Cholesterol is one of the essential nutrients that is needed by the body in order to function normally. The function of cholesterol is to provide our body with stored energy in case our main energy consumption has reached its limit. However, not many of us know that there are two types of cholesterol. There are actually bad and good cholesterol in this world. Bad cholesterol or better known as LDL (low density lipoprotein) is not good for your health and can give many problems to your body especially your heart health. Meanwhile, the so-called good cholesterol or its other name, HDL (high density lipoprotein) is the type of cholesterol that is essential for our body because it contains the important nutrients needed by us. Examples of this type of cholesterol include corn oil, sunflower oil, avocado and also oily fish such as tuna and sardines. This cholesterol also comes from our own body. Yes, our body makes its own cholesterol. So, why does our diet matter then? Continue reading this article to know more about the importance of a healthy diet.
Although our body will make its own good cholesterol in order to maintain the functionality of our organs, the amount created is often not enough. Our body obviously needs more good cholesterol and this demand can only be met by increasing the amount of its intake. So, this is where the diet matters. As mentioned above, foods that contain good cholesterol such as avocado, fish oil, corn oil, sardines and tuna often become the main choice in increasing the intake. However, cholesterol is not the only source of nutrients that need to be taken by our body. The same thing can also be said to other types of food. The nutrients needed are stated as follow:
Carbohydrate
This is the main nutrient that is needed by the body. Carbs give our body its main source of energy in order for us to do our daily activities. It is always taken in high proportion in each meal. In order to get enough carbohydrate, remember to always include foods such as rice, bread, oatmeal or whole grains inside your meal.
Protein
This is also another important source of protein. In our body, protein is used in order to make a lot of other useful enzymes and also muscles. Without protein, our organs will not function normally. You can always take your protein in the form of fish, chicken or meat. Remember to also take it in moderate amounts, not too much and not too less so that you can avoid any protein-related diseases.
Fruits and Vegetables
This is the type of group that you really need to take in a very high amount. Fruits are very important because they can provide you with vitamins and other nutrients that are very important for your immunity system. Vegetables are also needed in order to increase the fiber intake inside your body. So, make sure you include them in each of your meals as well.
Water
The last important nutrient is water. Yes, water is equally important as another nutrient mentioned above. Without water, your body will become dehydrated. When your body is dehydrated, your cells will lose its water and subsequently die. This condition will cause disturbance to your body function. So, consider drinking a lot of water every day. Usually, it is recommended to drink around 7 glasses of water every day. However, drinking a higher amount than this is also advisable since it will not bring any side effects.