ANSWERS: 1
  • According to the American Heart Association, about 35.7 million American adults (about 12 percent of the American population) have cholesterol levels of 240 or above. Because of current environmental factors, such as access to high-fat foods and lack of exercise, the number of people with high cholesterol is increasing.

    Definition

    High cholesterol is considered to be more than 240 mg/dL in the blood and is the sum of three types of cholesterol: HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein). Healthy levels of cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL and more than 60 mg/dL of HDL.

    Animal Sources

    All meats, egg yolks, dairy and animal products have some amounts of cholesterol. Most of this cholesterol comes from saturated fat, which is a major contributor to heart disease.

    Liver Synthesis

    The liver produces and reabsorbs about 20 percent of the body's cholesterol, which is turned to bile for aiding in the intestinal absorption of fat molecules and fat-soluble vitamins.

    Trans Fats

    Because the human body is unable to metabolize trans fat (mainly from dehydrogenated fats in processed foods), cholesterol and fatty deposits line the arteries, promoting heart disease. Also, trans fats behave like LDL by raising cholesterol levels.

    Coconuts

    Coconuts are one of the rare but commonly eaten plants that contain high amounts of saturated fat, which contains cholesterol.

    Source:

    "Perspectives in Nutrition;" Gordon Wardlaw and Margaret Kessel; 2002

    American Heart Association: Cholesterol

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