11 Basic Facts About Cholesterol

11 Basic Facts About Cholesterol •

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WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?

Every cell in your body contains cholesterol. It is produced by the body but can also be taken in from food. Being fat-soluble, it does not mix with blood, which is water-soluble. That's why it is carried through your bloodstream by lipoproteins called HDL and LDL. Cholesterol is essential for your health, but too much of it can be harmful.

Cholesterol Is Essential For You

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WHERE DO I GET CHOLESTEROL?

Cholesterol comes from two sourcesYour body, particularly your liver, makes all the cholesterol you need. This naturally produced cholesterol accounts for approximately two thirds of the cholesterol circulating in your blood. The rest comes from food, mainly from meat, eggs and full-fat dairy products.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CHOLESTEROL TYPES?

Cholesterol and other fats are transported in the body by lipoproteins. Low density lipoprotein or LDL is considered "bad" as it is involved in the atherosclerotic process, which may cause plaque build-up inside your arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease. High density lipoprotein or HDL is often called "good" cholesterol, because it helps remove cholesterol from the arteries.

Cholesterol comes in two main forms

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WHAT ARE TRIGLYCERIDES?

Triglycerides are a type of fat circulating in the blood. Triglyceride levels are often measured together with cholesterol levels. Elevated triglyceride levels (>1.7 mmol/l) may increase the risk of coronary heart disease. This applies especially to people with a low HDL level and elevated LDL level and to people with diabetes.

Elevated triglycerides are linked to heart disease

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DO I NEED CHOLESTEROL?

Your body needs a small amount of cholesterol to build cell membranes, make hormones, produce vitamin D and carry out other important tasks. Your liver produces all the cholesterol you need so you don't have to get it through your diet.

Cholesterol is essential for your health

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CAN I HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL?

Elevated cholesterol affects people of all ages and backgrounds in industrialised countries – no matter whether you are young or old, thin or overweight or whether you exercise or not. The only way to know if your cholesterol level is elevated is to have it tested by your doctor or other health care professional.

Every second adult has elevated cholesterol

WHO • www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/cholesterol_mean_text/en

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WHEN IS MY CHOLESTEROL TOO HIGH?

Elevated cholesterol usually has no symptoms so you will be able to follow your cholesterol levels only by having regular checkups. If you are generally healthy, your recommended total cholesterol is below 5.0 mmol/l, your LDL below 3.0 and your HDL more than 1.0. If you have other risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, the target levels for total and LDL cholesterol are even lower.

Recommended cholesterol levels for healthy people

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HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL?

You can't feel elevated cholesterol; it has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know your cholesterol levels is through a blood test that measures the fats in your blood. Your doctor will interpret the results based on other risk factors, such as age, family history, smoking and high blood pressure, and advise you how to proceed.

Have your cholesterol checked regularly

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WHY IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL BAD FOR ME?

When there is too much LDL cholesterol in your blood, it may cause plaque buildup on the walls of your arteries. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, may lead to a variety of health problems, such as heart attack or stroke. Lowering your cholesterol levels now can help you avoid problems later on in life.

Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease

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IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?

Through small changes in your lifestyle and especially in your diet, you can achieve great results. Taking care of your cholesterol level helps you maintain a healthy heart. Including Benecol® products as part of a healthy diet is a simple, additional step to start lowering your cholesterol level today.

The simple steps towards a healthy heart

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HOW DOES BENECOL® HELP ME?

The tasty products in the Benecol® range contain plant stanol ester and are proven to lower your cholesterol by 7–10% in 2–3 weeks. What’s more, the cholesterol level remains at the lower level reached as long as the Benecol products are used daily with a meal.

Benecol lowers your cholesterol

For more information visit www.benecol.com

Thank you.