These are 10 common misconceptions that everyone still think about
when mentioning cholesterol:
1.
High cholesterol is genetic and you can’t do anything to change it
While genetics plays an important role, selecting a diet has
a significant impact on cholesterol level. If your family has high cholesterol
genetic factors, you must take preventive steps and more active to keep your
cholesterol level in normal.
2.
Cholesterol can just be lowered by using drugs
When you know that you have high cholesterol, finding out
the cause is very important. If you know how to repair these causes, your
cholesterol level will return to normal. The causes that can lead to high
cholesterol include poor diet, lack of exercise, infection and stress.
3.
Children can’t have high cholesterol
The researches show that atherosclerosis and the narrowing
of arteries lead to heart attacked. This condition can occur when the children
are eight years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that we
should check cholesterol level for overweight children or children from
families that have the history of heart disease since they are two years old.
Children who are diagnosed to have high cholesterol should
have a diet limited saturated fat; besides, we should also encourage them to
exercise more.
4.
Cholesterol is always “bad”
When talking about cholesterol, most people think that it is
something bad. The reality is much more complex. High cholesterol amount can be
dangerous, but cholesterol itself is necessary for various metabolic processes
in the body.
The role of cholesterol in heart disease is often
misunderstood. Cholesterol is transported in the blood by the low-density and
high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). LDL is known as bad cholesterol and
it may be the cause of atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol is
transported in the blood by the low-density and high-density lipoproteins (LDL
and HDL)
5.
Low cholesterol is always a sign of good health
Although your body has low bad cholesterol (LDL) level, you
may still be healthy. However, a new research of American found that people who
had cancer often have lower LDL cholesterol level than those who did not have
cancer.
People who have low cholesterol amount in the blood also
easily have different infections and may die by infection.
6.
There are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol
Some people have high cholesterol that may develop into
yellow tumor, also known as xanthoma. This disease can occur on the eyelids,
joints, hands or other parts of the body. People who have diabetes or a genetic
disease of high cholesterol may have xanthoma.
You’d better check your cholesterol level every three years
or more frequently, starting at twenty years old to ensure your health.
7.
High cholesterol is not a problem for thin people
Although you are thin, overweight or normal, you should
check your cholesterol regularly. While people who are overweight often have
high cholesterol by eating too many fatty foods, thin people also need to be
aware of how much they eat saturated fat.
High cholesterol
is not a problem for thin people
8.
Using margarine helps reduce cholesterol
Margarine and butter both have much fat and you should eat
all fatty foods in moderation if you have high cholesterol. Most of margarines
contain saturated fat; a factor also contributing to increasing the
concentration of cholesterol. You’d better choose a kind of liquid vegetables
oil that does not contain any trans fatty acid (hydrogenated vegetables oil).
Butter
9.
You do not need to check your cholesterol until you are middle-aged
Even children, especially those whose families have a
history of heart disease, may have high cholesterol. Checking cholesterol at an
early age is an entirely good thing.
10.
All cholesterol comes from foods
Most of cholesterol in your body is created by natural
metabolic processes of the body, not from foods you eat every day.
