Cholestrol-A Great Tasting Killer

A GREAT TASTING KILLER

            While taking the Health and Fitness class, as a requirement to graduate from Linn Benton Community College, I was astounded to find out that the major causes of death in 2007 were heart disease (615,651), stroke (133,900), diabetes Mellitis (70,905), kidney disease (46,095), Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (28,504), and hypertension --high blood pressure—(23,769) for a total of 918,824 that year.  There were half of the total deaths for that year with contributing factors of tobacco (440,000) and obesity (112,000), which are controllable factors.

            Therefore, the major addictive factor of smoking is controllable by each individual. 

            However, our other addictive habit, bad eating habits is the topic I am addressing in this paper.   Over the years there have been many studies done and the major cause of all of the diseases mentioned above is the over eating habits and sedentary lifestyle in this progressive society.  As Americans, we need to change the way we are advancing into the next century.  No matter how many new parts we can replace in our body, we need to take a look at our way of life and make some serious changes.

            One of the major contributors from our over eating habits is our high cholesterol  levels.  Before the twentieth century, we did not have such a mobile society nor did we have the many places to eat, where we do not have control of the products we eat.

Even in very small towns, there are numerous fast foods places, which distribute gross amounts of cholesterol-laden foods, mostly pre-processed for consumption.   The cholesterol intake in America has increased dramatically due to many reasons, including the fact that many are working far away from home and only get between one half  to one hour for lunch and must find an alternative to home cooked meals of the past.  Some people are changing their habits by brown-bagging it each day.

From the National Vital Statistics Reports Volume 59 No. 4 March 16, 2011 website, the numbers are virtually the same.  What is cholesterol and how is it possibly causing so many deaths and disabilities?

Cholesterol is a natural chemical compound, which is produced by our body from the food products we eat. It is carried in the bloodstream by lipoproteins that contain lipids (fats) and proteins.  However, I did not know that there are “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol and helps to prevent most of the above mentioned causes of death.  HDLs takes cholesterol from the cells and

sends it back to the liver, where it is either expelled from the body, stored in the bodyfor future use, or broken down right away for usage.  HDLs help sustain the cell membranes with crystallization of hydrocarbons in the cell membrane. 

Some of the other functions of HDL are production of sex hormones, production of bile in the liver, conversion of sunshine to vitamin D and other fat soluble vitamins, such as A, E, and K in the bloodstream.  Scientists have determined that HDL cholesterol also determines which molecules pass into cells, is essential in the production of hormones which are released by the adrenal glands, and protects nerve fibers.  Atherosclerosis, a form of arteriosclerosis (thickening and hardening of small and medium-sized arteries), in which “bad” cholesterol forms plaque, is greatly reduced by HDLs.  The thickening and hardening of the arteries is caused by too much LDL in the body.

Low density cholesterol (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol is not only found in the food we eat but is also inherited as a gene which causes people to eat too much.  Add this gene, along with our bad eating habits, and some people have a really horrible time trying to defeat the “bad” cholesterol monster.   The body does need this cholesterol but only in small amounts.  LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to cells but if there is too much, it is dangerous to the human body.

Another lipoprotein, very low density, (VLDL) is helps fats and cholesterol navigate throughout our mostly water body.  Wikipedia states that VLDL “functions as the body's internal transport mechanism for lipids.”

Finally, not the last lipoproteins, for this paper are triglycerides.  These triglycerides are made in our body but can come from other sources, such as carbohydrates.  Triglycerides, not used by the body, are stored in fat cells. So you can see that the amount of these items, not used by the body, cause most of the problems of the major killers of humans.

Lipoproteins and glucose, a sugar made in the blood, are the primary sources of energy for the body.  When the lipoproteins and glucose are in excess in the body for a long period of time, the odds of becoming diseased are highly probable.

The acceptable levels of all of the above, per Fit and Well:

Total cholesterol (mg/dl) should be less than 200.

LDL cholesterol  (mg/dl) should be less than 130.

HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) should be more than 60.

Triglycerides (mg/dl) should be less than 150.

Per Wikipedia, the normal Human Glucose Blood Test results should be 70 - 130 (mg/dL) before meals and less than 180 mg/dL after meals.

I had gastric bypass in 2003 and had to drastically change my diet.  For example, the Thanksgiving after my surgery, I fixed a plate and everyone in my family burst out laughing and I did not get the joke.  I had fixed a plate as I would have eaten the year before and it took me days to finish it.  I lost over 100 pounds and started realizing that I could walk and entered a few charity walks of at least five miles.  When I tried to eat some of the foods, rich in carbohydrates and sugars, I found my body could not process them and I went into something similar to a diabetic coma but you are upright and can comprehend what is going on but cannot do anything physically.

Because of my genetics (half of my family is extremely apple-shaped), I did not want to walk around with that extra weight on my body, so I had gastric bypass to accomplish my goal.  My father died of diabetes, my mother has low blood sugar, and my great grandmother died from cancer.

Heart disease and diabetes are a part of my history, so I will have to watch my diet and health for the rest of my life.  Eating more HDLs and small amounts of LDLs and triglycerides will make my body will perform better. 

When I started this paper, I was sure I would not be able to fill five full pages on

cholesterol but I find that I have more to say. 

There are many diets out there to help lower your cholesterol, so be careful as each should be studied because we need some cholesterol, glucose, and triglycerides of the good and bad kind to survive successfully.   

Thank you for this opportunity to understand why my body is so adverse to carbohydrates and glycogens.  The parts of the stomach and intestines which help to process these have been removed from my body and, therefore, they are not broken down, digested, and stored but rejected by my body.  I had to change my way of life totally after the bypass and thought there was no more information to be gained by this class.  Thank you for proving me wrong!!