Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance, circulating in your bloodstream. Cholesterol is needed by the body for building healthy cell membranes, producing Vitamin D and aiding in the production of the sex hormones, Testosterone and Estrogen. However, it is only when the Cholesterol level is high in your blood that it is potentially harmful.

Cholesterol can be categorized into two types – LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (High-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. LDL is commonly known as the ‘bad cholesterol’, which should be kept low. Otherwise, it tends to build up as ‘plaque’ on the inner walls of your arteries, eventually blocking them. This condition is known as ‘Atherosclerosis’ and causes hearts attacks or strokes. HDL, on the other hand, is the ‘good cholesterol’ that helps keep your arteries clear of the LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol. Good HDL levels save you from the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, ‘High Cholesterol’ refers to high LDL levels and low HDL levels in your bloodstream.

There are various factors behind High Cholesterol in your blood. Listed below are the top five causes.

1. Weight- increase: Studies have shown that increase in a person’s weight as little as 20 percent raises the level of LDL and lowers that of HDL Cholesterol. Overweight or obese persons are often at high risk of heart attacks or heart-related diseases.

2. Improper Diet: Diets with excessive saturated fat or trans-fat, which are commonly found in processed meat, poultry food, sweets, high fat dairy products and fast food or ‘junk’ food contribute most to high LDL Cholesterol. Saturated fat can be singled out as the most harmful among the 5 causes. While the body needs saturated fat for growth, hormone production and other processes, too much of it causes an increase in LDL. Trans fat causes the same effect.

3. Alcohol: Alcohol does increase the HDL but does nothing to decrease the LDL Cholesterol. Drinking too much alcohol also damages the liver and heart muscles. This leads to high blood pressure and increases the level of triglycerides (another type of fat found in your blood.) Therefore, in the long run, it does more harm than good.

4. Smoking: Smoking severely reduces your HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol, apart from causing various other health damages. Therefore, it plays an equally harmful role in contributing to heart diseases.

5. Physical inactivity: Lack of adequate physical activity, including regular exercise, leads to a sedentary lifestyle. This goes on to increase the LDL and decrease the HDL Cholesterol in your body. Alternatively, simple sports or a basic regular exercise such as walking can enhance your level of good cholesterol and cut down your bad cholesterol. Not only can it drastically reduce the risk of heart disease, but also contribute to your overall health improvement.

While the 5 above reasons are the most known causes of high cholesterol, there are natural causes such as age, race and gender, which cannot be controlled. However, it is possible to control the causes related to your lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet, cutting down alcohol and smoking, maintaining your body weight and regular exercising not only keeps your cholesterol normal, but also goes a long way in keeping you healthy in other ways.

Author Bio: Kya Grace is a Sydney personal trainer. If you would like to sign up for a free session with expert personal trainers or to go to a boot camp trial, visit Boot Camp Sydney.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Personal Trainers