Cholesterol, despite some assumptions which have put it into a bad-reputation substance, is a beneficial substance needed by the body to perform its maximum function. Almost every functions inside the body is affected by cholesterol existence, such as hormone production and vitamin synthetizing. Hence, lack of cholesterol may lead into improper body functions and processes, including inhibited growth and sexual disorders. However, high cholesterol level is also a dangerous condition, because it raises the risk of having a heart attack and other cardiovascular complaints.

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol existing in our body is both processed by the liver and obtained from foods. You have a high blood cholesterol when you have too much amount of this substance in your blood. Although essential for performing proper body functions, cholesterol in too high amount is not healthy. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood stream, which cannot be disposed by the liver sufficiently, it starts building up artery plaques. When you have plaques in the arteries, it inhibits blood supply to and from the heart, causing chest pains and may end in life-threatening heart attack. However, high blood cholesterol commonly does not show noticeable signs and symptoms that it may become fatal before noticed.

What raises cholesterol level?

Raised cholesterol level is mostly caused by consumed foods, which are rich in certain substances. In moderation, all foods should not cause distinctive effects to the body. However, consuming some substances excessively may trigger boosted cholesterol level. Some of these substances include:

• Added sugar

While natural sugar contained by food sources, such as fruits and starchy foods should not be harmful for the body, added table sugar and other kinds of sweeteners might have not-really-healthy effects on it, as it tends to raise blood sugar level which contributes to high cholesterol level.

• Saturated fats

Dairy foods, such as yoghurt, milk, and cheese is loaded with beneficial minerals. However, the whole-fat dairy products might be the source of high saturated fats, which inhibit cholesterol disposal from the body.

Some kinds of oil, such as coconut and palm oil are also the sourced of high saturated fats, which may cause plaques in the arteries, heightening the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Caffeine

Caffeine contained by coffee, tea, and other beverages will be changed into terpenes, which elevate cholesterol and triglycerides level in blood.

Will soda raise cholesterol?

In many societies, soda has been a very common kind of beverage. While tastes good, this beverage is not considered as a kind of healthy drinks. In fact, it has been considered into one of the most recommended beverage because of its role of raising the level of cholesterol in blood.

• Soda is made of sugar and artificial sweeteners, which in big amount is going to elevate your triglyceride level, resulting in raising level of low-density lipoprotein. Elevating level of bad cholesterol will heighten your risk of having cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack.
• Soda contains high level of calories, other than sugar and sweeteners. Hence, excessive consumption of this drink will make you gain weight. People who are overweight, in fact, tend to have higher level of cholesterol compared to those with ideal body weight.
• Diet soda, which is enriched with artificial sweeteners may cause type-2 diabetes. This disease is known to cause incontrollable cholesterol level. Hence, people with type-2 diabetes tend to develop high level of cholesterol—the LDL and triglycerides, in which keeping it low is a big challenge. Diabetes-induced high cholesterol is really dangerous, as it may cause complications and lead into heart and kidney diseases.
• Soda is often associated to its partner-foods, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and some other fatty products. These bread-based foods are made of refined flour and red meat which are high in saturated fats. Excessive consumption of saturated fat will put your cholesterol level into the higher level and thus, put you in the risk of heart diseases.
• Normal consumption of soda is in moderation, which is a can in a week. This moderation will not give any effects to your cholesterol level. However, drinking plenty of water in daily basis is the best health practice which is beneficial for your entire body parts.