Once again on April 26, our Ramon Barri Auditorium opened its doors to celebrate our Flax & Kale Talk 13 , by the hand of Dr. Álvaro Hernáez, Doctor in Nutrition and Food, Bachelor of Pharmacy and professor of Nutrigenomics.
That cholesterol is bad and causes heart disease is one of the most ingrained popular beliefs in most of the population, and unfortunately also in that of many doctors. What is LDLand HDL, is it just cholesterol ? Foods high in cholesterol should be avoided? If we have low cholesterol, are we safe from suffering from cardiovascular diseases? Dr Álvaro Hernáez especialista in Nutrition and Food and an expert in the functionality of cholesterol , helped us to dismantle all the associated myths through a pleasant and very didactic talk.
"Although cholesterol has aterrible fame, it is important to clarify in the first place that without him we could not live ”began Dr. Álvaro Hernáez. He also explained that cholesterol is a natural fatty substance present in all cells of the human body.not necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Each of the cells in our body needs it to build its membrane, it is also the main ingredient for the synthesis of sex hormones such as estrogens or testosterone.one and also intervenes in the construction of some of the basic components of the neurons of our brain. Its importance in our body is such that, especially our liver, is responsible for manufacturing part of what it needs. So get angryDr. Hernáez said, the problem is not that we have cholesterol , but that we have too much.
We also have to distinguish, Dr. Álvaro Hernáez told us, that there are different types of cholesterol cholesterol is the same, but, as it is a fat, it does not dissolve in the blood and needs a means of transport (lipoproteins) with which it can circulate through the interior.rior of the blood vessels. So what changes between the different types of cholesterol is the vehicle it uses to move from one place to another in the body. There are two types of transporters: low-d lipoproteinsThe low density (LDL) is simplistically considered the bad, and the high density (HDL) the good.
Regarding food, the Doctor explained to us that various clinical trials have shown that, if we reduce the consumption of saturated fats, especially of animal origin, such as meats, cheeses, spreads, cream and other productss very fatty dairy products lower our cholesterol levels, not only lowers LDL, which is what we were looking for, but also HDL, which we did not want so much. Ideally, change saturated fats to unsaturated fats, which arethose found in nuts and olive oil and contribute to lower LDL and increase HDL.
It has also been shown that fiber consumption also contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. ANDThis is so because the fiber present in fruits, vegetables, oats, barley… traps water and forms a viscous solution in the intestine, slowing down digestion. This action decreases the intestinal absorption of some nutrients such as glucosa and cholesterol.
To finish, the Doctor explained that the important thing is not to be obsessed, that we must follow a healthy and balanced diet, but with moments to enjoy. You can always make an exception.
When Dr. Hernáez finished, question time was opened, and as always, dishes related to Talk were served as tastings. In this case, dishes rich in healthy fats were chosen: spelled bread toast with avocadotea and our miss vegetable milk hazelnut meringue oatmeal.
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