Cholesterol is a common health concern that affects many people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 3 adults in the United States have high cholesterol.

The risk of high cholesterol increases as people age, with the highest rates found in adults over the age of 60 and men are more likely to have high cholesterol than women.

Even people who have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease are also at a higher risk of developing high cholesterol.

In this article, we’ll discuss cholesterol in detail as well as its symptoms and causes. Read more to find out!

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found in your blood.

Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly, but too much cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.

There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL.

LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein and is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol.

This type of cholesterol can build up in the walls of your arteries and form a plaque that can narrow or block them.

This can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein and is sometimes called “good” cholesterol. 

This type of cholesterol helps remove LDL from your arteries and lower your heart disease risk.

It’s important to have a healthy balance of LDL and HDL cholesterol in your body.

Too much LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of heart problems while having high levels of HDL cholesterol can help protect your heart.

Symptoms of Cholesterol

High cholesterol does not typically cause any symptoms.

It is important to get your cholesterol checked regularly to ensure that it is at a healthy level.

Some people with very high cholesterol may experience:

1. Swelling or tenderness in their liver.
2. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes).
3. Abdominal pain.

Causes of Cholesterol

• Diet

Consuming foods high in saturated and trans fats, such as red meat and processed foods, can raise your cholesterol levels.

These types of fats can be found in fried food, fast food, and processed snack food.

Choosing healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil, can help lower your cholesterol levels. 

• Weight

Being overweight or obese can contribute to high  cholesterol.

Excess weight puts added strain on your heart and can cause an increase in LDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol.

• Age

Cholesterol levels tend to increase as you get older.

As you age, your body’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol from your blood decreases, which can lead to an increase in your cholesterol levels. 

• Family history

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, you may be more likely to have high cholesterol.

It is important to be aware of your family’s medical history and to discuss it with your healthcare provider. 

• Gender

Men are generally at a higher risk of high cholesterol than women.

• Physical activity

Lack of exercise can lead to high cholesterol.

Regular physical activity can help increase your HDL cholesterol levels and lower your LDL cholesterol levels. 

• Smoking and tobacco use 

Smoking lowers your ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL) and raises your ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL)

• Stress

Stress triggers hormonal changes that cause your body to produce cholesterol.

High levels of cortisol from long-term stress may be the mechanism behind how stress can increase cholesterol.

Adrenaline may also be released and these hormones can trigger a ‘fight or flight’ response to deal with stress.

This response will then trigger triglycerides, which can boost ‘bad’ cholesterol.

• Drinking alcohol

Beside the aforementioned causes, too much alcohol in your body can also raise your total cholesterol.

Hence, always be mindful of your alcohol consumption in order to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol.

Lower Your Cholesterol Level With Sacha Inchi

Sacha inchi is a plant native certain parts of South America and the Caribbean.

It produces a fruit that is cultivated for its large, edible seeds and is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart.

These fatty acids can help lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease.

Sacha inchi is also a good source of plant-based protein and fibre, making it a healthy addition to your diet.

If you want to lower your cholesterol and improve your overall health, consider using sacha inchi.

GoNature Global offers a variety of sacha inchi products, including oil, powder, and capsules.

Adding sacha inchi to your diet can help you see the benefits for yourself.

Go Nature has been certified by the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) and SIRIM Malaysia, as well as guaranteed Halal by JAKIM.

So, you don’t have to worry about its genuineness and legitimacy.

Don’t wait any longer!

Visit GoNature to learn more about the benefits of sacha inchi and to see our selection of sacha inchi products.