If you have just discovered that cholesterol is too high and should be removed, it is basically a choice between two paths to follow. The first is the cholesterol-lowering foods that have proved effective and how to improve your health far beyond the cardiovascular system.
The second way is to use chemicals that are produced in the laboratory to reduce the cholesterol level was too much. Cholesterol medication comes withMany of the potential side effects such as muscle, kidney and liver. Not less than 25% of people who experience muscle pain and spasms use of statin drugs.
I think the clear choice for foods high in cholesterol and leave the medicine as a last resort. Cholesterol lowering foods are those that high amounts of dietary fiber and plant sterols, as found in most vegetables. Brussels sprouts, spinach and broccoli are some of the best foodthat combine high in fiber, with a high level of plant sterols.
Sterols are natural substances found in all plants and even tried to block the absorption of cholesterol in the body. This is due to the fact that plant sterols have very similar molecular make-up cholesterol. Scientists believe that the sterols actually compete with the absorption of cholesterol, and prevents the absorption of most of the cholesterol found food we eat.
Now, do not get the idea that there is a license to eat foods high cholesterol. The most effective diet to lower cholesterol is that a percentage reduction in saturated fat are foods high in fiber-in combination. In addition to vegetables, fruits and whole grains contain significant amounts of fiber.
A bowl of oatmeal, which has crushed nuts mixed in, is a good food for high cholesterol. The sample other than Diet Ideas Cholesterol> include the addition of spinach and other vegetables as much as possible to eat sandwiches.
A wonderful cholesterol-lowering food I like, is the salmon on a bed of spinach. Found the combination of fiber and plant sterols added spinach to omega-3 fatty acids from salmon is shipped to be extremely useful.
I urge you to visit my website where I cut about the reduction of cholesterol and other foods naturally highThe levels of cholesterol>.
Men have to work extremely hard at achieving and maintaining a high level of health. There’s blood pressure, cholesterol, prostate and colorectal factors to consider. For some, it’s time to correct unhealthy eating, drinking and smoking habits. And then there’s the poor guy who has to search the living room closet for that old, dusty bathroom scale.
That’s a lot for a guy to concentrate on. Another key component of a healthy lifestyle is perhaps not meant to be discussed at the family dinner table: Sexual health. According to a board certified urologist and director of the Los Angeles Boston Medical Group, Dr. Barry Buffman, there are definite psychological and marital benefits to a healthy sexual relationship. In an interview with Men and Health: It’s a Guy thing, Buffman says, “There’s a very good correlation in outcomes if you look at success in the bedroom with success at the board room and success on the field.”
It’s not just psychological health, such as self-esteem, that can benefit from a healthy sexual relationship. Buffman, who has experienced over 20 years of private surgical practice, specializing in sexual dysfunction, oncology, laser and trauma, says it has been well documented that men will have healthier prostate glands and hearts with a good sex life. Other benefits include a better brain function and sleep pattern. To be blunt, Buffman notes, “It’s been cited numerously, in even the lay literature over the last 15 years, that a man will not live a normal life expectancy without frequent sexual expression.”
Buffman has seen patients in several age groups, from 18 and younger (with parental permission) to one man at the ripe old age of 104. “At any age group, whether it’s young or old, specifically starting with the younger population, their greatest fear is ‘am I the only person you’ve seen in this age group, am I very strange, am I very weird?’” Buffman says men 45 and older, a large segment of the population, some in their second and third marriages, are concerned about social, psychological and physical issues. He says men can be concerned about whether sex can be detrimental to their health.
On the other side of the coin, men who aren’t lucky enough to have a healthy sexual life can experience unpleasant side effects. Buffman says when a man doesn’t have sexual confidence and function, it makes a big dent in his social assertiveness. “It all comes down to the confidence level. The effects on that are clear. The emotional, mental and psychological effects are abundantly seen with regard to anxiety disorders, severe depression and being withdrawn from social interaction.” Physically, sex has been shown to be a stress reducer. And, according to Buffman, literature suggests frequent ejaculation may lead to a lower incidence of prostate cancer.
When it comes to sexual issues, men need to take the initiative. Buffman says men need to realize there is a problem and seek the right consultative services. Buffman says he doesn’t believe the average practitioner, in the average medical practice, has the luxury to gather information about a patient’s social and psychological history. “Most of the time, the patient has to take the can opener and take the lid off the physician’s head.”
Los Angeles Boston Medical Group: http://losangeles.bostonmedicalgroup.com/
Face it. The link between fish oil and cholesterol in the blood can be complicated and difficult to understand. The information below will help you understand a little 'more on this topic.
What is cholesterol, anyway?
It's wax, such as hormones in the cell membranes must be found and transported through the bloodstream into areas. It is necessary for all life, because it is necessary to maintain the integrity of cell membranes andfor the inclusion of certain essential vitamins.
Is carried in the bloodstream in lipoproteins, a combination of fats and proteins. High blood levels of low density lipoprotein very low and are strongly associated with an increased risk of heart and cardiovascular diseases known, notably atherosclerosis, also known as arteriosclerosis.
On the other hand, are a high level of high density lipoproteins with a lower risk of heart disease. So, weHave a good HDL and bad LDL and VLDL in our blood.
One of the links between fish oil and the balance of cholesterol is the ability to integrate at the level of HDL is increased. HDL can remove cholesterol from the cells and through existing plaques in the vessel wall. LDL and VLDL, moreover, contribute to the formation of plaques that are the cause of age-related heart disease, such as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
WhatTriglycerides?
At the same time, the doctor for blood tests HLD LDL particle, usually there will also be tested for the total triglycerides. Triglycerides are a combination of fatty acids and glycerol. They are an important component of LDL particles. Increased triglycerides in the blood are considered to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis.
Another link between fish oil and reduction of cholesterol has the ability to integrate the lowest levels of total triglycerides in the blood do.The question is.
How much influence he needs to complete this and how much you should take to see the effect?
Results from clinical trials is variable. Modeste large or small decreases were observed. The reason for the different results remains to be explained. There are many possible explanations. That's one of them.
A person who has high triglycerides and low HDL levels has, however, will not be the mainstream medical approach to take to include the use of statins forcould be a number of different things to do to improve their health while participating in a clinical study of fish oil and cholesterol.
For many years, doctors have recommended that a lower consumption of fats and cholesterol food, which is located in a variety of foods. The addition of movement to that approach has changed in recent years to be an advantage.
But recent studies show that it is also important to limit or cutting, alcohol, alcohola component of cholesterol and reduce the consumption of certain types of carbohydrates. Thus, a person who has excellent results in fish oil and cholesterol studies may have done these other things, also saw. To learn more about what can be done to reduce triglycerides and reduce the risk of heart disease.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, active lifestyle and smoking are significant risk factors for heart attack and stroke. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, you are strongly advised to reduce cholesterol levels, as part of a plan to prevent a heart attack and a stroke occurs. You can reduce cholesterol by eating healthy foods and avoid fatty foods. If an improvement in diet is not enoughReduce cholesterol levels, your doctor may recommend taking certain drugs, which is designed to lower cholesterol levels. Let's look at some changes in your diet can help reduce cholesterol levels.
If you have high blood pressure, cholesterol, is required to reduce or avoid using the amount of red meat and stay away from sausages and bacon to reduce it. Avoid foods that contain saturated fatand if you opt for dairy products, choose products that use low-fat. Avoid using lard in your meals and, if you use against oils, choose monounsaturated fats or polyunsaturated oils. To avoid or reduce significantly the amount of fried foods are eaten as cakes and biscuits, which are usually products that are high in fat. Do not use margarine or oil, the trans-fatty acids.
Healthy Eating
If you have high blood pressure and six healthyDiet and cholesterol you have a problem with your doctor, you should take some drugs such as statins. They work with the activity of enzymes in the liver to prevent the production of cholesterol by the liver. Some people have high cholesterol levels were partly due to heredity and they may need the help of statins. If you have been recommended by a heart condition with your doctor may statins to lower cholesterol diagnosedLevel.
Soluble fiber
If you have high blood pressure there are some foods that can help reduce cholesterol. Oatmeal, you can reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) with the soluble fiber in oatmeal. Soluble fiber may also be included to your diet to include issues such as beans, apples, Brussels sprouts, barley, pears, psyllium, and plums.
Niacin is the closest thing available to correct a perfect treatment that mostCauses of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression and synthesis of hormones. Can not live without them. Niacin also tends to the distribution of LDL particles at the level of larger particles and improve the functioning HDL. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for less than two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.
Some studies have shown that adding walnuts to yourDiet can significantly reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Walnuts are full of polyunsaturated fats, and nuts also have the possibility of blood vessels in a healthy condition to hold and keep them flexible. Do not eat too many nuts per day because the nuts calories and weight gain can increase your chances of acquiring heart disease. Also add a little 'omega-three fatty acids to your diet, as has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of heart disease. Some types of fish,Walnuts, flaxseed, soybean oil and canola oil contain omega-three fatty acids. If you have high blood pressure, it is important to have high levels of cholesterol.
If you have recently visited the doctor and found out that you have both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, you are at high risk of disability issues, such as heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure and cholesterol levels decreased in both the health of the vascular system to do. Vtial is life, because you're traveling, your blood must be free of your heart to pump your working copy, arms, legs, brain and other organs.
Lower blood pressure andCholesterol could save your life if you know how to do it well.
First interview, Let's about high blood pressure …
High blood pressure is when your arteries shrink () makes the blood through a force less space. You can already see how this can cause problems. This increases the chance of blood clots and plaque build-also reduces blood flow to vital organs, which can cause cardiovascular problems.
High blood pressure canCause:
Heart Attack
Stroke
Scanner reduced blood flow
What are the causes of hypertension?
Many times. Nobody knows what causes this problem, but we know that increases the odds of being African American. Lack of exercise, smoking, and eating salty foods increase your chances. Also, you may not have enough potassium and too much alcohol also increases the risk.
It 'really hard to find out what is causing the problem, but I Check to see if the idea. If not maybe it is caused by high salt intake. Think about what you eat and see if the higher content of salt, which had been thought. If you eat canned or packaged foods, it is likely that you eat a large amount of salt and not know it.
Age has something to do with high blood pressure. As we age our bodies are less likely to have bad habits, how to treat them in the past.
Let's Talk About High> Cholesterol …
High cholesterol is a problem that arises when our body is too "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and not enough or good cholesterol (HDL) contain. Cholesterol So, what is good and evil? First, cholesterol is a substance use our body to protect cells. Cholesterol is metabolized by the liver in 2 different types of cholesterol. Good cholesterol ensures that removing cholesterol from the moreBody, while raising the bad cholesterol more to the cells. Bad cholesterol is the culprit, so you need to learn how to reduce them.
What causes high cholesterol?
The cause of high cholesterol is similar to high blood pressure. Bad habits such as physical inactivity and high fat diet increases your chances. Most of us eat foods such as beef, pork, beef fat, and others, but we usually do not have the necessary vegetables, fruits andTo dice with low cholesterol levels and benefits. In addition, high cholesterol and heart disease and 'family does not help.
How to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol
There are good and bad news here:
Good news – you can lower your blood pressure and high cholesterol, with the same strategies Bad News – This strategy requires a real work and effort
Exercise –Running
Obviously, exercise is important, especially running. Think about when you run, every element of your body moving. If your bike, your arms and chest are very quiet. If you are, waving his arms and legs are the weight of running, the lungs hesitant.
A word of warning: start slowly and build up to speed in time. If you are not in a long time argued, before I go every day for a week before we start to jog. Start jogging forWeeks and then slowly, if you could ignore that pace.Always slow start to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise regiment. In some cases it may be detrimental to the performance, because of high blood pressure, forces the blood moving. For this slow start you. However, I think if you can increase daily exercise and expand the blood vessels. This is what does not work for people. The blood vessels expand, of course, to make room for the movement of blood to be done. If you are no longer functioning, theThe blood can safely pass through the larger veins of luxury.
Running also helps raise good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol in the body, this is the simple and natural way to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Eating the right foods
Most people with high cholesterol and blood pressure diet, consisting mainly of fast food. Earlier I spoke of eating as many of us like to be fat and salty foods, remember? FruitVegetables, nuts and some fish have to lower blood pressure and cholesterol are essential.
Some people do not know, but they eat fish, a healthy diet in general, but do not know how high is the salt content. Many saltwater fish contain almost 150% and more of our daily requirement of salt. This is just something that happens naturally, because the life of the fish in water. Eating fish such as trout is a great alternative is halibut, trout and cod.
Vegetables of allThe species are good for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Foods such as:
Broccoli
Apples
Grapes
Walnuts
The consumption of these foods will help with both problems. Make sure the nuts are still not prepared at all in shell or without a sale. You could really do any worse with the addition of salt to your diet.
A supplement
The most important of all testing strategies is a supplement designed primarily to reduce high blood pressureand cholesterol. These additions are designed to meet both tasks. With a special blend of blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering ingredients for finding effective results.
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If you think high-fiber foods taste like cardboard, think again. Fiber is an essential part of a healthful meal routine. Fiber is not just in breakfast cereal. This ingredient, which is easily tolerated in your digestive tract, can be found in a wide range of foods. High amounts of fiber can be found in foods as diverse as cooked whole-wheat spaghetti, cooked split peas, raspberries and oat bran muffins.:
Fiber may help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as lower your cholesterol. The American Heart Association’s website describes the benefits of both soluble and insoluble fiber:
If you want to boost your fiber intake, the Food Network has a great list of recipes, such as Egg, Ham and Spinach Pizza, White Bean Tuna Salad and Asian Brown Rice:
An easy way to monitor your fiber intake is to check the nutrition label on your food product. There you’ll find fiber grams per serving. Before long, you’ll realize that fiber is hardly bland.
We all know that blood cholesterol is harmful to our bodies, but what causes a rise in cholesterol in your body, how can the cholesterol the answer is a healthy diet.
E 'known that cholesterol plays an important role in raising levels of cholesterol in the blood. According to the conventional therapy diet can reduce cholesterol levels are found, principally through the manipulation of fatty acids in our diet, but it is importantGood to know that not everything is bad for our body fat. In order to have the kind of fat is needed and understand what is harmful for the body.
Saturated fats are harmful because they raise cholesterol levels. On the other hand, the polyunsaturated fatty acids lower it. Foods that are rich in saturated fat of butter, cheese, cream and other dairy products. Others, such as meat, sausages, fats in cakes, biscuits and snacks uses include higher 50-60 per cent of saturated fatty acids.They are very active in raising cholesterol, and therefore it is necessary to replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Unsaturated fatty acids are mainly unsaturated vegetable oils such as sunflower, olive and canola oil and margarine spreads found. For a healthy diet you can use these oils for frying and salads and margarine instead of butter. These foods are the major sources of essential fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids contain 75-90 percent ofFatty acids, but also contain vitamin E and vitamin D.
You can also use nuts, because it is too high unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fatty acids help in lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. It can be done through the exchange of saturated fat with starch and sugar reduced in moderation. It may be a certain amount of carbohydrates in the form of cereals, bread, pasta and rice. You can eat lots of fruits, vegetables and legumes to ensure a healthy diet. Dietary cholesterol also fellnot in eggs and offal.
Here are some quick tips to eat healthy to lower cholesterol:
1 Use skimmed or low-fat dairy products like yogurt, as a true and fats. 2 Use margarine spread, sunflower or olive oil for cooking. 3 Enjoy lean meats instead of fatty meats and sausages. Take 4 unsalted nuts and fruit for snacks. Limit 5 of cakes, biscuits, take-way food chips, potatoes,Offal and eggs. 6 in healthy cooking methods like grilling, steaming, poaching, and to lower cholesterol levels.
Following a balanced diet and healthy, you can reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids and low levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Cholesterol is not really bad for our health until it is too much. Before that happens (and after him, in this case), offers a number of important functions to keep the body healthy. For example, it is assumed that the substance that gives cell walls their stiffness and strength. It also helps convert sunlight to vitamin D in the skin. But if there is too much in the body can cause a thickening of the arterial wall and other cardiovascular diseases.The body produces 80% of the cholesterol it needs. The rest is obtained through food consumption. Animal fats are especially high in cholesterol, and eating too much of these types of foods you can get high cholesterol. In this article are several ways to lower cholesterol levels.
First of all, what is high cholesterol? E 'generally measured to assess the amount within a certain amount of blood. More than 200 milligrams of cholesterol for AnythingDeciliter of blood is assumed that the limit is too high. At this point, a person should start to do something to reduce this level. There are three ways to lower cholesterol levels.
A change in diet
People with high cholesterol usually eat animal products and processed foods too. You can also overweight. The purpose of the amendment is to cut your diet high-fat animal products. This means that things like milk and other dairy products. If youcan not do without milk, and then try an alternative low-fat. Avoid processed foods, which can be cooked in trans fat and saturated fat. This type of fat is particularly dangerous for the increased levels of cholesterol. Try to food, the mono-unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats to eat. Cooking with this type of fat – olive oil or canola.
Eating fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables help reduce cholesterol. It will also help you lose weight if youlose weight. Eating foods such as soluble fiber (oats and oatmeal) and whole grains are also good for lowering high cholesterol. They help to reduce, remove LDL cholesterol from the body. Foods with plant sterols also help to lower cholesterol levels to prevent, is the absorption in the intestine.
Get Into Practice
Will help the food that is consumed daily use. This will help control your weight. If they areRegular physical activity will start small. Take a walk every evening after work. Gradually build more exercise into your daily life, so do not be too difficult or time to put something aside. In search of ways to go, rather than take the car / lift. Perhaps not read a walk after dinner, the newspaper or surf the Internet. Once you're more used to physical activity, will be more ambitious. Play ball sports like squash or racquetball. ParticipateFun runs (and the training that is necessary) before the race. Working in the garden or in search of orienteering, if you like competitive sports. Ask your doctor before starting any exercise program. Can he / she is capable, you can be certain guidelines for the length and type of exercise you undertake
Drugs
Statins are a common form of drug that limits the amount of low density lipoprotein, which carries a vehicle for cholesterol. This is for lowering cholesterol levelsbody. The drugs are generally considered as a last resort. Most doctors prefer to diet and exercise to treat unless it was one of a certain time or the patient has a very high cholesterol reading.
People who suffer from cholesterol by poor eating habits and lack of exercise. People with high cholesterol levels should understand the harmful effects of cholesterol in the body, thus removing cholesterol from the body is very important.
People with high cholesterol, medications often by doctors, but it is always advisable to lower cholesterol naturally, since these drugs may increase or give negative effects on the body.People should maintain safe food practices, or to maintain a proper diet, limiting the daily consumption of fats.
Milk products like cheese, butter, etc. are the fatty foods and has a high percentage of calories should be avoided. Thus, cholesterol from the body, it is always advisable to stop eating fatty foods and overeating to reduce any kind of food should be avoided, the excess food can be converted into fat.
There aremany natural and herbal medicines in the market that can be very effective in reducing the amount of cholesterol. Guggul, Policosanol, Pantethine are some of the herbal medicines that can help lower cholesterol rates of the body. Guggul is the person that helps reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, while Policosanol can help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Panthethine helpMuch needed increase in the levels of HDL cholesterol through the body and media also helps to reduce the amount of LDL required. Garlic and fish oil can also be very effective and can be the person that can help reduce cholesterol.
People aged over 25 years, should pay more attention to their cholesterol levels. This is because with the aging of the body, its ability to ward off "bad", it reduces cholesterol. Experts say that in order to avoid with too much "bad" cholesterol in the body, you should always prompt a list of foods low cholesterol diet and create a menu out of balance.
The following is a list of foods that are low in cholesterol can combineTo create a diet low in cholesterol with diet:
1. Of lean meat. Lean red meat or lean chicken and turkey meat and fish should always be included in the list of menu low cholesterol, because these are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are assigned to a person's metabolism, as in the struggle for "bad" cholesterol.
2. VEGETABLES. This food group that the brightest among the other groups of the food pyramid, as in the first place, becauselow calorie. Besides this, they are also high in fiber and nutrients that regulates the metabolism not only aid but also balances cholesterol levels. Vegetables are also ideal for foods low in cholesterol, since this is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins such as vitamin C, E, K, micronutrients, vitamins B complex and other features which reduce the deficit of the vitamin. In addition to the reduction of high cholesterol levels, other benefits of eating vegetablesreduction of heart disease and cancer, and hypertension.
3. Grains. Since this is energy density and high fiber foods are effective for cholesterol levels lower. Whole grains are also known to be effective in weight control. Besides whole grains, bread, beans, potatoes, pasta, cereals and can also help reduce cholesterol.
4. Nuts and seeds. Since these contain large amounts of vitamins andMinerals, nuts and seeds are included in the list of foods low in cholesterol. These foods are rich in fiber, which is responsible for the metabolism and very low-calorie excellent content, which is effective for weight control.
5. FRUIT. Just like vegetables, fruits are also among the first groups of foods that lower cholesterol because they are very low in calories. These include the prevention of large amounts of vitamins and important nutrients that help the vitaminDeficiency and other diseases.
When many people before they have to learn to reduce cholesterol levels, they immediately begin to wonder foods that contain high cholesterol? It makes sense. After all, if you try to improve cholesterol levels, you should not avoid foods that are high in cholesterol?
The problem with this is that the food is just bad cholesterol, without using the image of the food, the most effective way toThe lowering of cholesterol.
Containing food with a high cholesterol? The most important of which are usually too high fat dairy products, shellfish, and cholesterol, how to avoid beef and pork.
However, the fact is that eliminating these foods from the diet of only a small impact on total cholesterol values. This is due to the fact that the food bad cholesterol, is not the main source of cholesterol Body.
Most of our levels of cholesterol in the liver and produces the most effective treatment for elevated blood fats, including cholesterol, the liver, rather than being stimulated to produce. This is where the foods are very effective.
There are many foods that actually reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains and vegetables have been shown to reduce cholesterol in two ways.
1.)> Cholesterol attaches itself to the fibers in the intestine, so as to eliminate from the body, and
Fiber 2.) Also causes the liver to be incorporated cholesterol in the blood. This is due to the fact that the liver must add cholesterol to produce more bile acids are eliminated from the intestine with the fiber.
A complete diet for reducing cholesterol reduces the amount of food "bad" cholesterol and saturatedFat, while the amount of high fiber foods is increasing. This combination can lead to a quick turn in your cholesterol readings.
Learn what foods high cholesterol is a starting point for reducing the levels of cholesterol. Please visit my site to learn about food, nutrition and other natural ways to reduce high levels of lipids.
High levels of cholesterol in numerous health problems, such as atherosclerosis or thickening of the arteries. This in turn can lead to heart disease, including hypertension, stroke and heart attacks. If your cholesterol is high, you must take action by taking your diet and do regular exercise. There are many types of foods to eat the recommended, reduce cholesterol, one of which is oatmeal. In this article we will explainsuch as oats can lower cholesterol.
Oatmeal is coarsely ground oats, in essence, that used in a variety of foods. It is usually identified with breakfast cereals, muesli and porridge. Other benefits as it is to reduce cholesterol, are also known, a complex carbohydrate that is slowly absorbed into the body. This means that sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream in a slow and steady. This is useful for diabetics and keeps the bodysupplies of energy for a longer period than other types of food.
Regarding the reduction of cholesterol, oatmeal is useful because it is a soluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a thick paste like mud. This happens to some extent, if you have a pasta, but also occurs in the intestine has been added to the broth. This works in two ways to reduce cholesterol.
Taking oats slows the absorption of cholesterol in LDLthe body. LDL cholesterol is known as "bad" cholesterol because it sticks to artery walls and causes atherosclerosis.
Once in the digestive tract of oatmeal goes slowly, because it is the consistency. During this process, acids, LDL cholesterol containing bile. When oat fiber, is about the colon and then eliminated as waste. LDL cholesterol is also linked to the reduction of cholesterol in the body.
Theseare the main reasons are eating polenta and cornmeal in different ways, usually as a good way to start the morning and an effective way to lower cholesterol have been approved.
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If, while on the Liberation Diet, you are working with a doctor who is checking your blood cholesterol levels often, you may expect an increase as you lose weight, and may not begin to see a marked decrease until well after you have lost the excess weight. Keep in mind that the unhealthy cholesterol built up in the body by eating processed food and chemicals is more difficult and takes longer for the body to eliminate than does fat. The blood cholesterol will begin to drop a few weeks after weight loss stops.
Give yourself time. It is not only in the arteries that unhealthy fatty deposits have been made, but in all areas of the body. Food materials readily change into durable (shelf-life?) non-food forms when processed. When absorbed in the bloodstream and circulated, it accumulates mostly in the artery walls, joint cartilage, and fibrous parts of the body because these have a dense structure and poor blood supply so that the material is filtered and trapped inside, clumping together, and deposits tend to form in certain spots. The body has the ability to rid itself of this very slowly, but the unhealthy materials have been eaten over time faster than the deposits can be removed. Over time it of course builds up to a greater and greater extent, making us older than our years, dulling us and diminishing vitality before any sign of disease appears.1
Often the body regains its vigor within weeks of eating fresh, real food. While following the Liberation Diet, your body will begin rebuilding itself and cleaning itself and you will notice short term and long-term effects. So if closely monitoring cholesterol is part of your regimen with your doctor, it would be safe not to expect marked, long-term decreases to begin until 4 to 6 weeks after weight loss has ended.
1 Stale Food vs. Fresh Food, Robert Ford, copyright 6th edition 1977 by R. S. Ford.
Loving fat is easy for me now, but it didn’t start out that way.
In my younger days, I consciously chose low fat items over its fattier competitors. My choices were based on numbers (quantity) rather than content (quality). It turns out, low-fat is full of itself.
Jeff Novick, MS, RD, of the McDougall Program destroys the myth that the US ever went on a “low fat” diet. As a former account manager at Kraft Foods, he blows the lid off the deceptive tricks corporate food companies use in order to make (false) claims that their foods are “healthy” or “low-fat.”
This is an excerpt from Novick’s full 80-minute talk at the VegSource 2007 Healthy Lifestyle Expo, which is one of a 12-part series of top health expert presentations. In his fascinating and entertaining presentation, Novick reveals the intentional label deceptions nearly every food company employs, and shows you “how they do that.”
Fats Don’t Make You Fat
The wrong types of fats contribute to obesity, but it’s a generalization to say that fats make you fat. It’s important to understand differences in fats, which ones to include in your diet and which ones to cut out.
The nominees for “Best Source of Fat from a Tree” are: avocados, olives, coconuts, and nuts (almond, walnut, macadamia, cashew, brazil, pistachios).
AVOCADOS
Avocados have endured a bad reputation for being full of fat. It’s true that one medium sized avocado has 30 grams of fat, enough to put it on the avocaDON’T list. However, it is mainly mono-saturated fat, which is the heart-healthy kind of fat you want. They are also loaded with fiber, vitamins B6, C, and E, potassium, magnesium and folate. In fact, they contain 60% more potassium than bananas. Cholesterol and sodium free, this fruit is high in calories and should be consumed in moderation (1/2 avocado a day). I personally have a hard time keeping them out of my meals because they taste so good, especially in salads.
OLIVES
When I was younger, olives and olive oil were frequently spotted on the table during meals. By frequently, I mean 99.9% of the time. It was normal to see a side of olives no matter what my mom made that day — lasagna, cabbage rolls, stuffed grape leaves, burgers or egg rolls. My brothers and I thought it was odd to have olives with egg rolls, but my dad always noticed that the zaytoun were missing (zaytoun is the Arabic word for olives). He would ask, “Where’s the zaytoun?” To which my mom would add, ”Didn’t I tell you kids to put some olives on the table?”
It seemed that we had an unlimited supply of olives and olive oil — and my parents were especially thrilled to receive their yearly shipment of freshly pressed olive oil from my grandparents, who lived in the Palestinian village of Biteen (pronounced Bait-een). This came shortly after the mid October harvest, the time when olives are ripe in the Middle East.
I did not know the full benefits of olive oil, except for the simple explanation my dad gave me, “It’s good for your heart.”
That was the short version. The longer version, I eventually learned, was that olive oil is rich in mono-saturated fat and antioxidants. It protects your heart is the heart healthy kind of fat that’s good for you. There are many reports that state the benefits of olive oil, and the best ways to use it (mainly salads). People know olive oil is good for them, so there’s no need to brag about it. Do your best to add extra-virgin olive oil to flavor your meals. A little bit goes a long way!
ALMONDS (and the extended nut family)
There are many types of nuts, but why do nutrition experts pay attention to almonds the most? One reason is that it’s the nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin. If you do not know this already, your body cannot produce vitamin E on its own — and it’s a not well known fact that almonds and sunflower seeds are the top two whole foods that have naturally occurring vitamin E.
COCONUTS
Are you confused whether coconuts are good or bad for you? Although high in saturated fat, coconut oil is unusually rich in short and medium chain fatty acids. This means that your body is able to convert coconut oil into energy instead of fat.
Coconut oil has a bad reputation for contributing to cholesterol and heart disease. This started in the early 1950’s, after studies revealed negative effects on the body due to coconut oil. These studies were based on hydrogenated oils (and what we know now is that any type of hydrogenated oil is not good for you). Furthermore, studies linked saturated fats to clogged arteries. Since coconut oil was very high in saturated fat, it became the scapegoat for Americans’ increasing waistlines. Was there much mention of fast food or processed food as the culprit?
When was the last time you saw coconut oil listed as an ingredient on a food label? I rarely do. And when was the last time you heard someone lose a bunch of weight because he or she gave up coconut oil?
Coconut oil is actually good for you. I cook all my food with it. It’s rich in lauric acid (also found in breast milk), which helps support your immune system, and contains no trans fat. The body converts lauric acid to a fatty acid derivative (monolaurin), which is the substance that protects infants from infections. The key is to use high quality, unrefined coconut oil.
AWARDS
All of these nominees should receive an award. People focus so much on numbers (counting calories, weight, etc) instead of content and quality. They believe fat makes them fat, even though approximately 50% of our cells are composed of fat. Without fat, we could not function.
In my next post, I will talk about the importance of eating animal fats. Yes, meat is good for you. It should be our primary source of nutrition, but so many people want to devalue it and “not really healthy.” That’s not true!
Last week, as you may recall, I was very upset when my blood work came back and my cholesterol was up 41 points from last year. So today I went back to the doc after recording what I ate for a week to try and figure out why my cholesterol was so high.
Good news is that my doctor couldn’t believe how well I ate. She asked me if it was really true and laughed when I recorded the 5 french fries I had on Friday night. Hey- I was suppose to record it all, right? She said she wasn’t worried because of how much I exercised and wasn’t going to re-do the test, instead we would see where I was next year.
I don’t really like doctors. I mean…they never really listen and this appointment took all of 10 minutes. Not that I needed it to last that long (I am swamped at work), but I always feel like she is rushing out. She also does “smart lipo” and I think that side of her business is taking up too much time. I just wish she would have taken a bit longer to look at what I was eating. She pointed out that I should watch my carrot intake because they contain high amounts of sugar and sent me on my way.
The sugar thing got me thinking…could sugar make my blood pressure go up? After a quick google search I found out that, yes, refined sugar can lower your HDL count and raise your LDL count. Hmmm…maybe all those bites of cookies and licks of frosting have something to do with this?
I did quit drinking coffee because I would add equal to it and then also add vanilla coffee-mate. Not just a bit…a LOT of vanilla coffee-mate!! I probably kicked this habit just before I took my blood test. Now, I don’t eat a ton of sugary stuff, but I would say I eat something sweet at least once a day. It was sooo hard to do the no sugar week and I couldn’t even do that. Maybe I just need to watch myself a bit more?
All of this cholesterol talk got me really wondering where I stand on the “normal” scale. Here is the scale the American Heart Association has for LDL levels: Yikes! I am borderline high.
Less than 100 mg/dL
Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL
Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL
Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL
High
190 mg/dL and above
Very High
My LDL’s are at 145 I am on the borderline and it doesn’t seem as fun as when Madonna sings about it. So what about my HDL? My HDL is at 66.
According to the AHA, “With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease. In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. An HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher gives some protection against heart disease”.
I am at the average HDL levels for a woman. The doc did tell me to start adding more healthy fats like guacamole and to take a fish oil supplement to help raise the HDL’s. I am going to try and cut out processed sugars as much as possible. This means no more bites of cookies or tastes of frosting. If you take a lot of little bites, it just adds up to a big bite…or more!
So, how am I going to do this? I need a plan! If I have a sugar craving I should be eating natural sugars like a peach or apple. I will be making exceptions for special occasions and I am not going to outlaw dark chocolate. I am going to start reading labels of anything extra I add to my food, like salad dressings and ketchup, in order to cut down on them as well. This is going to be my little experiment and then I’ll see where I am next year.
Don’t worry, I’m not gonna go dyin’ on anyone. A less than 200mg cholesterol level is desirable and 200-239 is borderline/high risk. I am on the low scale of the borderline (I’m at 211), so hopefully just a couple little tweaks will get me all desirable again.
Since my last blood work test I did try going vegan and I found that when I did so I was never full and craved more sugar and bread. I am still not eating that much meat or dairy, so maybe I need to up this just a bit as well and that will help quell the sugar cravings. Just something to think about…
If anyone has any tips that they use to beat the sugar cravings, let me know! I am also going to look into the sugar busters diet…has anyone ever done this?
Well, it’s time to get some good fat up into my tummy…avocado enchilada’s here I come!!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the 4 milligram maximum dose of Livalo (pitavastatin), a drug intended to improve blood cholesterol levels in persons with elevated or abnormal blood cholesterol levels.
Like other statins, Livalo is intended for patients when diet and exercise fail to lower their cholesterol levels. Statins improve elevated blood cholesterol levels primarily by inhibiting a liver enzyme called HMG Co-A reductase, thus reducing the liver’s ability to make cholesterol.
“Elevated or abnormal cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Eric C. Colman, M.D., deputy director, Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products, in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval offers patients and their health care professionals another alternative way to treat high cholesterol.”
Livalo was approved on the basis of five clinical trials comparing its efficacy and safety to that of three currently marketed statins.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions from taking Livalo were muscle pain, back pain, joint pain and constipation.
Livalo is manufactured by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America Inc. of Montgomery, Ala.
Can lower LD (”bad”) cholesterol by 40% in 16 weeks while increasing HDL (”good”) Cholesterol. This is due to Betacyanin, a phytohutient that promotes the breakdown of artery clogging triglycerides in the blood.
2) Motivation Boost. Two nutrients, tyrosine and phenylalanine, synthesize dopmine, a neurochemical required for motivation and focus. A cup of beets contains 136 mcg of foliate(1/3 of daily requirement).
3) End of Tiredness. Beet fiber has been shown has been shown to rev the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase, enzymes in the liver that break down and eliminate the fat-trapping toxins. Plus, beets are a great source of betamine, a phytonutient proven to slash levels of the inflammatory compounds C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 by 26 percent. This can ease symptoms of chronic inflmmation, including excess fat and constant fatigue.
In yesterday’s post, I introduced you to a study which showed that plain ole’ vinegar is effective in suppressing body fat accumulation.
More specifically, the researchers found that laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet and given acetic acid developed significantly less body fat (up to 10 percent less) than other mice.
I was so excited by this low-tech, inexpensive weight loss trick that I contacted the author of the study.
And to my surprise, he emailed an even more recent study which looks at the fat-burning effects of vinegar on actual human beings….no more mice studies.
The Science
In this study, researchers investigated the effects of vinegar intake on the reduction of body-fat mass in obese Japanese students.
The 175 students were randomly assigned to three groups of similar body-weight, BMI and waist circumference.
During the 12 week study, the participants ingested 500ml daily of a beverage containing either 15 ml of apple vinegar (750 mg AcOH – acetic acid), 30 ml of vinegar (1500 mg AcOH) or 0 ml of vinegar (0 mg AcOH, placebo).
In place of vinegar, the placebo group ingested 1250 mg of lactate.
To make them more palatable, all beverages contained the equal amount of flavor and artificial sweetener.
The Results
After only 4 weeks, the vinegar-group participants saw their body-weight, BMI and body-fat percentages improve. These improvements continued in a dose dependent manner for the entire 12 weeks
Translation: more vinegar = more fat loss
In addition to BF, BMI and BF%, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, LDL cholesterol and serum TG (triglyceride) levels also fell (starting in week 8).
These results can be considered to be due to the body-fat loss because the VFA (visceral fat), SFA (subcutaneous fat) and TFA (total fat) values were significantly lower in the vinegar groups than in the placebo group.
Does the vinegar make these "diet" chips?
Conclusion
15 ml (0.5 oz or 1 tbsp) of vinegar per day is enough to significantly improve your:
Body-Weight
BMI
Body-Fat Percentage
Waist Circumference
Waist-Hip ratio
LDL Cholesterol
Serum TG
Visceral Body-Fat, and
Subcutaneous Body-Fat
And considering that these health markers are associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome, perhaps it might be wise to consider adding a tbsp or two of vinegar to your daily diet.
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The Official “Make Ryan Reynolds your Beeyotch” Workout
When it comes to heart health, there is one fat that won’t work against you—fish oil. While most of us need more fish in our diets, heart experts recommend that people at risk for or with coronary artery disease should consume about one gram of fish oil per day. That’s the same amount in three ounces of wild salmon (farmed fish may have less heart-healthy fats than wild).
Healthy people should aim for 500 milligrams a day, according to James O’Keefe, MD, a cardiologist with the Mid-America Heart Institute in Bethesda, Md.
Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and fish oil as well as some plant foods, can decrease the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Eating at least one fish meal a week was associated with a 52% reduction of risk for sudden cardiac death, according to a 1998 study of over 20,000 U.S. male physicians. Specifically, it can help prevent arrhythmias, lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood), slow down the buildup of plaque in the arteries, and slightly lower blood pressure.
Nutritionists recommend taking a food-based approach to fish oil before turning to capsule supplements, because fish is also a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Joyce Baber, 54, from New Egypt, N.J., is trying to do just that to help lower her high cholesterol, 233 (LDL, 174; HDL, 59) and slightly elevated blood pressure. “My doctor recommended omega-3,” she says. “My LDL should be 130 or less and my HDL should be closer to 100.” Patients with high cholesterol patients who consumed EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, daily showed a 19% decrease in non-fatal coronary events, including heart attack, according to a 2007 Japanese study of over 18,000 people.
How much fish should you eat?
People with a history of cardiovascular disease should eat fatty fish, such as mackerel, trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, two to three times per week. Those without a history of heart disease are advised to eat fish at least one to two times per week. Pregnant women should consume two fatty fish meals a week, while avoiding shark, tile fish, king mackerel and swordfish, which may contain some environmental contaminants such as mercury, according to the FDA.
Eat with your mind as well as your mouth, and pay close to attention to how the fish is prepared. Fried fish and fish from fast food restaurants do not offer the same heart health benefits as baked and broiled fish. Tofu and other forms of soybeans, canola, walnuts and flaxseeds, and their oils, are also rich sources of alpha-linolenic acid, which is converted to omega-3 fatty acid in the body. Omega-3-enriched eggs are also available in supermarkets.
Fish versus fish supplements
While the American Heart Association recommends oily fish as the preferred source of omega-3 fatty acids, supplements are a convenient source for people who don’t like fish or are unable to consume the advised dosage. Side effects from the supplements are uncommon, but some report a fishy aftertaste, nausea, bloating and belching. (Try storing the supplements in the freezer to minimize the taste.)
Baber admits she has not started taking the fish oil capsules, which her doctor recommended, because she has a hard time swallowing them.
“I am not good at swallowing large pills and I’m looking for ones that are a reasonable size. I also have acid reflux and I know there are possible GI side effects. But I will give this a try because I would like to avoid taking a statin drug, if possible.”
Rene Colwell, 50, of New York City, says “fish burps” turned her off to supplements after her 2006 heart attack, but she tries to take at least half of the four capsules her doctor recommended.
“Research actually supports combination therapy of omega-3 supplements and medication for people at risk for heart disease,” says Dr. O’Keefe. Fish oil and statins are a safe and effective way to improve cardiovascular health—more so than the use of statins alone, he says.
You need a library for the amount of guidebooks rained on you when you become a mother: whether to use towelling nappies or disposables, when to wean, how to socialise your toddler, how to keep the lines of communication open with your teenager – the list is endless. In fact, the sheer volume of information available to you on becoming a mother and being the best at it ever can overwhelm you.
Still, at least there’s lots of advice available, and there are always other mothers around to offer a bit of support and a listening ear – even if it is just to gloat about how much better they have it than you at the moment. Happily, there’s also a growing wealth of information and help for stepmothers, as half of today’s marriages involve them.
There’s a variety of mother, however, that doesn’t have access to ready supplies of expertise from those who’ve gone before her. Finding a guidebook for this brave lady has proven a frustrating exercise until now. Hers is not a new breed, though; for as long as there have been mothers there have been blending stepmothers, only they’ve been so busy and muddled that none of them thought to write it all down. Either that, or they assumed that no single mother of the future would be idiotic enough to take on a new partner and his offspring in addition to her own, much less attempt to help raise them under the watchful eye of his ex.
I searched for such a book as I blundered into blending, and never found it. I needed it – badly. Surely I wasn’t alone? I reasoned that there must be thousands of blending stepmothers like me out there, all at a loss and feeling more than a bit gloomy. So here it is – “In The Blender”: the book I wrote as I groped my way through the ups and downs, stumbling over all the ideals that my original, nuclear family had left behind.
I’ve read lots of books on stepmothering, and each one starts off with the author saying how much she didn’t want to write it. The usual reasoning is that ‘revisiting the early days is too painful’.
I find that odd. I really wanted to write this one on blending for a very good reason: I could have used the support in my early days as a fledgling blending agent. And I feel safe. There’s a huge difference between remembering events and reliving them. From the safety of the here and now I can look back on my bumpy road to Blending Maternity without feeling the pain of every stubbed toe all over again; hopefully, I’ll pass on a pearl or two of blending wisdom gleaned from my many interviews with other stepmothers, counsellors and life coaches.
BUY YOUR COPY OF “IN THE BLENDER” AT http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/in-the-blender/7431821
Some may ask if they have moderately high cholesterol but healthy blood pressure, is it possible that they will have a greater chances of getting hypertension?
You can have high blood pressure simply because you have larger-than-life lipids. However, while there’s no direct connection between the two, they do have some risk factors in common, explains Edward D. Frohlich, M.D., of Alton Oschner Medical Foundation and editor of the medical journal Hypertension. Among them: being overweight and not exercising. So if you’re trying to lower your cholesterol by losing weight and increasing your activity level, you’re actually lowering your risk for getting hypertension, too. – Greg Gutfeld and Joe Kita
After training a client today, and being told that Cholesterol isnt affected by your diet, I’ve decided to add this!!
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a soft waxy substance and is an essential body fat (lipid), that is carried around the body in the blood. Only a small amount of the cholesterol in the body comes from your diet, it is mostly made in the body by the liver. The dietary cholesterol is found in food that comes from meat, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products.
Cholesterol is required by the body to keep itself healthy, but too much cholesterol circulating can be a health risk. As cholesterol is not water-soluble it must bind to special proteins before it can be carried via the bloodstream. Once bound they form lipoproteins, there are 2 main types of lipoproteins:
Low density lipoproteins (LDL), commonly known as bad cholesterol. LDL is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. If there is too much LDL in the blood it can build up on artery walls. A high level of LDL cholesterol may give you an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
High density lipoproteins (HDL) commonly known as good cholesterol. HDL is actually good for maintaining the health of the heart and preventing the narrowing of the arteries as it carrie cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver. This is why the ratio between LDL and HDL cholesterol is important. Usually the body maintains a balance of cholesterol, making more if it needs it and getting rid of any excess.
LDL levels can be lowered by eating a low fat diet and HDL levels can be raised by exercising.
What causes cholesterol to be high?
Generally too much saturated fat in the diet is the most common cause of high cholesterol. Saturated fat encourages the body to make more cholesterol than it needs or can get rid of. However, occasionally, high cholesterol levels can be genetic. If there is too much cholesterol in the blood and the body can’t get rid of it, the unused cholesterol can builds up in the artery walls, leading to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing of the arteries slows down the flow of blood to your heart, this condition is known as arteriosclerosis.
If the arteries become too blocked, it restricts blood flow and a heart attack can often occur. If an artery in the brain becomes blocked this can trigger a stroke to occur.
How can I reduce my cholesterol levels?
High cholesterol is a major factor of heart disease, but it can be treated through diet and exercise. The first step in lowering cholesterol levels is to change your diet, and reduce the amount of consumed saturated fat
Food to avoid or limit:
Fatty meats but if you do eat them cut off all the visible fat.
Sausages
Pies and pastries.
Fat or oil in cooking.
Prawns, shrimp and fish roe.
Fried foods Dairy products such as full milk, cream, cheese, butter and ice cream, egg yolks.
Cakes, crisps, biscuits, sweets and chocolate.
Better options of foods include;
Fish, especially oil rich fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, pilchards and trout. This type of fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids and they are thought to lower LDL cholesterol.
Poultry (chicken, veal or turkey) but remove the skin.
Low-Fat dairy products, use semi skimmed or skimmed milk, low fat yoghurts and mono or poly-unsaturated spreads.
Foods high in polyunsaturated (found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils) and monounsaturated (found in olive, rapeseed, walnut oil and avocado) fats. Fruit and vegetables, you should eat at least 5 portions every day.
Garlic
Wholegrain breads Cereals
Baked beans and red kidney beans
Pasta and rice
Most things are avoidable, it’s whether you choose to limit or control them via exercise and good nutrition.
The prospect of getting old is becoming more and more real as the health concerns pile up. I worry that I’m having the worst bout of arthritis since eight years ago, I worry about the hint of varicose vein on the back of my leg that someone pointed out to me and now, I have to worry about being at high risk of getting heart diseases and stroke because of high cholesterol. And I worry that my worrying will age me even further before time.
Sometimes I can’t help feeling like I’m trapped in the body of an ailing 80-year old. There are so many things I’ve yet to accomplish, and I just wonder how long this body can keep up.
The results from a recent health screen revealed that my cholesterol levels are atrocious. To give you a rough idea, these were the given ranges to classify your LDL (bad cholesterol) level: optimal, desirable, borderline high, high, very high. And mine, without giving so much as a warning, falls immediately under the very high range.
To be honest, I was half expecting this. Not because I’ve been thrashing my diet and eating with wild abandon, but rather, because of genetics. See, my mother suffered a mild stroke not too long ago because of high LDL levels. A chunk of the cholesterol deposits lining her arteries broke away and traveled to her heart and then to her brain, where, thankfully it dispersed into smaller pieces. Had it not dispersed, that chunk could’ve blocked blood supply to her brain, causing brain damage. Following the stroke, my mother was referred to a dietitian. Not surprisingly (because I know how my mom eats), the dietitian found nothing wrong with her diet, and even commended her for eating healthy. So what was contributing to the high cholesterol? We got to know through tests later that by default, my mom’s liver was producing more bad cholesterol than the average person. The doctors warned that it’s possible for this characteristic to be genetic, and recommended to have us children checked as well.
I’m genuinely wary. The possibility of things going awry is very near and real, not only because my own mother had a brush with stroke, but also because my cholesterol level isn’t far off from my mother’s when she suffered it. And so now for the sake of health, I’m forced to significantly reduce or at best, forgo foods high in saturated fats (or high cholesterol foods as they call it). I don’t mind cutting back on other high cholesterol foods, but it’ll be like giving up the world to give up red meat and cheese. Everything that tastes so good I could die has beef and/or cheese in it. Pizza, pasta, dengdeng, black pepper steak, oreo cheesecake, the list is infinite!
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be overweight to have high cholesterol. It has more to do with what you eat than how much you eat it. But if you eat high amounts of foods high in saturated fats, then needless to say that accounts for it too.
Exercise, unfortunately, cannot lower LDL levels. It can only increase your HDL level (the good cholesterol). So there really is no other way to lower your LDL levels except to take to a stringent diet or take cholesterol lowering medication.
I’ve lost a bit of faith in medicine, though. I used to have high regard for doctor’s medicine, I used to think it would take care of everything. But I’ve come to believe strongly about the side effects that come with medicine. And I’ve experienced this myself in arguably the most painful scenario of my life yet. Back in secondary school when I was diagnosed with arthritis, I saw a specialist and he gave me some medicine. Then, only a few joints were affected, but after taking the medication which were supposed to relieve me, my other joints which weren’t affected started to swell as well. This significantly affected my mobility. Simple everyday tasks became excruciating and difficult. This went on for a number of months and in the end I got so fed up popping so many pills a day that I just stopped. Miraculously after that, I got better on my own and I didn’t pop a single pill to relieve my arthritis for eight years.
I’m not completely taking an anti-medicine stand here — I’m now on steroids to relieve my arthritis that has decided to resurface after eight years. But I alternate it with natural supplements. What I’m saying is I think we shouldn’t be a hundred percent dependent on medicine, especially long-term medication. There are other natural alternatives we can look to, and they don’t come with side effects. The most recent and personal success story I can think of is that of my own mother. Some time ago she decided to stop her cholesterol medication. Not only were they incredibly expensive, they didn’t seem to lower her levels significantly. So she looked to natural alternatives, and began taking a fibre supplement called BioGreen. A few months into it, she had her cholesterol checked, and it went from ‘very high’ to ‘high’. This might not seem like much, but it is in fact great progress because my mother’s cholesterol level has never budged from the very high range, even with medication.
Ignorance is bliss, so I suppose that’s the reason the idea of going for general medical checkups don’t even cross most our minds. You feel jolly and fit as a fiddle, so why go looking for things to worry about? Admittedly it wasn’t until my company held a complimentary basic health screening that I was reminded how important it is to know the status of our own health.
Sure, some things in life are better left to chance. But health definitely isn’t one of them.
If you have high cholesterol, have no fear. There are a variety of cholesterol lowering drugs and treatments that can be used to address your cholesterol. Some of these treatments are simply related to making some changes to your lifestyle, whereas others involve taking medications to keep your cholesterol in check.
1. What Are Your Treatment Options?
There are a variety of options out there to help you to lower your cholesterol levels, ranging from simple changes to your lifestyle to taking medications. Based on your cholesterol test results, your healthcare provider will decide which treatment is best for you. In some cases, you may need a combination of treatments to help lower your cholesterol.
2. Changing Your Lifestyle to Lower Your Cholesterol
Lifestyle changes play a vital role in lowering your cholesterol, but they can be the most challenging, too. Changing your diet, exercising more, losing weight and/or quitting smoking are all healthy ways that you can help lower your cholesterol. In some cases, changing your lifestyle could help you to avoid taking medications to lower your cholesterol.
Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Diet
Lowering Your Cholesterol Through Exercise
Stop Smoking Now
3. Medications that Can Lower Cholesterol
There are many types of cholesterol lowering drugs on the market. However, not all of them work the same. Some of these drugs may only lower your LDL (”bad” cholesterol), whereas other drugs may treat all aspects of your cholesterol profile. In any case, all of these medications are effective and your healthcare provider will select the right drug for you.The classes of cholesterol-lowering drugs are:
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Absorption Inhibitors
Statins
Fibrates
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Niacin
4. Cholesterol Apheresis
Cholesterol apheresis is similar to kidney dialysis, but is used to only filter out LDL cholesterol from the blood. It isn’t a treatment that is used in everyone, though. It is mostly used as a last resort for people with very high cholesterol levels despite the use of high cholesterol lowering medications. Some people also decide to undergo this therapy because they have very high cholesterol levels, but cannot tolerate the drugs used to lower cholesterol. This procedure is effective, but it can be pretty costly, too.
5. Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally With Herbs and Other Products
Some people may use natural products, such as herbs and spices, to help lower their cholesterol. Some of these treatments are effective, but some of them won’t help your cholesterol at all. If you decide to try a natural supplement, talk to your healthcare provider first, since some of these products could interact with other medications you are taking.
Some natural products used to lower cholesterol:
