Everything you need to know about good and bad cholesterol!
Some explanation is needed then to clarify exactly what is meant by cholesterol, hypercholesterolaemia, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol and a cholesterol-lowering diet.
What exactly is cholesterol?
Before we get onto the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol, it’s worth restating the definition of cholesterol. As its name suggests, it is a sterol! In other words, cholesterol is a lipid, a macronutrient which the body needs to ensure certain essential functions. For example, cholesterol forms part of the composition of cell membranes, it is involved in synthesising bile salts essential for lipid digestion and it acts as a precursor in the production of several molecules. In particular, cholesterol plays a part in the synthesis of vitamins and hormones: vitamin D, cortisol, progesterone, testosterone …
What is hypercholesterolaemia?
While cholesterol is essential for a number of the body’s functions, excessive levels present risks to health. This is what specialists term hypercholesterolaemia, a metabolic disorder and one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In excess, cholesterol accumulates on artery walls leading to the formation of fatty plaques called atheroma. Known as atherosclerosis, this generally manifests in hypertension and can result in serious health complications including stroke and heart attack …
How are ‘good’ and ‘bad cholesterol defined?
You’ve no doubt heard of ‘good fats’ and ‘bad fats’, which are distinguished by their chemical structure. You might imagine that it’s the same for ‘good’ cholesterol and ‘bad’ cholesterol, yet the difference between them is of quite a different order. Contrary to common perception, they are in fact two transporters of cholesterol. Biochemically, they are described as lipoproteins – complexes of lipids and proteins which enable fats to be transported in the bloodstream. ‘Good’ cholesterol refers to high-density lipoprotein or HDL-cholesterol, while ‘bad’ cholesterol corresponds to low-density lipoprotein or LDL-cholesterol.
Why distinguish between the two?
Specialists advise us to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol as the latter promotes the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood, while the former enables it to be broken down in the liver. LDL-cholesterol is thus termed ‘bad’ because it transports cholesterol towards the body’s tissues, while HDL-cholesterol is ‘good’ because it carries it towards the liver where it is eliminated. A high level of ‘bad’ cholesterol is often symptomatic of a diet that’s too high in cholesterol, hypercholesterolaemia and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
What is a cholesterol-lowering diet?
In the case of hypercholesterolaemia, doctors generally recommend adopting a cholesterol-lowering diet to reduce the risk of health problems. The top 10 anti-cholesterol foods include fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, pulses, and antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables. In recent years, scientific research has also identified other natural anti-cholesterol products. Among them are red yeast rice, a traditional product from the Chinese pharmacopoeia which can lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, and policosanol, a compound extracted from sugar cane which reduces total cholesterol levels via different mechanisms. Scientific research on ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol has also led to the formulation of Sytrinol™, a natural anti-cholesterol supplement the efficacy of which has been recognised by a number of clinical studies.
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JORGE Catalan Gasco
4 Days
Excellent online site
Excellent online site, efficient and quick delivery. A great experience.
Chris
7 Days
I’m really happy with your products, but…
I’m really happy with your products. Indeed, I’ve been a customer of SuperSmart for a long time. However, I believe that lately you’ve made a significant mistake in choosing Poste Italiane for your deliveries. Poste Italiane is now over loaded and assigns the deliveries to small local companies that have grown like mushrooms because of this business. However, the service they provide is very poor. They let you know about the delivery date just the evening before, with no time to organize yourself, many times you receive a message saying that they tried to deliver but you were not home and in reality they haven’t come at all and, when they do come, you open the door of the building ( I live on the 3rd floor) and when you get downstairs they have already left, leaving the pack inside but right behind the glass door instead of at least putting it on top or under the letterbox. This is not just a one time event but it’s their way of proceeding. It would be worth hiring a professional currier. Thanks
Olga Gladys Del Signore
7 Days
Good products
Good products, fast service
Mrs I Heinrich
13 Days
Quality products and fast shipping.
Quality products and fast shipping.
JF
15 Days
Everything is great. Keep up
Your product and service is great that's why i ordered again.
KOSMATOS Stamatios
19 Days
everything as expected
the products work and the processes to support them also
Ruggero Benedetto
20 Days
Excellent products always up to date…
Excellent products always up to date with the latest developments.
Olga Gladys Del Signore
25 Days
Great service
Great service, exceptional delivery time.
Chris
27 Days
Excellent quality of Super Smart
I’ve used Super Smart products for a long time and since the very beginning I have been absolutely keen about their punctuality in delivering but, most of all, I appreciate the quality of their products and the constant updates following the results of proven research.
Olga Gladys Del Signore
29 Days
Slow post
You have a very good range of quality products, and service is usually good. However delivery was slow due to using the national postage company. Correos. Regards David
David Walsh
29 Days
The service is extremely good
The service is extremely good. Earlier we had to wait for more than a week for the delivery. The speed has improved. Very happy with all the service.
SHERINE Mathew
30 Days
Good Quality!
I have purchased several products from Super Smart & always find the supplements very good quality.
SM
33 Days
Fast and efficient
Fast and efficient delivery. Nice products.
Jean-Michel Gaspoz
36 Days
Immediate service
Immediate service
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