Helping people live healthier lives
other MOLECULES tested in blood:
Two other molecules tested for in blood when HDL and LDL are measured are VLDL and Triglycerides. VLDL, also known as very low density lipoproteins, are used by your body to move the triglycerides distributed by the liver. In high amounts, VLDL can cause cholesterol to build up in the arteries, and can cause heart disease and stroke. Triglycerides are fat produced by your body to store energy and bring it to the muscles. If you have high LDL, a high triglyceride level along with it can increase your probability of getting heart disease.
how does the intake of 3 different fats affect cholesterol levels and overall health:
Trans Fats:
Trans fats raise your LDL levels, which can lead to plaque buildup in your blood vessels. This can cause heart attacks or strokes. It also LOWERS your HDL levels. This essentially means that not only is it adding more particles that keep cholesterol in your blood and can lead to plaques, it diminishes your body’s ability to filter those particles out of your blood. This affects your overall health because buildup of LDL under the walls of your veins drastically increases your risk of heart disease. Trans fats are found in baked goods with a long shelf life, chips, french fries, fried chicken, non-dairy coffee creamer and margarine.
Saturated Fats:
Not all of the 24 various types of saturated fats cause the same level of damage to your body. For instance, one type (stearic acid) actually lowers your LDL levels. However, saturated fats are not typically considered to be healthy. All are solid at room temperature because there are no double bonds between carbon atoms in the chains that make up much of the fats. This allows the chains to pile up very close to each other, making a solid. Saturated fats are found in many foods, such as butter, whole milk, cheese, beef and butter. Most saturated fats heighten your LDL levels, which increases your chance of developing a heart disease, which is bad for your overall health.
Unsaturated Fats:
Unsaturated fats are lipids containing one double bond between carbons in the chains of hydrogen and carbon atoms. This means that they are liquid at room temperature because the chains of fatty acids are unable to stack up on top of each other. Some examples of food containing this type of fat are fish, flax seed, walnuts, corn oil and soybean oil. Polyunsaturated fats lower your LDL levels and HDL levels, but they lower LDL more, improving your overall cholesterol level. This is good for your health because a low LDL level decreases your risk of heart disease caused by its buildup under the walls of your blood vessels. Also, polyunsaturated fats contain substances needed for your cells to function properly. Lastly, polyunsaturated fats are a source of vitamin E, which many people are deficient in.