• April 19, 2024

Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver that circulates throughout the body through the blood. There are 2 types of cholesterol, the LDL which is the "bad" cholesterol that due to its high density sticks in the arteries and can cause a heart attack, and the "good" HDL cholesterol that cleanses your arteries, and is wrapped in triglycerides and other substances.

Cholesterol comes from 2 main sources: products from Animal origin and the one that produces your liver , which forms almost 80% of the cholesterol in your body. The increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood is due to many factors, but excess fat intake is one of the most affecting.

Elevated cholesterol has no symptoms or discomfort that can detect the problem in time, but the first manifestations could range from a heart attack to an embolism, leading to complications that lead to death. Today, there are simple tests that can help you quickly know cholesterol levels, ask for your lipid profile in the nearest clinic to know your cholesterol levels.

It is very important that you know how much fat you consume daily to prevent this evil, because although lipids are important for the proper functioning of our body, the excess of calories raises the level of triglycerides.

The normal level of cholesterol in the general population is about 200mg / dl, according to data from the Ministry of Health. And if you are older than 20 years you must start measuring them often to avoid future problems in your health.

4 tips for a good diet

The American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association recommend consuming only 30% of the daily calories from fats; as well as observe a good diet, exercise and seek a healthy life without sedentarism, to prevent this evil.

The SSa recommends:

1.- Choose products that have vegetable fat. Try to lower your consumption of animal fats.
2.- Avoid foods that come from animal fats such as lard, whole milk, fried seafood, among others.
3.- Increase your fiber intake, such as green leafy vegetables, fruits and grains.
4.- Choose products with whole grains and vegetable roots.

The Mexican science against cholesterol

Researchers from the National Polytechnic Institute have developed a marzipan to combat cholesterol. It was made with rice bran base and has a high nutritional value, since it contains a large amount of dietary fiber that balances the fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants and vitamins of the B complex.

44% of people aged 20 and over in Mexico have high cholesterol levels, which is why the research of the Center for the Development of Biotic Products (Ceprobi) of the IPN represents a successful alternative to solve the problems of our country.