Cholesterol and the Diet

Cholesterol, its function in the body, and how our diet can help or hurt our blood cholesterol levels

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. It is not inherently a bad substance, but too much cholesterol can lead to severe health problems.

When you have too much cholesterol in the system, it will show up as fatty deposits in your blood vessels. These then grow and restrict blood flow through the arteries. When this build-up suddenly breaks away, clot forms, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol comes from two sources; your liver which makes all the cholesterol you need or your diet, from animal food sources e.g. meat, poultry, and dairy products. These foods, which are high in saturated and trans fats, cause your liver to produce more cholesterol than it usually would.

The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

“Our diet usually contains both inhibitors and enhancers of cancerous cells. Inhibitors found in the diet include antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E, and phytochemical e.g. lycopene which is found in tomatoes. Dietary enhancers may be the fat in red meat or other substances found in grilled meat.”

The big 'C', everyone knows someone who has had it and survived or sadly lost their battle to it. It scares a lot of people and the common consensus is that if you are diagnosed you most likely will not survive your battle with this deadly disease. 

But what is Cancer? Your body is made up of cells that your body works hard to replenish as they move through their lifecycle. Your cells are constantly dying and new cells are made to replace them. Cancers occur when the cells that are made mutate and do not function in the way the body instructed it to. Normally, your immune system is able to recognize when these cells go rogue and get rid of them before they can do any damage.