Every cell in the body contains cholesterol, and without it, you would die. The blood serum cholesterol reading 30 to 40 years ago used to be 250 to 300 and considered normal. Seniors, especially over 70 years of age, live longer, healthier lives with this amount.
The brain, one of the smallest organs in the body, uses 25 percent of the cholesterol and even makes its own in addition to what the liver produces. You can’t enjoy hormonal health without adequate cholesterol. Millions of men and women line up for hormonal replacement therapy because of erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, etc.
Most of us know that the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K need cholesterol to be absorbed. Vitamin D (which we get from the sun) cannot be absorbed from the skin without cholesterol. Without D, we can’t process minerals as calcium, and we become prone to osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Bile salts, required for digestion of fats, are made of cholesterol. Cholesterol functions as a powerful antioxidant, protecting the immune system against cancer and aging. Indeed, cholesterol is a friend, not an enemy!
You are invited to enroll in my Wednesday morning classes July ll, 18, 25, and August 1 to learn which foods make bad cholesterol and which ones are the good guys. It may surprise you! Call 847-659-1295 to enroll or for more information.
Norma Thompson is a Sun City resident, former hospital dietitian, and teaches alternative health classes.
The views expressed in the A Healthier You series may not reflect the views of the Sun Day, its staff, or its contributors. The Sun Day urges residents to consult their physicians before taking health-related advice.
