Everyone has cholesterol which is a yellowy-white wax-like lipid that’s in every cell of the body. Cholesterol keeps the cells and organs working properly. It also plays a major role in hormone, vitamin, and digestive fluid production. Having high levels of cholesterol puts a person in grave danger of major health complications. What sign is visible on the face indicating your levels are too high?
Cholesterol comes from two sources with 80 percent of it being naturally produced by the liver and intestines with a person’s diet accounting for the last 20 percent.
Unfortunately, most people will not experience symptoms of high cholesterol, so the only way to measure blood cholesterol levels is to get a blood test.
“Your GP or practice nurse will take a blood sample, usually by pricking your finger or you might be asked to go for a blood test at your local hospital,” explains the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
According to the BHF, your blood is then checked for levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, bad (non-HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides (another type of blood fat), as well as getting a total cholesterol result.
Saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol levels – a harmful type of cholesterol that gums up the inside of your arteries.
According to the NHS, saturated fat can be found in the following:
- Meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
- Butter, lard and ghee
- Cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
- Cakes and biscuits
- Food that contains coconut oil or palm oil