“A high fat diet leads to coronary heart disease.” Discuss.
It is often
taken for granted that high fat diet leads to coronary heart disease. However,
it is the type of fat consumed that matters when it comes to increasing the
risk of coronary heart diseases, rather than the total consumption level of fat
in a general sense.
Coronary heart
disease occurs when a fatty deposit called plague builds up on the inner lining
of coronary arteries, which are responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to
the heart muscles. The condition, where plague is built up in the arteries, is
called atherosclerosis, and it disturbs the flow of blood.
Plagues, fatty
deposits, are formed inside coronary arteries when the concentration of LDL in
the bloodstream is too high. LDL, a low-density lipoprotein, carries
cholesterol in the bloodstream and deposits cholesterol on the artery walls.
This causes the narrowing or even blockage of the artery. Therefore, it can be
said that LDL is eventual cause of heart diseases.
On the other
hand there is HDL, which is a high-density lipoprotein, counteracts the harmful
effects of the LDL. HDL carries cholesterol that is ‘dumped’ by the LDL away
from the artery, back to the liver where it is broken down.
Therefore, it is
the higher percentage of LDL in the bloodstream compared to that of HDL that
increases the risk of CHD. In this sense, the general assumption that high fat
diet leads to CHD does not make sense, because consuming some types of fat
leads to increase in the LDL level, while some types of fat increase the level
of HDL in the bloodstream. For instance, saturated fats that are rich in animal
are known to be responsible for increasing the high level of LDL. Trans-fat,
which is in most of processed food, is even more responsible for causing high
level of LDL concentration. On the other hand, polyunsaturated, as well as
monounsaturated fats are known to increase the level of HDL. Therefore, it can
be said that although fat is responsible for increasing the risk of CHD to some
extent, ‘high fat’ in general does not have massive impact on causing CHD. For
instance, replacing saturated fat consumption with carbohydrate does not
decrease the chance of getting CHD because carbohydrate eventually leads to
increasing the LDL level. However, replacing saturated fat or trans-fat with
unsaturated fat may decrease the chance of getting CHD, as it increases the
level of HDL that takes LDL back to the liver so that it is broken down.
Source
What went well: Detailed information on HDL and LDL and how each of them have impact on coronary arteries.
답글삭제Even better if: You include some other risk factors as well, because a high-fat diet, rather it is saturated or not, is not the only reason for the cause of CHD.
Questions:
- Does consumption of excess amount of unsaturated plant oil, not influence the chance of getting CHD at all?
- How does consumption of carbohydrate eventually leads to increasing the LDL level?
Unsaturated fats can improve cholesterol levels and provide a protective effect against heart disease. However, too much fat, regardless of the kind, can mean too many calories and weight gain, and this may increase the risk of getting CHD.
삭제Carbohydrates can increase the level of LDL as they increase plasma triglyceride concentrations in blood.
WWW
답글삭제Good introduction. Good supporting details with good arguments.
EBI
Even better if you state more other factors that cause C.H.D.
Questions
1. Is there any other factors that cause C.H.D?
2. What is the treatment for C.H.D?
1. Other factors of CHD include blood pressure, gender, smoking, level of physical activity, age, and genetical reasons.
답글삭제2. Treatments for CHD include increasing the level of physical acitivity, medical procedures and surgeries, quitting smoking, decreasing trans-fat consumption, and eating balaced diet.
Word count: 412
답글삭제Originality: 100%
'Plaques', not 'plagues'...
This is a well written blog in which you have discussed the types of fat in the body and their relationship to CHD. I wonder, though, what mechanism describes how the body creates either LDL or HDL depending on the types of fats in the diet? Why do trans-fats and saturated fats lead to elevated LDL?