10 surprising facts about cholesterol you should know

For the approximately 95 million U.S. adults who have total cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dl and even for those who do not, here are some facts you should know.  Vilified over the years, cholesterol is actually quite fascinating. This waxy, fat-like compound found in every cell in the body is an interesting part of us with few completely understanding its implications for our health.

Sometimes, cholesterol levels can become elevated.  Because having high cholesterol has no symptoms, many people do not even know if their cholesterol is too high.  A simple blood test at a doctor’s office can easily check cholesterol levels. Knowing your cholesterol level can be an indication for raising your risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Here are 10 facts about cholesterol clearing up any confusion often associated with it:

1.  Cholesterol has many jobs important for our survival – From the day we are born cholesterol is already within us.  We need cholesterol for the following reasons:

·      To help us make the steroid hormones of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone

·       It is a precursor of vitamin D  in which cholesterol is required to help make it

·      To make bile which helps digest fat found in food

·      It is necessary in the structure of cell membranes

2.  Cholesterol is only found in foods of animal origin

Many people may mistakenly believe high-fat foods such as donuts, potato chips, or cookies and cake contain cholesterol.  They do not unless they have an ingredient that is of animal origin. Foods of animal origin include red meat (beef, pork, lamb), poultry, fish, eggs (only in the yolk), milk, cheese, and butter.

3.  Children can have elevated cholesterol levels

We tend to only hear of high cholesterol levels in adults but children are also susceptible to developing this condition.  The buildup of plaque begins early during childhood and continues on into adulthood.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cholesterol screening for all children between ages 9 and 11.

4.  The main influence of high cholesterol is genetics

There is much emphasis on controlling our food choices, exercise and taking medications to reduce cholesterol.  These are all well and good lifestyle changes but the primary reason for most people with high cholesterol levels is due to genetics.  About 75% of cholesterol is due to hereditary influences while 25% is due to our diet. There is a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia that can result in very high cholesterol levels that requires aggressive treatment.

Know your family medical history and if a family member has a history of high cholesterol or of an early heart attack before the age of 50, tell your doctor and have your cholesterol levels tested.

5.  There is no minimum amount of cholesterol required

The majority of our cholesterol found in the blood comes from what our liver makes to meet the body’s needs.  People who are vegans do not consume any cholesterol since they consume no animal foods and they get along fine without it in their diet.  The American Heart Association recommends to keep cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams a day and under 200 milligrams a day if you have heart disease.

6.  A sign of high cholesterol can be xanthomas on the skin

Xanthoma is a condition in which fatty growths appear underneath the skin.  They can appear anywhere on the body but are often found on joints such as the knees and elbows.  This skin condition is more common in people with medical conditions such as high cholesterol that cause high blood lipids. 

7.  Cholesterol levels in women can fluctuate

Generally, women have lower cholesterol numbers than men.  But throughout the course of their lives, their levels can go up and down.  During pregnancy, cholesterol levels rise which is thought to help the babies brain develop.  Post-pregnancy, the levels return to normal.  After menopause, the levels go up again while the good or protective HDL levels decline.  By the time a woman reaches age 75, her cholesterol levels are often higher than a man’s.

8. Having too low of a cholesterol level is not necessarily a good thing

The emphasis is always on reducing cholesterol levels that are too high (above 200 mg/dl).  But what if total cholesterol is too low?  Is that a good thing?  Research is still ongoing but if total cholesterol is below 140 mg/dl, it is considered unusually low even though perfectly healthy people can have levels in this range.  For adults, normal cholesterol levels are between 140 and 200 mg/dl. 

Although the risks are rare, very low levels (less than 40 mg/dl) of LDL (bad) cholesterol may be associated with an increased risk of cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, depression, anxiety, preterm birth and low birth weight if cholesterol is low while pregnant. 

9.  Saturated and trans fats matter more than cholesterol

Your intake of cholesterol from food increases blood cholesterol but not nearly as much as your intake of saturated and trans fat.  Both saturated and dietary cholesterol are found in animal foods such as meats, poultry, and dairy products.  Trans fats are found in commercially prepared foods such as cake mixes, frosting, store-bought cookies or donuts. 

10.  Modest weight loss can improve cholesterol levels

If you are overweight, work towards losing 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight.  For someone who weighs 200 pounds, that’s 10 to 20 pounds.