HIGH CHOLESTEROL CAUSES ARE MANY BUT EASY TO DEAL WITH

There are various high cholesterol causes, and understanding what it is that triggers this problem will help you to deal with it effectively.

Research has uncovered a number of high cholesterol causes, most of which are lifestyle related. There are, however, a number of high cholesterol causes that are harder to deal with:

Heredity: There is a genetic component to some cholesterol problems. When we talk about elevated cholesterol levels, we are usually talking about increased levels of LDL - also known as bad cholesterol. Your heredity affects how your body functions, and in particular, how fast it produces LDL, and how quickly it is removed from the blood. There is also a form of inherited high cholesterol, called familial hypercholesterolemia, which affects around 1 person in 500.

Age and sex: As we age, blood cholesterol levels rise. This is particularly important for women, as up until menopause, women usually have lower cholesterol levels than men of the same age. However, one they have experienced menopause, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

The other issues that can contribute are lifestyle related, and therefore within your power to control. The most important factor is diet - the key element in the diet is saturated fat. Eating saturated fat stimulates production of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the liver. As it accumulates, it blocks up the arteries, ultimately leading to heart attacks and strokes.

The typical American diet is loaded with saturated fat, much of it coming from America's favorite food - fast food! A fast food meal, whether it be a burger and fries, Mexican, a chicken sandwich or a pizza, can easily contain up to five times the recommended daily allowance of saturated fat.

Fast food is not the only offender however. How many of these others types of food do you eat on a regular basis? Chips, Fatty Meats, Sausages, Cheese, Cookies, Cakes and Full Fat Dairy Products.

To make effective changes in your diet you need to reduce the intake of these foods that are high in saturated fats, and consuming more of those foods that can actively reduce levels of LDL.

Beneficial foods include fruits and vegetables, and foods high in soluble fibers. Fruits and vegetables are beneficial for lots of reasons - firstly, they are a great source of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants, which can help to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In addition they are a great way to increase your intake of soluble fiber, which has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

Other areas to address include:

• Weight: If you are overweight or obese, it can increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol level. Weight loss helps to lower LDL and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
• Exercise: Regular exercise has been shown to raise HDL cholesterol levels.
• Alcohol use: While moderate drinking (1-2 drinks daily) can increase HDL levels, excessive alcohol consumption reduces HDL and increases LDL levels.
• Smoking: Smoking is a high risk factor as it reduces the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). The role of HDL is to transport excessive LDL back to the liver to be disposed of, so reducing HDL will increase the risk of heart disease.

Mental stress: Studies have shown that long term stress raises blood cholesterol levels. It is unclear whether this is a direct result of the stress, or because when we are stressed we change our habits, for example by eating fatty foods or smoking more.