What is Cholesterol, and
How to Lower Cholesterol Levels?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that looks like fats, and it is produced by your body and can also find in animal-based food such as eggs, meat, cheese, etc. Cholesterol is not inherently bad; in fact, it is an essential ingredient for your body to perform certain functions. But high levels of cholesterol are harmful as they can put you at risk for many diseases. When you have excessive cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in your blood to form a plaque. This plaque can stick to the walls of your arteries and constrict the passage of the blood to flow easily. As a result, the arteries can become narrow or even blocked, leading to many life-threatening conditions. There are three types of cholesterols.
HDL
(high-density lipoprotein) is also known as good cholesterol as it carries cholesterol from your arteries to the liver and liver then removes it from your body.
LDL
(low-density lipoproteins) is also called bad cholesterol because it helps build plaque in your arteries.
VLDL
(very low-density lipoproteins) is also bad cholesterol as it also helps build plaque in arteries.
Relationship Between Obesity and High Cholesterol
Obesity can change the way your body handles cholesterol. Obesity can increase the risk of high cholesterol by decreasing good cholesterol (HDL) levels and increasing bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. This means your body is not getting rid of cholesterol as it should, and in fact, it is accumulating the lousy cholesterol that helps clog your arteries. At ALSA Pakistan, we perform weight loss surgery to help you lose weight and lower cholesterol levels. We also provide diet plans, psychotherapy, and weight loss medicines to help you lose weight.
The Importance of
Treating High Cholesterol
High cholesterol can be hazardous for your health as it is a silent condition and does not show any signs or symptoms. It means you can have high cholesterol levels without even knowing about it. Being overweight increases your chances of having too much bad cholesterol or LDL in your blood circulation. Therefore it is of the most significant importance to keep track of your cholesterol levels and treat high cholesterol at the right time. High cholesterol levels can cause you at a greater risk of many severe conditions, including;
Diet Tips to Lose Weight and Lower Cholesterol
You can make modifications to your diet to lose weight and lower cholesterol. Adding foods that decrease the level of (LDL) bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol (HDL) is the best way to gain a healthy diet.
1 Whole grains
Foods such as bran, oats, barley, brown rice, cereals, etc., contain soluble fiber, which is known to help lower cholesterol and give HDL levels a percentage boost.
2 Fish
Omega 3 fatty acids lower bad cholesterol levels in your bloodstream. Adding fish can help your cholesterol levels in two ways: 1) by replacing red meat 2) by delivering omega 3 fatty acids. You can also find plant omega 3 fatty acids in walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds.
3 Beans and legumes
Like whole grains, beans and legumes are good sources of soluble fiber. You can add black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans,lentils, and others.
4 Fruits and vegetables
Naturally cholesterol-free and low-fat vegetables and fruits, are a good foundation for a low cholesterol diet. Citrus fruits, strawberries, pears, apples, grapes, peach, and green leafy vegetables can help you with your cholesterol.
If you need help in planning and following a balanced diet, feel free to contact ALSA Pakistan for customized diet plans to design the best-individualized diet plan for you.
Weight Loss Surgery to Treat High Cholesterol
Typically weight loss journey starts with diet and lifestyle changes, but surgical intervention becomes absolutely necessary for many people to achieve any impactful results. At ALSA Pakistan, Dr. Tahir Yunus performs weight loss surgery to help you ease your way towards a better life. We serve all types of weight loss procedures, including;
It can be said that when high cholesterol invades your body, it attacks anywhere it can as it causes the narrowing of your arteries, ultimately leading to blocking your arteries and interfering with blood circulation. Therefore, we encourage you to start your efforts against high cholesterol and obesity today, and we are here to help in any way we can.
