How do some animals survive winter months when food is scarce and temperatures are harsh? Animals do this by adapting to their environment through hibernation and migration. Hibernation is a state where animals use very little energy and go into deep sleep during the entire winter season. On the other hand, migration is the long-distance movement of animals on a seasonal basis to find food and escape cold temperatures.

To prepare for hibernation, animals begin eating extra food and store it as body fat. They use this fat for energy while hibernating. Their heartbeat slows down, their body temperature drops, and their body uses minimal energy. One example of an animal that hibernates during winter is the woodchuck. Did you know that during hibernation, their hearts beat only 4 to 5 times per minute?

Another form of animal adaptation is migration. Animals such as birds and insects fly to long distances to escape very low temperatures. They also do this to find food and look for an ideal habitat for their young. Like the hibernators, the migrators prepare for the winter by being in their tip-top shape. They also eat extra food so they can fuel their bodies in traveling long distances.

The professor is talking about how animals adapt in the winter months when there is little food and the weather becomes cold.

First, the professor gives an explanation about hibernation. Hibernation happens when animals go into deep sleep during this season. Their temperature drops, their heartbeat slows down, and they use very little energy. Animals prepare by eating extra food and by storing it as fat. An example of a hibernating animal is the woodchuck.

Second, the professor gives an explanation of migration. Migration happens when animals travel long distances to look for food and warmer habitats. Like animals that go through hibernation, animals also prepare for migration by eating a lot and by making sure that they are in their optimal condition. Birds and insects are examples of animals that migrate.

In this short lecture, I learned that animals survive the harsh weather conditions by conserving their energy through hibernation or by moving to warmer places through migration.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is naturally produced by our liver. It can be found in all cells throughout the body. It is essential in making hormones and building cells. Aside from being produced in the liver, we can also get cholesterol from the foods we eat.

Is cholesterol bad for our body? Not entirely. There are two main types of cholesterol: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or the “bad” cholesterol and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or the “good” cholesterol. Let us discuss the difference between these two types.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is also referred to as the “bad” cholesterol. It takes cholesterol away from the liver and directly into the arteries, which can form plaque and clog blood vessels over time. High levels of LDL causes harm to the body. Smoking, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits increase LDL.

On the contrary, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), is considered “good” cholesterol since it carries cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver. The liver then removes the LDL cholesterol by flushing it out of the body as waste. Research shows that HDL prevents plaque from forming in the blood vessels and thereby lowering the risk for heart diseases and stroke. In general, we want to increase the level of HDL in the body. We do this by consuming healthy fats such as coconut oil, fish oil, and olive oil, doing regular exercise, and maintaining normal weight.

The professor is talking about cholesterol. According to the professor, cholesterol is not entirely bad. It is a waxy, fat-like substance produced in the liver. The professor introduces the two types of cholesterol. One is the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and the other is the High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL).

First, the professor explains that Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol. It is the type of cholesterol that goes away from the liver and into the arteries. It builds up plaque and clogs the arteries over time that results in heart diseases. Unhealthy diet, smoking, and lack of exercise cause LDL levels to rise.

Second, the professor explains that High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is called the “good” cholesterol. HDL helps carry the bad cholesterol through the blood and brings it back to the liver. The liver flushes away bad cholesterol as waste. It prevents plaque from building up in the arteries that can cause serious illnesses. We can increase the HDL levels in our body by eating healthy fats, exercising, and maintaining normal body weight.

Through this lecture, I learned that not all cholesterol is bad and that we should be more mindful of how we treat our bodies.