subject: Cholesterol Isn't All Bad [print this page] Cholesterol Isn't All Bad Cholesterol Isn't All Bad
Cholesterol sounds like it has something to do with fat when actually cholesterol is not a fat at all. This often though a villain substance is really an alcohol. But it acts like a fat since it is insoluble in water and blood as well. Moreover it comes coated with a compound, a lipoprotein, that makes it water soluble so it can be transported in the blood. There's more to the story too...
For all the bad vibes that this material gets, you might assume it should be wiped out and put on a fast trip to the waste bin. That must certainly be the case since it seems just about every grown-up I know regularly takes some sort of pill to lower cholesterol levels measured in the blood. Whether that's a good idea is actually not quite so clear, believe it or no. Here are some reasons why cholesterol should get some respect instead of just a hard time.
Your body uses it when producing hormones that aid it in dealing with stress and protect, that's right, against both cancer and heart disease as well. Did you know that? The hormones including androgen, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and DHEA require a particular substance for their production. Know what it is???
Surprise, your body uses this bad-reputation alcohol to manufacture a substance that's getting a lot of positive press these days -- Vitamin D that is. That essential vitamin is there to make bones work properly as well as for the proper functioning of a whole bunch of other body systems. The nervous system, mineral metabolism, muscle tone, insulin production and others all depend on cholesterol. And there's more too...
Protection from free radicals depends on cholesterol too. Too many free radicals makes for higher risk of heart disease and cancer. Serotonin is known as the "feel good" chemical. Proper serotonin receptor functioning depends on the presence of... That's right again. Maybe that's why low cholesterol levels might to be linked to weird, bizarre behavior.
And what's more, your body uses the cholesterol level present for repair of damaged cells. Maybe that means that elevated cholesterol levels are associated with repairs going on, sometimes. The cholesterol might be present for a good reason, because problems are present and the repair process is taking place. That possibly could be an advantage and not all bad.
Just on a whim to reduce cholesterol might not be a totally positive step to take. The role of cholesterol in health is not totally understood. A certain level of cholesterol is essential to health and the natural level in different people could be there for one of several reasons, all of which may not be harmful at all, and might in fact be just what is needed. It depends on a number of factors.
