Heart Health Course Lesson
Lesson 1

Of course there is more to fitness than just a great body. Think of all the benefits you are giving your body. Everything from metabolism, lungs to heart are in tip top shape.

So lets get on with the heart...

Finally Get An Understanding of HDL and LDL Cholesterol and Learn How It Affects Your Weight Training

There is no doubt that most people have heard about the two times of cholesterol, HDL and LDL. HDL is crowned as being the good guy and LDL gets a bad rap as the bad-for-you type. There is a continual battle between good and evil always taking place in your body between these guys. And if there is a war taking place, you should have an understanding of HDL an LDL and go from there.

LDL Cholesterol

Low-density lipo-proteins, appropriately called LDL for short, are the bad cholesterol. Its pretty comical that things we think or are told are so bad for us are a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. So what do these proteins do? Well, for most people the cells with take in the cholesterol, break it down, and use the byproducts for chemical needs.

The problem occurs when there is too much LDL cholesterol. Life everything in life, moderation is key. When the cells get enough and their receptors will cut off that the LDL attaches too. This is return will increase the LDL in the bloodstream and this equals a potential health risk.

The bottom line in this case is to decrease the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood.

HDL Cholesterol

High-density lipoproteins are the smallest and densest of the lipid carriers. Lipid is just a fancy word for fat.

HDL carries cholesterol from the body's tissues to the liver. Since the liver is the clean up organ of the body, the cholesterol is either broken down and excreted as a bile product, or surprising as it might sound, it is thrown back into the blood as LDL.

HDL makes up approximately 20% of the total cholesterol circulating around the body and gets a standing ovation for being the good cholesterol.

With many adults having to go on low cholesterol diets due to health, not only are they lowing their bad LDL but they are also going to see a drop in HDL cholesterol too. Unfortunately, the two do share a relationship. How is that bad?

Studies link low HDL cholesterol to increased risk of heart disease. Not only will high LDL cholesterol have negative affects on your health but so will low HDL. This is how and why this cholesterol topic is such a hot topic, as there is a ying-yang battle going on all the time. There are opinions and contradictory studies flying around constantly, but there is one thing everyone can agree on.

Genetics. Genetics are the biggest influence to everything in the body. From the hair color you have to yes, your cholesterol levels. I have had discussions with a few doctors, who wish to remain nameless, but they have been telling me that these studies don't really mean anything and it all comes down to the simple idea that LDL needs to stay low, while HDL needs to be high.

There are people that no matter how they eat or exercise will have a high LDL simply because it was passed down to them by the parents. These guys will always struggle and have to stay on a watchful low cholesterol diet.

And then there are those that will have perfect levels of both, even if they are overweight and unhealthy in other areas of their life. The bottom line, thank your family!

Start on lesson 2, all about Omega 3 Benefits and What To Look Out For, will it's reputation stay flawless after you read this?

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