Blood cholesterol level is one of the indicators being measured to determine a person’s health status. Blood tests or lipid profile is performed to determine the: Total cholesterol, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and Triglycerides in milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) of blood serum.
Cholesterol has many uses in the human body but excess or unused cholesterol is deposited as plaque on the walls of the arteries. Plaque can reduce the diameter of the arteries and reduce blood flow. It can also break off and block the artery to the brain and cause a stroke or block the artery to the heart and cause a heart attack.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a white, waxy substance found in the blood and all tissues of human beings and other animals. There are two sources of cholesterol in the human body: the liver and food from animal sources like dairy products, meat or poultry. Cholesterol is not found in plants.
The body needs cholesterol in various ways, as follows: production of sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, production of the hormone cortisol which regulates blood sugar levels and protects the body from infection and to produce Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Cholesterol is also used by the liver to produce bile, the fluid necessary in food digestion and to help in the proper function of the nerves and cell membranes.
Cholesterol circulates in the body through two types of lipoproteins carriers: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries cholesterol to various destinations in the body. They have to be used or excreted from the body to prevent plaque formation and atherosclerosis. LDL is also called “bad cholesterol.” High level of LDL in the blood means more cholesterol is distributed to the body.
HDL carries more protein and less cholesterol than LDL. While circulating through the bloodstream, HDL picks up cholesterol and brings it back to the liver for reprocessing or excretion. HDL is called “good cholesterol” because it removes unused cholesterol. A high level of HDL is good as it removes excess cholesterol. However, a number of factors like obesity, diet and smoking are observed to lower HDL.
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Lowers Cholesterol Level
Your physician would usually prescribe medication to lower high cholesterol levels. However, prescription drugs like statins have side effects that could result to serious health concerns after long-term use. Cholesterol levels can also drop through low-cholesterol diet but many patients can’t stick to it.
A safe and effective way to lower cholesterol levels is by taking organic, raw, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar. Since it’s unfiltered, you will see sediments on the bottom of the container and the floating cobweb-like “mother” vinegar.
According to a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Nutrition, taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water daily can lower cholesterol levels without any negative side effect. How? Apple cider vinegar helps the liver increase bile production. That means more cholesterol consumption because the liver uses cholesterol to produce bile.
Apple cider vinegar also aids in the elimination of cholesterol from the body. It has pectin, a fiber, into which bad cholesterol (LDL) attaches itself to until it is eliminated from the body.
