Cholesterol - Advantages and Disadvantages

Cholesterol is the essential body nutrient required by the human body to perform its essential functions. Cholesterol is the natural substance found in the body that is soft and waxy. Cholesterol is prepared in the body by the liver and then sent to the different parts of the body through the blood. Cholesterol is required by the body to keep itself healthy. The main function of the cholesterol is production of the Vitamin D, hormones, bile acids, and maintaining the healthy cell walls. In scientific terms, cholesterol is a lipid-like alcoholic compound found in the cell walls and is transported in blood plasma. Cholesterol comes under the group of compounds called as sterol (combination of steroid and alcohol). Meat, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products, especially egg yolks are the rich source of cholesterol.

Cholesterol like other compounds has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Cholesterol

1. Cholesterol is the important constituent of the cell. It helps in building and maintaining the cell membranes. It makes the cell walls rigid and strong. It helps the cell in protecting itself from the foreign bodies. Cholesterol builds the immunity of the cell. Cholesterol is needed in the cell for the normal cellular function.

2. Cholesterol plays a vital role in the biochemical process like synthesis of steroid hormone. Cholesterol is an essential nutrient for the production of hormones that are necessary for the growth of an individual.

3. Cholesterol is needed for the promoting the production of Vitamin D. Cholesterol promotes the production of Vitamin D and also maintains it. As a result Vitamin helps in improving the immune system. Cholesterol in the body gets converted in the Vitamin D with the help of sunlight. Vitamin D is also found to be useful in high blood pressure problems.

4. Cholesterol level in the body is also found to be useful in the protection of skin from the foreign bodies as well as harmful rays from the sun. Cholesterol is also found to heal the scar and burn injuries caused due to the over exposure to the sun.

5. Cholesterol is also involved in the production of bile acids that are used to digest the insoluble or harmful fat that enters the body through the food.

6. Cholesterol is insoluble in water and that is why used in the body to transport the Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

These all are the advantages of the cholesterol or of the cholesterol in the body that is at low level. As the coin has two sides, cholesterol also has the other side that is disadvantages of cholesterol of you can say disadvantages of excess of cholesterol.

Disadvantages of Cholesterol

Anything when taken in limit will not have disadvantages. Thus, the disadvantages of high levels of cholesterol in the body are:

1. Atherosclerosis is one of the dangerous diseases caused by the high level of cholesterol. Due to the high level of cholesterol, the formation of the plaque takes place that deposits in the arteries and disturbs the blood supply to the heart. Thus, the chances of heart attack increases.

2. Blood circulation problems are found to be increased among the individuals having the high level of cholesterol. Cholesterol is transported to the different parts of the body with the help of blood, but due to the increase in the level of cholesterol more amount of cholesterol enters the blood stream and hence, the blood becomes heavier and flow of the blood is disturber. As a result the blood circulation is affected.

3. Increase in the weight is another drawback of the high level of cholesterol. Excess of cholesterol increases the amount of fat in the body and as a result you start gaining the excessive weight. You become obese and even you may suffer from obesity.

4. High level of cholesterol puts you at high risk of heart failure. More amount of cholesterol in the blood makes it heavy and thus the heart has to apply more pressure to purify this blood and to send it to different body parts. Thus, the more amount of pressure is applied on the heart and that finally results into heart failure.

5. Blood flow to the kidney and lever is also disturbed due to the deposition of excess of cholesterol in blood that finally leads to the improper functioning of liver and kidney.

Please remember to avoid the excessive intake of cholesterol to keep away from its ill effects.

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