Cholesterol: What Is It, and Why Do I Have to Worry About It?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood and in the cells of your body. Its primary function is hormone production, and it helps with digestion. Interestingly though, we don’t need to consume it — the liver can make enough for what the body needs.
Why do we care?
We concern ourselves so much because an Australian dies every 12 minutes from heart disease — and cholesterol levels are a leading risk factor for heart disease.
Meet Harry and Lenny
The way I think of it is a bit like a family that lived down the road when I grew up — the Hubbards.
The Hubbards had twin boys, Harry and Lenny, around my age. Harry was a delightful kid — polite, always happy to help, and never did any harm. On the other hand, Lenny was always in trouble for something, and not a very friendly kid to play with. Harry would end up implicated somehow, taking the blame or fixing the problem before anyone knew about it.
Harry = HDL
High-Density Lipoprotein, or HDL for short, is the Harry kind — the one we need for hormone production and to clean up after Lenny. HDL breaks down LDL and absorbs it along the way through the bloodstream, clearing the arteries for healthy cardiovascular function.
Lenny = LDL
Low-Density Lipoprotein, LDL for short, is like Lenny — the naughty kind of cholesterol. LDL causes heart attacks by hanging around in the arteries and blocking the passage of blood.
We just need a little more Harry than Lenny, and we’re fine!
More Harry, less Lenny
If you want some more Harry in your life (HDL):
- Oily fish like salmon and mackerel
- Almonds and unsalted nut butter
- Chia seeds and pumpkin seeds
To avoid Lenny moments:
- Fried chips
- Nuggets
- Doughnuts
- Ice cream
- Margarine that doesn’t promote cholesterol-lowering benefits
In real terms
- Order grilled salmon instead of a flake
- Choose almonds instead of Doritos
- Ditch margarine or butter if you can
The positive spin
If you’re someone who’s been told by their doctor they have high cholesterol — well, it turns out you have an abundance of hormone-making material!
What stimulates hormone creation? Strength training.
Cholesterol isn’t all bad — HDL (“Harry”) clears your arteries while LDL (“Lenny”) clogs them. Boost HDL with oily fish, nuts and seeds, cut back on fried and processed foods, and add strength training. You just need a little more Harry than Lenny.
Yours in Health,
Sean Cornish
Need a hand driving Lenny out?
These simple adjustments can make a huge difference — but if you’re really stuck and unsure where to go from here, get in touch. We’ve put together a 6-week Cholesterol King/Queen program to drive Lenny out and welcome Harry back.
