Cholesterol is a word that adults often use, and we may hear it mentioned in conversations about healthy eating or exercise. But what exactly is cholesterol, and why is it important?.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat that our bodies need to work properly. Our bodies make some cholesterol themselves, but we also get cholesterol from the foods we eat. Cholesterol is found in animal products like meat, eggs, cheese, and milk.
Why is Cholesterol Important?
Cholesterol is important because it helps our bodies do many different things. For example, cholesterol helps us make hormones, which are chemicals that tell our bodies what to do.
Cholesterol also helps us to digest food, and it helps our bodies make vitamin D.
However, too much cholesterol in our bodies can be a problem. When there is too much cholesterol, it can build up inside our blood vessels and make them narrow.
This can make it harder for blood to flow through our bodies, which can cause serious health problems.
What are the Different Kinds of Cholesterol?
There are two main types of cholesterol in our bodies: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
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Why Cholesterol Matters for Children
LDL cholesterol is often called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in our blood vessels and cause problems. HDL cholesterol is often called “good” cholesterol because it helps our bodies get rid of LDL cholesterol.
How Can We Keep Our Cholesterol Levels Healthy?
Although our bodies need cholesterol, it’s important to try to keep it at healthy levels. There are several things we can do to help keep our cholesterol levels healthy:.
- Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats, which can raise our LDL cholesterol levels. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins like chicken and fish.
- Exercise regularly. This can help us maintain a healthy weight, which can also help keep our cholesterol levels healthy.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking can raise our cholesterol levels and make it harder for our bodies to get rid of LDL cholesterol.
- If our doctors tell us our cholesterol levels are high, we may need to take medication to help lower them. This is usually only necessary for adults, not kids.
How Can We Get Tested for Cholesterol?
Doctors can test our cholesterol levels by taking a sample of our blood. Usually, we don’t need to be tested for cholesterol until we are adults.
However, sometimes doctors might test kids who have a family history of high cholesterol or who are overweight.
The Bottom Line
Cholesterol is an important part of our bodies, but we need to make sure we don’t have too much of it.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking can help us keep our cholesterol levels healthy and avoid health problems down the road.
