterol-lowering medications
Some foods have properties that help lower cholesterol more easily, so there are several ways you can prepare to achieve this goal. Some of these foods are on the menu, artichoke, eggplant, carrot, oatmeal and camelline.
See more details on how to prepare these home remedies.