Is dietary cholesterol really dangerous? Let's find out the truth!

The word "cholesterol" immediately brings fear to our minds. Many serious diseases like heart disease and stroke come to mind. This is why some people are afraid to eat eggs, while others do not eat foods like butter and cheese even when they see them. But did you know that the story about cholesterol in our bodies from food is not as simple as it seems. Sometimes it seems like even the things doctors say contradict each other. So, let's untangle this confusion and talk about what the real story is today.

First of all, what is cholesterol?

Simply put, cholesterol is a waxy substance found in our bodies. It is actually essential for our bodies. Cholesterol helps our bodies build cells, produce certain hormones, and even make vitamin D from sunlight.

The best part is that our liver can make all the cholesterol our body needs. This means that we don't need to get cholesterol from food to stay healthy. Our bodies do that on their own.

So, what is the connection between dietary cholesterol and heart disease?

This is where many people get confused. There is not yet enough evidence to prove that cholesterol in the foods we eat alone causes heart disease. But the problem lies elsewhere.

Many foods high in cholesterol also contain another thing that is bad for the heart: saturated fat .

Think of red meat (beef, pork), chicken skin, and full-fat dairy products like butter, cheese, and yogurt. These are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. In fact, it is this saturated fat that raises the levels of LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, which we call "bad cholesterol," in our blood.

What is the harm of LDL cholesterol?

The biggest problem with this bad cholesterol (LDL) is that it builds up on the inner walls of our blood vessels, the tubes that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It's like dirt building up inside a water pipe. We call these cholesterol deposits plaques .

Over time, these plaques grow and narrow the inside of the blood vessels. This reduces the space for blood to flow. Sometimes these plaques can rupture and form blood clots. This process is what ultimately paves the way for serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

The egg problem everyone is talking about

When talking about cholesterol, it's impossible not to mention eggs. This is also a very confusing topic. True, egg yolks are relatively high in cholesterol. But eggs are very low in saturated fat.

For this reason, most studies do not show a strong link between eating eggs and heart disease. However, some studies have found that eating eggs may be associated with some risk, especially for people who already have diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes) or heart disease.

Also, another thing we need to think about is that we rarely eat eggs on their own, right? Most of the time, we eat eggs with things like bread, butter, sausage, and bacon. So there's no arguing that the harmful fats and salt in those processed meats can harm the heart.

Who needs to think about this more?

It's really important for all of us to adopt a heart-healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean Diet or the DASH Diet. These are naturally low in cholesterol and saturated fat.

However, experts say that our genes have the biggest influence on controlling our blood cholesterol levels. This means that most people's blood cholesterol levels are not greatly affected by cholesterol from food. But some people are very sensitive to this. For such people, even eating a small amount of high-cholesterol foods can cause their blood cholesterol levels to rise significantly. But there is no specific test to know if you are one of them.

However, if you have any of the following health problems or risk factors, your doctor will likely advise you to limit the amount of cholesterol you eat.

• Your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels are high .
• Having high blood pressure .
• Having a heart condition.
• Having diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes) .
• Having a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease at a young age .
• If you are a smoker .

How do you check your cholesterol level?

The most dangerous thing about high cholesterol is that it has no symptoms . You can have internal damage without even realizing it until you suddenly have a heart attack or stroke.

But there's nothing to worry about. You can find out your cholesterol level accurately with a very simple blood test, called a Lipid Profile test.

It is generally recommended that adults have this test every 4 to 6 years . If anyone in your family has a history of high cholesterol, tell your doctor. He or she may recommend that you get tested earlier.

Cholesterol, Heart Disease, Food, Nutrition, Eggs, Saturated Fat, Lipid Profile