Obesity

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156.   Cholesterol – Cholesterol is a fat like substance which is mainly made in the body by the liver from saturated fats in food. Very little cholesterol is found in foods, except for eggs, liver and kidneys which contain some cholesterol. Cholesterol is part of the membrane around the cells, and provides some protective covering to nerve fibres in the body. Cholesterol plays a vital role in how every cell wall works throughout the body. It is also the material which the body uses to make other vital chemicals, like sex hormones, vitamin D and bile salts which are used in the digestion of lipids – name for all the fatty substances in the blood including HDL, LDL and triglycerides.

157.   Cholesterol has a special “transport system” for reaching all the cells, which need it. It uses the blood circulation as the “road system” and is carried on “vehicles” made up of proteins. These combinations of cholesterol and proteins are called lipoproteins. There are two main kinds of lipoproteins; (i) Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL – also referred to as bad cholesterol) which carries cholesterol and other fats from the digestive system through the blood/liver to the body’s cells for cell processes and (ii) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL – also referred to as good cholesterol because it is thought to provide some protection against heart disease) removes cholesterol from the circulation in the blood by returning the extra cholesterol that is not needed back to the liver.

158.   The fatty substance called “atheroma” develops when excess bad LDL is chemically changed (a process known as oxidation) and is taken up by the cells in the coronary artery walls where the narrowing process of blood vessels begins. Eventually if there is too much bad cholesterol in the blood, it can clog the arteries and restrict the supply of oxygenated blood supply to the heart, resulting in heart attack.

159.   The most common cause of high blood cholesterol levels in people is too much fat in the diet. Saturated fat in the diet is thought to cause the increase in cholesterol levels by affecting the LDL cholesterol absorbed by the liver. Therefore dietary guidelines suggest reducing the intake of foods that are high in saturated fats to help lower cholesterol levels. The other root causes of high cholesterol are obesity, diabetes, stress, anxiety, thyroid imbalances, hereditary condition or addictions such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.

Vitamins and Minerals for Weight Loss

160.   The body’s weight-related functions, like appetite, hunger, metabolic rate, metabolism of fats and sugars, blood-glucose levels, calorie-burning, et al. operate more efficiently when we have an optimum intake of minerals and vitamins. But if you have been on a yo-yo diet for many years, it is likely that you are deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals, which are necessary in maintaining optimum health and weight. Try incorporating the specific foods mentioned under Vitamins & Minerals below in your diet.