Cholesterol is a fat like substance that occurs naturally within the body. On it’s own, cholesterol isn’t a bad thing. In fact, the body produces all of the cholesterol it needs naturally and only by consuming excess cholesterol in foods do people clog their arteries, leading to serious if not fatal health problems. The purpose of cholesterol is to produce hormones, vitamin D, and other substances that aid in digestion. There are two kinds of cholesterol that help with these processes: LDL (low-density protein) cholesterol and HDL (high-density protein) cholesterol. It is important that the body has normal levels of both types of cholesterol in order to be truly healthy. Each type of cholesterol is structured as small fat masses moving through the blood stream containing proteins inside. The two types of cholesterol have different functions which have led them being known as “good” and “bad” cholesterols.
Though necessary in the body, LDL cholesterol is usually viewed as the negative type that people describe when talking about having “high cholesterol.” When the body takes in too much LDL cholesterol it begins to build up in arteries and restricts blood flow. When the heart can’t pump or receive enough blood, people may develop heart disease. The dangerous thing about heart disease is that it is nearly undetectable without testing for it because it produces no symptoms.
Good cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol, has an opposite effect of LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is important because it carries the cholesterol from different parts of the body to the liver rather than letting it sit and clog arteries. The liver plays a key role in the process as well. It is in charge of removing the cholesterol from the body. When people have high levels of HDL they have lower chances of getting heart disease and will remain in better health. This is a h
Protein
Most people know protein as the source for muscle building. People even resort to high protein diets to gain muscle, but the average protein intake necessary for people is about 60 grams a day, which a source said can be found in 8 ounces of chicken or a 6oz can of tuna. A main point of power or energy bars is to provide all of the nutrition one needs before or after working out. Protein may be the key factor in this and so it is important that bars have enough to sustain a person through strenuous activity or provide a decent amount for a person who doesn’t get enough chances to eat their daily protein. The chart below shows the amount of protein that certain people with different activity levels should have each day.
http://www.canyons.edu/offices/health/nutritioncoach/Nu101/protein.asp
CHOLESTEROL