To emphasize the point: Cholesterol is not actually a bad thing. On the contrary: we could not survive without cholesterol. This is because the fatty substance is an important component of the cell envelope. Without this solid shell, our body cells would simply melt away.

The body produces hormones from cholesterol

Everyone has around 150 grams in their body, ten grams of which is dissolved in the blood. This blood fat is the basic structure from which the body produces our sex hormones, bile acids and vitamin D.

The substance is also absorbed with food

Cholesterol is produced in the liver, but it is also contained in food. If we consume too much of it through sausage, butter or meat, the cholesterol can build up on the walls of the arteries. Vegetable oils such as linseed oil, nuts or fish can help to lower cholesterol levels.

There is good and bad cholesterol

In order for cholesterol to be transported through the blood to the organs, our body packs it into protein-containing envelopes, known as lipoproteins. There are "bad" low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and "good" high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The bad LDL particles can be deposited on the artery walls and lead to strokes and heart attacks. The good particles, on the other hand, protect against calcification, as they collect the bad ones and return them to the liver.

High cholesterol levels are no longer a problem today

Nobody has to feel guilty if they eat more than one egg a week: eggs do contain a lot of cholesterol, but this has no effect on cholesterol levels. And if you have high cholesterol levels, you don't have to take medication straight away. It is usually enough to switch to a low-cholesterol diet, take more exercise and stop smoking.

How to read your cholesterol levels

The higher the risk, the lower the recommended cholesterol level:

If you have a low overall cardiovascular risk, the LDL cholesterol in your blood should not exceed 160 mg per deciliter (mg/dl).
With risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and little exercise, there is a moderate risk and the level should not exceed 115 mg/dl.
In the case of high risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, 70 mg/dl is permitted.

Measured values at a glance

The "bad" LDL cholesterol is measured: it can be deposited on the artery walls and lead to cardiovascular disease.

Low risk < 160 mg/dl
Moderate risk < 115 mg/dl
High risk < 100 mg/dl
Very high risk < 70 mg/dl