Testing It Up

There are several important reasons for smokers to kick their habits, and a new study adds yet another one: improving one’s cholesterol profile.

According to a study led by Dr. Adam Gepner of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, quitting smoking leads to an increase of “good cholesterol” levels, despite experiencing weight gain, which is one of its side effects. Through future research, this finding may eventually lead to more in depth understanding regarding the link between smoking and heart health, as shared in a feature by Reuters.

Previous studies were able to determine that smoking results in lower good cholesterol (HDL) levels, and increased bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, according to Dr. Gepner. He and his colleagues recruited more than 1,500 smokers, who represent the various sectors of the current U.S. population, in order to rigorously test the impact of smoking on cholesterol levels. This test population included the high proportion of overweight and obese individuals.

The researchers were able to note that 36 percent of the participants in the study were able to succeed in quitting smoking after a year, using one of five smoking cessation programs. They also noted that those who were able to stop smoking were able to experience an average increase of five percent, or 2.4 mg/dL, in HDL cholesterol levels.

It was also observed that the effects described above were “somewhat stronger” in women. It also appeared that there was no difference in how heavy a smoker the participant was at the beginning of the study; both heavy and light smokers were able to enjoy the same HDL benefit after quitting.

If we were to consider cholesterol as a substance independently, then we will come to the realization that cholesterol is needed by the body. It is basically a fatty substance, called a lipid, produced by the liver and found in food high in saturated fats, such as fatty meat and egg yolks. It is actually an essential part of the structure and functioning of the cells.

So, why is it always associated with illness and things that are bad for the health? This is another case of anything in excess becomes harmful, even if inherently good. Cholesterol, while generally an important part of the body, can become harmful if there is too much of it in the body. The inability to control the rise of cholesterol levels in the blood may lead to a serious heart condition known as atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol levels in the blood may be determined by the kind of lifestyle a person leads. The normal culprits that contribute to a rise in cholesterol levels are eating food that is high in fat while at the same time failing to engage in enough exercise or physical activity. For some people, however, the problem is more genetic than it its environmental; there are people who are genetically pre-disposed to high blood cholesterol levels. This means that even if they lead healthy lifestyles – exercising regularly and eating healthy – they might still find suffer from elevated cholesterol levels.

While it is a given that everyone should effectively manage their cholesterol levels, there are certain people who should be more careful than others, such as those with a family history of early heart disease, those with high blood pressure, patients with diabetes and smokers. Your cholesterol levels along with your overall health profile will serve as your and your physician’s guide towards arriving at an appropriate cholesterol management plan for you.

High cholesterol levels are associated with an increase in the levels of LDL, or what is commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. This type of cholesterol contributes to the build up of plaque in the arteries, resulting in atherosclerosis.

The National Cholesterol Education Program took an old acronym and gave it a new twist. Those who are dealing with high cholesterol levels can temporarily stop thinking about TLC as short for tender, loving care, and start thinking about it as a set of recommendations from the National Cholesterol Education Program – “Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes”.

Most TLC recommendations center around dietary changes, which are deemed helpful towards lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or what is being called simply as “bad” cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol in the body are normally associated with an increased risk for developing heart disease. Both LDL and its “good” counterpart, HDL cholesterol, are present in the blood. LDL levels can be increased with the consumption of trans fats, usually found in baked goods, pastries and snack foods, as well as dietary cholesterol found in meat – especially red meat.

This being said, people who already have high levels of LDL can lower these levels by making changes in their diet. Among the TLC recommendations are to get less than 7% of calories from saturated fats, eat less than 200 grams a day of cholesterol and to avoid eating foods that are high in saturated fats – these foods include red meat, cheese, whole milk and butter, among others.

25-35% of daily calories from fat should be sourced mainly from unsaturated fat, especially monounsaturated fat which can be found in olive oil. And keep your trips to your favorite sweet shop or bakery to pick up pastries down to a minimum. It is important to maintain a nice and healthy weight and avoid gaining weight.

If LDL is not reduced by lowering cholesterol in the diet, than try to increase the soluble fiber in your diet – feast on apples, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, citrus, blueberries or strawberries, virtually a recipe for a nice and healthy salad.