High Cholesterol is a chronic disease that affects 73.5 million adult Americans (31.7% according to the CDC.) The Center for Disease Control (CDC) describes it: “As cholesterol builds up in the arteries, they begin to narrow, which lessens or blocks the flow of blood.” Those living with high cholesterol have twice the risk of developing heart disease than a person who does not.

Heart disease is no small issue. We at Grassroots Medical are passionate about raising awareness of heart health. We will do so by continuing in a blog series that is devoted to discussing the many factors of heart disease and their long-term health risks. Today the focus is on high cholesterol.

Low cholesterol levels present in the bloodstream have a very different effect on the human body than high cholesterol levels. As we have previously discussed, cholesterol is a wax-like substance extracted from fats that are composed inside foods that we consume. While cholesterol is necessary for the nutrients it provides in cell formation, it can also become crippling to health when consumed outside of the recommended dietary limits. This is possible because some fats help to lower cholesterol, whereas others contribute to raising it. It’s important to know how to differentiate between these fats.

Cholesterol is a wax-like substance this is composed within various fats that are found in different types of food. There are good and bad types of cholesterol which, in turn, make good and bad types of fat. It’s no surprise that there are some foods, of which, are far from being healthy addition to our diets, however are you aware of how the food you eat is affecting your cholesterol? Let’s find out!