5 surprising facts about cholesterol

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When it comes to cholesterol, most people associate it with a harmful substance. High levels of cholesterol can be dangerous, but cholesterol is also a substance necessary for maintaining the functioning of organs in the body. Discover 5 things about cholesterol to understand who is more susceptible to cholesterol-related diseases, which foods are high in them, and why cholesterol is sometimes not harmful.

1. Exercise Can Raise Good Cholesterol

Daily exercise is very beneficial for a healthier life, so if you want to control cholesterol, regular exercise can help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol density naturally.

2. Cholesterol increases after menopause

Before menopause, estrogen helps to keep cholesterol levels in the body. However, after a woman's menstrual cycle, estrogen levels drop, causing bad cholesterol to rise sharply. As cholesterol levels increase, it also increases the risk of heart problems in many women.

3. Cholesterol levels may be too low

High cholesterol is not good, but very low cholesterol can also have adverse health effects. Experts recommend keeping cholesterol levels below 200mg/dL, which is average for adults. However, below a certain level like 160mg/dL can lead to health risks, including cancer. Are health problems causing low cholesterol levels or vice versa? Or are they unrelated? That has not been clarified yet.
Studies show that some pregnant women with low cholesterol are more likely to give birth prematurely. Low cholesterol has even been linked to anxiety and depression.

4. Children can also have cholesterol

Most people think that excess cholesterol is a problem of older people. However, research shows that atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries that leads to a heart attack, can start as early as eight years old.
Being overweight or having a family history of heart disease can be the cause of a child's high cholesterol levels. Therefore, it is important to have a medical examination done as soon as possible and keep your diet in check.
According to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended that children who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of heart disease have their cholesterol checked at age two. Therefore, children with hypercholesterolemia should limit foods containing saturated fat, specifically, reduce to 7% of calories and consume no more than 200mg of cholesterol per day. In addition, children should add fiber and exercise regularly.

5. Food should and should not be used

Foods to use
Vegetables: Vegetables, water spinach, spinach, cucumber, melon, spinach, jute vegetables, zucchini, pumpkin, melon, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, carrots, chayote oysters, chayote... Less sweet fruits: Plums, grapefruits, peaches, oranges, tangerines, pears, apples, dragon fruit, watermelons. Rice and tubers: About 200-250 g/day. Beef, lean pork, chicken (skinless), low-fat fish. Soy milk, tofu, tofu. Foods that should be limited
Rice, potatoes, other grains: Maximum 3 bowls of rice/day. Sugar, confectionery, soft drinks. Too sweet fruits: Banana, jackfruit, custard apple, lychee, longan, mango. Sweetened condensed milk. Eggs of all kinds: 1-2 eggs/week. Foods that should not be eaten
Visceral organs: Brain, heart, liver, kidney, stomach, pork sausage: Fatty meat, animal fats, coconut oil, palm oil; Butter, cheese, chocolate; Whole milk powder. When preparing food, you should increase steamed and boiled dishes, and limit stir-frying and frying.

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