Cholesterol is actually a waxy steroid that is necessary to build the membranes of all human life. A person with a weight about 150 pounds synthesizes 1 gram of cholesterol every day with 35 grams in total present in the body. Actually a typical diet in the US and some other countries contains about 2-3 grams a day and the body compensates for the intake decreasing the quantity it synthesizes.
Cholesterol is just a bit soluble in water and it doesn’t dissolve in water based bloodstream. To solve this problem, the body surrounds cholesterol with lipoproteins with water soluble outward facing surface and lipid soluble inward facing surface. Thus cholesterol can be transported throughout our bodies.
Transporting cholesterol, lipoproteins have signals targeting the lipids that they carry to particular tissues. There are different lipoprotein types: chylomicrons, VLDL – very low density lipoprotein, IDL – intermediate density lipoprotein, LDL – low density lipoprotein, and finally HDL – high density lipoprotein. When talking about bad LDL cholesterol and good HDL we mean the cholesterol amount the lipoproteins carry. The less protein and the more cholesterol a lipoprotein possesses the less dense a lipoprotein is.
LDL enables cholesterol to move in water based blood stream solution. Besides, LDL regulates the synthesis of cholesterol. LDL was called bad when doctors found out that high LDL levels signal some cardiovascular disorder.
HDL removes cholesterol from the arteries and carries it to the liver. That is why HDL is called good cholesterol. High HDL indicates less risk to develop a cardiovascular disorder. About 30 per cent of total cholesterol amount is carried by HDL cholesterol.
Doctors recommend people with high LDL to reduce it as fast as possible. Statin medications are effective in reducing high LDL levels. Statins inhibit an enzyme in the liver which controls the cholesterol synthesis. The body detects the reduced synthesis and compensates for the reduced availability of cholesterol by raising the LDL receptors synthesis which removes LDL from the blood.
LDL levels can be lowered by a diet as well as different dietary supplements.
The most effective supplement tested to lower LDL is raw whole food called Mila. Mila represents a concentrated form of Salvia hispanica L. The studies of this plant showed that Mila can match statin medications in reducing LDL levels and in lowering systolic BP. Besides, Mila possesses great mineral and vitamin qualities including Omega-3 acids and antioxidants. All of them are necessary for general human health.