Do you know what it means to have high level of lipid in blood indicated in our medical report? Our blood lipids commonly include total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Today, PhytoFairy will share with you some frequently asked questions about cholesterol.

Is Total Cholesterol = HDL Cholesterol + LDL Cholesterol?

Total cholesterol cannot be calculated, the result can only be detected through test. Also, only LDL cholesterol can be calculated through Friedewald Formula.

LDL can be calculated by FF (total cholesterol (TC) minus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) - cholesterol minus triglycerides (TGs)/5 in mg/dl)

The formula has been widely used by the public as it is easy to be calculated. However, many hospitals have been using ultra-centrifuge process to test LDL nowadays. It is because if your triglycerides level is too high (over 22 mg/dl), you will not be able to calculate your LDL.

What to Do if Your Cholesterol Level Is Too High?

Only 20% of the cholesterol comes from our diet, the rest is composed by the human body itself as our liver can produce 80% of the cholesterol. Therefore, other than our eating habits, it is closely related to the health of our liver too if our cholesterol level is too high. If you notice your liver index is a bit worrying, remember to take the initiative and seek professional treatment. Also, get yourself a set of PhytoLiv to support your liver health!

For our diet, saturated fatty acid is the main cause that affects our cholesterol level. Sources of saturated fats include:

• Solid under room temperature, such as lard.

• Animal based sources: red meat and cream.

• Plant based coconut oil and palm oil.

• Desserts, biscuits, snacks and fried foods.

Is The Cholesterol in Seafoods and Eggs Very High?

The cholesterol in seafood can be found in the internal organs, for example fish eggs, shrimp paste and crab roe. However, we might also consume saturated fats when we stir fry the food with hot oil.

It has been scientifically proven that the cholesterol in eggs will not influence the cholesterol in human blood. According to the dietary intake suggested by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, individuals facing hypercholesterolemia (high levels of cholesterol in blood) are recommended to consume no more than 3 eggs per week.

Every individual has different dietary needs. The most important thing is to find the lifestyle that suits us best! I hope this article could help you learn more about cholesterol!