It has always been a universal fact that prevention is better than cure, and hence it is now common knowledge that living a healthy, active lifestyle can save us from chronic health problems. But how exactly do we understand that the body is healthy? There are a lot of markers and an especially important one is the lipid profile, that includes triglycerides and cholesterol.

‘I got my test reports today, my cholesterol is off the charts.’

‘You need to manage your bad cholesterol levels, in order to prevent heart disease in future.’

These are a few lines that a majority of people, especially urban, have heard or said with regards to health and fitness. Among the rising lifestyle diseases leading to fatal outcome, a lot of them such as heart problems, diabetes, obesity etc. are linked to high levels of the molecule called cholesterol. 

But what exactly is cholesterol? Is it all bad? If it is so bad, why do we have it at all?

Cholesterol, as mentioned earlier, is a form of lipid, or in simple terms, fat. It is formed in the body through a complex biochemical pathway and has a number of uses. In ways, it is integral to normal functioning of the body, which is why the molecule is made. You must have read or heard that the human body gets Vitamin D from sunlight. That's a little incorrect, and the actual fact is the cholesterol below the skin forms Vitamin D by using sunlight. This is just one among its many uses, the others being formation of hormones, fat digestion and so on.

Now that it is clear why cholesterol is important, the next question is why is it bad to have high levels? Cholesterol, when in excess, gets deposited in other tissues of the body, and it especially prefers the blood vessels. Often the deposit in the vessel wall gets so high, that it ends up blocking the path of blood, and it leads to complications like heart attacks and stroke.

Maintenance of cholesterol levels

It is therefore important to maintain optimum levels of this molecule in the body. How do we achieve that?

• For starters, regulate your carbohydrate intake.
  In simple terms, cholesterol is formed when excess carbohydrate intake occurs, more than enough to meet the body's energy requirements. Of course, it is very very important to consider your lifestyle before regulation. An active walking job requires more calories than a sedentary desk job and it is crucial to tailor the diet to meet our daily requirements.
• Exercise
  Brisk walking, yoga, gym, aerobics - any and all of these help in burning extra calories. Not only will they keep lipid and glucose levels normal, but exercise has been scientifically proven to elevate mood and reduce stress levels.
• Balanced diet.
  This i probably the mot important point here. A balanced diet is pretty much a magic tool in preventing many lifestyle diseases. in the world that we live in stress has become a constant companion. having proper meals with the right mix of nutrients is important to deal with the anxiety of the modern world and keep both the mind and the body healthy. and the best part is that you don't need a diet chart or a dietitian to draw up a balanced diet. The normal Indian diet (rice/roti, dal, veggies etc.) is the prime example.
• Monitoring
  After all the lifestyle modifications are made, it is important to assess how well they are working. Hence, make it a point to get a regular health checkup so as to cover all bases. Often people dont realize that cholesterol levels are skyrocketing before it causes a significant problem such as vessel blockage. But preventing a lot of such complications are in your hands. 

Lastly, we are living in times where the importance of health is now more than ever. Life is often uncertain and cruel, but it never hurts to be prepared and poised to deal with the challenges it throws. After all, as the age old saying goes - Health is Wealth!