Switching To A Low Cholesterol Diet by Javier Fuller
Who doesn't crave for health? Who doesn't want to have his sandwich with an extra layer of mayonnaise without caring about the girth around the waist? And who doesn't want to stop thinking about what to eat and what not to?
Surely, in addition to all that, we also want to have rippling muscles.
But leave that for later because in today's hectic life it's difficult to find time and energy for a regular jog, let alone pumping iron Arnie style.
If I were to advise adopting a healthy lifestyle I am sure it would sound like an oft-suggested-never-followed kind of an advise, which it surely is.
But the fact is, nothing helps better than a healthy lifestyle with some form of regular physical activity thrown in.
It not only keeps one fit but also helps reduce one's risk of disease, especially heart ailments. Cholesterol is considered to be the erring element.
One of the effective ways to reduce blood cholesterol is to combine regular physical activity with low cholesterol diet.
A diet with low cholesterol may include foods with high fiber and vitamin content, and must be low on fat.
Now going low on fat does not mean that you shun fat altogether because fat is an important requirement for the healthy functioning of the body.
They help the body in digestion and excretion.As indicated earlier, a low fat diet alone will not be sufficient to substantially reduce your chances of a heart stroke.
For that you must exercise a bit. This is not to say that you join the fancy neighborhood gym. Exercise may just comprise of half an hour of brisk walking or light jogging in the morning or in the evening.
Mornings are better because at that time the air has more oxygen which is healthy for every single cell in your body.
That's the reason why nothing matches a morning of vigorous activity.
Cut down on smoking and if possible quit it. Moderate drinking may not be harmful but if you tend to get carried away and often cross the delicate boundary between light and heavy drinking, it's better that you keep clear of alcohol altogether.
For those who have a family history of cholesterol related problems it is important to be extra cautious, as they are more likely to have cholesterol accumulation.
Switching to a low cholesterol diet helps one reduce one's chances of a stroke and pumps more life in every second of life. What more could one ask for
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Why Is Hdl Cholesterol Considered Good
Why Is Hdl Cholesterol Considered Good by Julia Carmichael
While cholesterol has been a health concern for many years, researchers are just beginning to learn about the so called good and bad cholesterol.
In fact, it seems it is almost as important to raise your good cholesterol as it is to lower your bad cholesterol.
To understand why it is important to raise your good cholesterol, you must first understand its function.
Once you understand how important this good cholesterol is for you, you may want to learn some proven ways to raise your levels of good cholesterol.
This Cholesterol Causes Heart DiseaseFirst, good cholesterol's technical name is high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol.
Second, cholesterol in itself it neither good nor bad, it depends on which type carrier the cholesterol happens to be.
With HDL cholesterol, this cholesterol is being taken away from the heart and arteries to the liver where the cholesterol is broken down and excreted from the body
Bad cholesterol, on the other hand, is the type that builds up in your arteries and causes heart disease and heart attack.
Some researchers believe the HDL cholesterol not only carries cholesterol away from your heart, but may help clean bad cholesterol out of your arteries.
Ideally, you should try to raise your good cholesterol level if you want to have a healthy heart. A high HDL cholesterol level is considered to be 60 mg/dl or above.
If you can reach this level of 60 mg/dl or above, researchers believe you can offset other causes that put you at risk for heart disease.
While 60 mg/dl is a good level to aim for, you should have at least 30 mg/dl or above if you are a woman or 40 mg/dl or above if you are a man.
Drinking Your Way to HDL Cholesterol If your HDL cholesterol level is not as high as you would like for it to be, you are in luck, there are some steps you can take to increase your good cholesterol level.
These include getting more aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise includes walking, jogging, swimming and bike riding. Losing weight can also help to increase your levels of good cholesterol.
You should also stop smoking and cut Trans fatty acids out of your diet. Trans fatty acids are found in prepackaged foods and fried fast foods.
Another way to raise your HDL cholesterol is to have a drink or two each day.
While too much alcohol can be bad for your heart, scientists have found that 1-2 drinks daily can raise your HDL cholesterol. Adding more soluble fiber to your diet can also help to raise your good cholesterol.
While cholesterol has been a health concern for many years, researchers are just beginning to learn about the so called good and bad cholesterol.
In fact, it seems it is almost as important to raise your good cholesterol as it is to lower your bad cholesterol.
To understand why it is important to raise your good cholesterol, you must first understand its function.
Once you understand how important this good cholesterol is for you, you may want to learn some proven ways to raise your levels of good cholesterol.
This Cholesterol Causes Heart DiseaseFirst, good cholesterol's technical name is high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol.
Second, cholesterol in itself it neither good nor bad, it depends on which type carrier the cholesterol happens to be.
With HDL cholesterol, this cholesterol is being taken away from the heart and arteries to the liver where the cholesterol is broken down and excreted from the body
Bad cholesterol, on the other hand, is the type that builds up in your arteries and causes heart disease and heart attack.
Some researchers believe the HDL cholesterol not only carries cholesterol away from your heart, but may help clean bad cholesterol out of your arteries.
Ideally, you should try to raise your good cholesterol level if you want to have a healthy heart. A high HDL cholesterol level is considered to be 60 mg/dl or above.
If you can reach this level of 60 mg/dl or above, researchers believe you can offset other causes that put you at risk for heart disease.
While 60 mg/dl is a good level to aim for, you should have at least 30 mg/dl or above if you are a woman or 40 mg/dl or above if you are a man.
Drinking Your Way to HDL Cholesterol If your HDL cholesterol level is not as high as you would like for it to be, you are in luck, there are some steps you can take to increase your good cholesterol level.
These include getting more aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise includes walking, jogging, swimming and bike riding. Losing weight can also help to increase your levels of good cholesterol.
You should also stop smoking and cut Trans fatty acids out of your diet. Trans fatty acids are found in prepackaged foods and fried fast foods.
Another way to raise your HDL cholesterol is to have a drink or two each day.
While too much alcohol can be bad for your heart, scientists have found that 1-2 drinks daily can raise your HDL cholesterol. Adding more soluble fiber to your diet can also help to raise your good cholesterol.
Healthy Choices To Lower Your Cholesterol
Healthy Choices To Lower Your Cholesterol by smgenie
Heart disease and stroke are often triggered by high cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol for some is just a matter of changing your diet.
Others may need to diet and the help of medications prescribed by their doctor.
Either way, lowering your cholesterol can save your life.Changing your diet to lose weight is not the same as changing your diet to control your cholesterol level.
While losing weight will certainly improve your health, you also need to monitor your diet to exclude foods that are causing your high cholesterol levels.
Monitoring your diet does not mean giving up all the foods you love.
Many foods are healthy and good for you. For instance, a good variety of fruits and vegetables (with five or more servings per day), grain products like bread, cereal, rice, and pasta (choose six or more servings per day).
In addition, lean meats and poultry ( without skin and up to 6 ounces per day), fat-free and low fat milk , beans and peas , nuts and seeds in limited amounts, and fatty fish ( which can be baked or broiled , but limited to 2-3 servings per week ).
You should use vegetable oils like olive oil or corn oil when preparing your foods. There is also a large assortment of spices to give your food that extra pizzazz.
There are a number of foods you should omit from your diet if you want to lower your cholesterol. Whole milk and ice cream should be avoided.
Additionally, butter, egg yolks, and cheese and foods that include them should be removed from your diet.
Finally, organ meats like liver, high-fat processed meats (like sausage and hot dogs), and limit your intake of fried foods.Eating healthier involves knowing how to prepare your foods and changing your diet.
If you are not able to lower your cholesterol by diet and exercise alone, your doctor may have to prescribe medication.
Dieting and eating healthier to lower your cholesterol will improve your quality of life and significantly reduce your risk of other health problems.
High cholesterol is a serious health problem, and you can take action to avoid further health complications.
Heart disease and stroke are often triggered by high cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol for some is just a matter of changing your diet.
Others may need to diet and the help of medications prescribed by their doctor.
Either way, lowering your cholesterol can save your life.Changing your diet to lose weight is not the same as changing your diet to control your cholesterol level.
While losing weight will certainly improve your health, you also need to monitor your diet to exclude foods that are causing your high cholesterol levels.
Monitoring your diet does not mean giving up all the foods you love.
Many foods are healthy and good for you. For instance, a good variety of fruits and vegetables (with five or more servings per day), grain products like bread, cereal, rice, and pasta (choose six or more servings per day).
In addition, lean meats and poultry ( without skin and up to 6 ounces per day), fat-free and low fat milk , beans and peas , nuts and seeds in limited amounts, and fatty fish ( which can be baked or broiled , but limited to 2-3 servings per week ).
You should use vegetable oils like olive oil or corn oil when preparing your foods. There is also a large assortment of spices to give your food that extra pizzazz.
There are a number of foods you should omit from your diet if you want to lower your cholesterol. Whole milk and ice cream should be avoided.
Additionally, butter, egg yolks, and cheese and foods that include them should be removed from your diet.
Finally, organ meats like liver, high-fat processed meats (like sausage and hot dogs), and limit your intake of fried foods.Eating healthier involves knowing how to prepare your foods and changing your diet.
If you are not able to lower your cholesterol by diet and exercise alone, your doctor may have to prescribe medication.
Dieting and eating healthier to lower your cholesterol will improve your quality of life and significantly reduce your risk of other health problems.
High cholesterol is a serious health problem, and you can take action to avoid further health complications.
Confusion Between Fat And Cholesterol
Confusion Between Fat And Cholesterol by Ng Peng Hock
It appears that many people still confuse with fat and cholesterol in diet. A friend of mine once told me that peanut has no fat but it has cholesterol.
Very often, people voice their concern and make some confusing statement, such as don’t take coconut milk, it is high in cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol has been identified as a major risk factor for heart disease, which causes many people to avoid cholesterol from foods.
Many have confusingly argued that a low-fat diet is also low in cholesterol, which can be considered only half right.
What is cholesterol? It is a fat-like substance. It is definitely not a fat as its chemical structure is different from fat and it functions differently from fats.
Cholesterol is part of all body cells, some hormones as well as bile (which helps the body to digest and absorb fat in the digestive tract).
Cholesterol in the blood comes from two sources: liver and food. Liver is the factory that produces almost all cholesterol required in the body.
Cholesterol can only be found in foods of animal origin but fat exists in nearly all foods. Plants do not produce cholesterol as they do not have livers.
The good (HDL) or bad (LDL) cholesterol do not relate to food, they only refer to those in our body. Cholesterol in diet may raise blood cholesterol level for some people, but fats in diet definitely have a much significant effect, especially the saturated fats.
Fat is nutrient that human need as it provides essential fatty acids which body cannot produce and helps carry fat-soluble vitamins (such A, D, E, K) in the blood. Fat also produces energy (or calories) needed for physical activities as well as the basic body metabolism.
When consumed excessively, however, fat contributes to weight gain.There are three types of fats, namely saturated, unsaturated, and poly fats.
You can refer to my article tiled "A Simple Way to Understand Fats". Scientific studies showed that high fat diet is a possible cause of heart disease.
Saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and builds up deposits on the arteries while unsaturated fat helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduces the cholesterol deposits on the arteries.
Trans fat found in vegetable oils has almost the same effect as saturated fat, except that they not only increase LDL but also lower HDL.The best way to avoid heart disease is to cut down unwanted fats and cholesterol from your diet
It appears that many people still confuse with fat and cholesterol in diet. A friend of mine once told me that peanut has no fat but it has cholesterol.
Very often, people voice their concern and make some confusing statement, such as don’t take coconut milk, it is high in cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol has been identified as a major risk factor for heart disease, which causes many people to avoid cholesterol from foods.
Many have confusingly argued that a low-fat diet is also low in cholesterol, which can be considered only half right.
What is cholesterol? It is a fat-like substance. It is definitely not a fat as its chemical structure is different from fat and it functions differently from fats.
Cholesterol is part of all body cells, some hormones as well as bile (which helps the body to digest and absorb fat in the digestive tract).
Cholesterol in the blood comes from two sources: liver and food. Liver is the factory that produces almost all cholesterol required in the body.
Cholesterol can only be found in foods of animal origin but fat exists in nearly all foods. Plants do not produce cholesterol as they do not have livers.
The good (HDL) or bad (LDL) cholesterol do not relate to food, they only refer to those in our body. Cholesterol in diet may raise blood cholesterol level for some people, but fats in diet definitely have a much significant effect, especially the saturated fats.
Fat is nutrient that human need as it provides essential fatty acids which body cannot produce and helps carry fat-soluble vitamins (such A, D, E, K) in the blood. Fat also produces energy (or calories) needed for physical activities as well as the basic body metabolism.
When consumed excessively, however, fat contributes to weight gain.There are three types of fats, namely saturated, unsaturated, and poly fats.
You can refer to my article tiled "A Simple Way to Understand Fats". Scientific studies showed that high fat diet is a possible cause of heart disease.
Saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and builds up deposits on the arteries while unsaturated fat helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduces the cholesterol deposits on the arteries.
Trans fat found in vegetable oils has almost the same effect as saturated fat, except that they not only increase LDL but also lower HDL.The best way to avoid heart disease is to cut down unwanted fats and cholesterol from your diet
Vitamins Help To Lower Cholesterol
Vitamins Help To Lower Cholesterol by Darrell Miller-1603
Vitamins help to lower cholesterol are now a proven fact. This kind of over-the-counter supplement contains no chemicals of any type.
It is a natural method in achieving lower cholesterol without negative side effects or prolonged issues.
Doctors have been providing chemical medication for this condition for as long as possible. They are beginning to realize this type of cure is only hindering a person's ability to actually maintain a healthy system.
There are several kinds of vitamins that can greatly reduce cholesterol and be healthy as well. An individual may have been battling with this problem for many years without a solid solution.
Each person's body controls their issues differently. Some doctor prescribed medication may seem to be doing the trick. Nevertheless, the more chemicals that are placed in the body the more out of whack it may become.
Every person desires to have an overall collective healthy immune system. They want to live longer and stay with their loved ones.
With these vitamins help to lower cholesterol, an individual will be able to do that without worry on what the chemicals are doing to their body.
There are several types of vitamins that a person can achieve that will assist them greatly in achieving lower cholesterol without damaging other parts of their body.
There are vitamins in pill format that a person can obtain and take daily to assist in an over-all more healthy body and immune system.
Cholest-response is a vitamin designed to directly lower the cholesterol in one's body. This can be found throughout the internet and at local health foods stores or supermarket.
Niacin is another supplement that has been proven effectively to reduce the bad cholesterol in one's system. This type of supplement is extraordinary for individual's that do not wish to add unnatural chemicals into their body.
Red Yeast Rice is a supplement that is designed to lower cholesterol safely and effectively. Every individual can find this type of vitamins throughout health food stores around the internet.
There are various herbal medications that are safe and effective for this type of problem. It is vital to read all the information that is provided and talk to a person's doctor before beginning this type of control
Garlic is believed to be the cure-all vitamin of the century. This can be eating in large amounts on food and even taken in a vitamin pill format.
Everyone enjoys garlic on their foods; however a person may not be receiving all the benefits from this alone. An individual will be able to find garlic supplements in their health foods stores or supermarkets.
Almonds are a fantastic method in a lower cholesterol solution.
They not only taste fantastic and go with every meal type from main course to deserts; they will also assist an individual in reducing unwanted issues from their systems.
Oatmeal not only tastes fantastic, warms the body up on cold days and fills the stomach; this meal that everyone loves is filled with vitamins that can lower cholesterol. Various types of beans are proven to lower cholesterol without massive side-effects.
If a person eats these 2 to 4 times a week, the body will show signs of improvement. Foods that have an abundance of vitamins B, C and E will assist a person in lower cholesterol that is unhealthy.
These foods can included but are not limited to oranges, peppers, broccoli and strawberries.There are various side-effects and issues that are associated with prescribed medication.
These pills can begin to develop liver issues, stomach problems and immune system breakdown. It is vital to lower cholesterol for an over-all happy and healthy body.
Vitamins can do with just as well if not better than all prescription drugs on the market. Every person can enjoy the vitamins inside the supplements or their favorite foods.
An individual can located valuable information on the internet concerning the types of vitamins an individual needs to lower their cholesterol and to manage it for the future.
Vitamins help to lower cholesterol are now a proven fact. This kind of over-the-counter supplement contains no chemicals of any type.
It is a natural method in achieving lower cholesterol without negative side effects or prolonged issues.
Doctors have been providing chemical medication for this condition for as long as possible. They are beginning to realize this type of cure is only hindering a person's ability to actually maintain a healthy system.
There are several kinds of vitamins that can greatly reduce cholesterol and be healthy as well. An individual may have been battling with this problem for many years without a solid solution.
Each person's body controls their issues differently. Some doctor prescribed medication may seem to be doing the trick. Nevertheless, the more chemicals that are placed in the body the more out of whack it may become.
Every person desires to have an overall collective healthy immune system. They want to live longer and stay with their loved ones.
With these vitamins help to lower cholesterol, an individual will be able to do that without worry on what the chemicals are doing to their body.
There are several types of vitamins that a person can achieve that will assist them greatly in achieving lower cholesterol without damaging other parts of their body.
There are vitamins in pill format that a person can obtain and take daily to assist in an over-all more healthy body and immune system.
Cholest-response is a vitamin designed to directly lower the cholesterol in one's body. This can be found throughout the internet and at local health foods stores or supermarket.
Niacin is another supplement that has been proven effectively to reduce the bad cholesterol in one's system. This type of supplement is extraordinary for individual's that do not wish to add unnatural chemicals into their body.
Red Yeast Rice is a supplement that is designed to lower cholesterol safely and effectively. Every individual can find this type of vitamins throughout health food stores around the internet.
There are various herbal medications that are safe and effective for this type of problem. It is vital to read all the information that is provided and talk to a person's doctor before beginning this type of control
Garlic is believed to be the cure-all vitamin of the century. This can be eating in large amounts on food and even taken in a vitamin pill format.
Everyone enjoys garlic on their foods; however a person may not be receiving all the benefits from this alone. An individual will be able to find garlic supplements in their health foods stores or supermarkets.
Almonds are a fantastic method in a lower cholesterol solution.
They not only taste fantastic and go with every meal type from main course to deserts; they will also assist an individual in reducing unwanted issues from their systems.
Oatmeal not only tastes fantastic, warms the body up on cold days and fills the stomach; this meal that everyone loves is filled with vitamins that can lower cholesterol. Various types of beans are proven to lower cholesterol without massive side-effects.
If a person eats these 2 to 4 times a week, the body will show signs of improvement. Foods that have an abundance of vitamins B, C and E will assist a person in lower cholesterol that is unhealthy.
These foods can included but are not limited to oranges, peppers, broccoli and strawberries.There are various side-effects and issues that are associated with prescribed medication.
These pills can begin to develop liver issues, stomach problems and immune system breakdown. It is vital to lower cholesterol for an over-all happy and healthy body.
Vitamins can do with just as well if not better than all prescription drugs on the market. Every person can enjoy the vitamins inside the supplements or their favorite foods.
An individual can located valuable information on the internet concerning the types of vitamins an individual needs to lower their cholesterol and to manage it for the future.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Cholesterol: Good Or Bad
Cholesterol: Good Or Bad by Jeff Foster
These days when it comes to your diet it seems that everything is free... not in the sense that it costs nothing; rather that it is free of something that you don't need anyway.
On your next trip to buy groceries, take a look at just about any product and see what they are offering for free.You've got all kinds of choices of fat free yogurt, look at all your choices of fat free foods, oils that are cholesterol free, and on and on.
Don't get me wrong... this is not necessarily a bad trend. We all know that we have to be more concious about what we put into our bodies.
But, let us not assume that everything that is free is therefore also healthy. Our bodies need a variety of compounds in order to completely function at a healthy level.
Take cholesterol for example. Very simply put, cholesterol is a fatty substance that occurs naturally in your body.
It is a product of the liver that is enabled by foods that you eat that are rich in saturated fat.If you've heard anything these days about cholesterol you've probably heard the terms 'good cholesterol' and 'bad cholesterol'.
Just as the terms imply there is the cholesterol that your body needs to function and there is the cholesterol that if present in too high of levels can damage your blood vessels and lead to heart problems or stroke.
Cholesterol - At a glance:Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad" cholesterol. Think of the 'L' being low life or bad. This is the substance in which cholesterol is carried into the blood and is the primary cause of the fatty build up that causes problems in the arteries.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol. Think of the 'H' as being the happy cholesterol or good natured. This cholesterol carries the cholesterol back to the liver where it can be filtered for elimination and prevent the build up in the arteries.
Essentially what you should know is that your body does need cholesterol. It is used to repair cells, to produce hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and is converted to aid in digestion.
So, you don't want to just arbitrarily jump on a complete cholesterol free diet. As with any dietary consideration and change you should work with your healthcare provider to arrive at the best and healthiest long term solution
These days when it comes to your diet it seems that everything is free... not in the sense that it costs nothing; rather that it is free of something that you don't need anyway.
On your next trip to buy groceries, take a look at just about any product and see what they are offering for free.You've got all kinds of choices of fat free yogurt, look at all your choices of fat free foods, oils that are cholesterol free, and on and on.
Don't get me wrong... this is not necessarily a bad trend. We all know that we have to be more concious about what we put into our bodies.
But, let us not assume that everything that is free is therefore also healthy. Our bodies need a variety of compounds in order to completely function at a healthy level.
Take cholesterol for example. Very simply put, cholesterol is a fatty substance that occurs naturally in your body.
It is a product of the liver that is enabled by foods that you eat that are rich in saturated fat.If you've heard anything these days about cholesterol you've probably heard the terms 'good cholesterol' and 'bad cholesterol'.
Just as the terms imply there is the cholesterol that your body needs to function and there is the cholesterol that if present in too high of levels can damage your blood vessels and lead to heart problems or stroke.
Cholesterol - At a glance:Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad" cholesterol. Think of the 'L' being low life or bad. This is the substance in which cholesterol is carried into the blood and is the primary cause of the fatty build up that causes problems in the arteries.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol. Think of the 'H' as being the happy cholesterol or good natured. This cholesterol carries the cholesterol back to the liver where it can be filtered for elimination and prevent the build up in the arteries.
Essentially what you should know is that your body does need cholesterol. It is used to repair cells, to produce hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and is converted to aid in digestion.
So, you don't want to just arbitrarily jump on a complete cholesterol free diet. As with any dietary consideration and change you should work with your healthcare provider to arrive at the best and healthiest long term solution
Reduce Your Cholesterol With Natural Supplements
Reduce Your Cholesterol With Natural Supplements by Darrell Miller-1603
Because of the great efforts of the American Heart Association and other similar organizations, we have gained a lot of knowledge on cholesterol and its effects on our health. We know that high cholesterol levels increase our risk for heart attacks and strokes. We also know that lowering our cholesterol levels will reduce this risk and keep our hearts and blood vessels healthy. Additionally, we know that diet, weight loss, and exercise can help us lower our cholesterol levels. Prescription drugs that lower cholesterol have recently become available and advertised by pharmaceutical companies. However, these medications have some serious side effects including myopathy, reduction in CoQ10 levels, which can lead to heart disease, and rhabdomyaolysis, a rare, but fatal condition. Fortunately, there is a safe alternative to these prescription medications, pantethine and plant sterols, which are also known as phytosterols, are nature’s solution to high cholesterol levels
Cholesterol, a soft, waxy, fat-like substance, is found in every cell of the body. It is needed to help digest fats, strengthen cell membranes, insulate nerves, and make hormones. Made primarily by the liver, our body makes all the cholesterol that we actually need, but we also get additional cholesterol from the foods that we eat. The highest sources of cholesterol are egg yolks and organ meats including liver and kidney. Peanut butter, avocado, and all other plant-derived foods contain no cholesterol. However, all foods from animal sources do contain cholesterol. Even though cholesterol is responsible for many important functions in the body, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can be very dangerous. Once blood cholesterol has reached high levels, it builds up on artery walls, and therefore increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Because the heart is a muscle, it needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. The bloodstream, which transports these nutrients to the heart through coronary arteries, cannot transport the oxygen if the arteries become narrowed or clogged by cholesterol and fat deposits. Depending on the severity, this can result in coronary heart disease, angina, or heart attack.
Because cholesterol and other fats can’t dissolve in the blood, they can’t travel on their own. Instead, they are transported to and from cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are two major lipoproteins: low density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, and high density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. LDLs cause atherosclerosis because they clog up our arteries with the continual buildup of fat. On the other hand, HDL prevents fat buildup by carrying it away from the arteries to the liver, where it can be processed and eliminated.
Triglycerides, which are fats used as fuel by the body, can make the blood more sluggish and less capable of transporting oxygen when in high amounts. There are many medications prescribed by physicians for people with elevated triglyceride levels. Some of the most effective, and most harmful, are the statins. The all-natural combination of pantethine and plant sterols can safely lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels, while increasing HDL cholesterol
Pantethine, which is a form of pantothenic acid that is found in liver, salmon, and yeast, is known for its ability to lower cholesterol by blocking its production. The production of cholesterol in the human body is a very complex process, involving many biochemical reactions and enzyme activity. Pantethine inhibits several of these enzymes, blocking the activity of those coenzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis by about 50%. To compensate for the lowered cholesterol production, the liver pulls LDL out of the bloodstream, resulting in a lower total cholesterol level.
Plant sterols, which are the fats of plants, are found in nuts, vegetable oils, corn, and rice. They are structurally very similar to cholesterol and are therefore able to act as a stand in for cholesterol and block its absorption, causing it to be eventually excreted. If we eat enough plant sterols, the amount of cholesterol transported from the intestinal tract to the liver is greatly reduced. And, just like pantethine’s effect on the liver, this cholesterol reduction causes the liver to pull LDL cholesterol out of the blood, which reduces both total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Because the plant sterol and pantethine found in food just aren’t enough to have much of an effect on our health, we need to take a concentrated combination of pantethine and plant sterols in just the right ratio. Plant sterols, which are bound in fibers in the plants, can not be adequately consumed even if we ate lots of raw fruits and vegetables. There are also several forms of plant sterols, with some ratios of these plant sterols being more beneficial than others. While pantethine is found in several food sources, it is hard to get beneficial amounts from our food. Manufacturers of high quality nutritional supplements offer pantethine and plant sterols in the most beneficial ratio, proven by research. The best results are found when taking a combination of 400 mg of plant sterols and 200 mg of pantethine three times a day. Recent studies have shown that lowering cholesterol in people without heart disease can greatly reduce their risk for ever developing CHD, along with heart attacks and atherosclerosis. This is also true for those with high cholesterol levels and for those with average cholesterol levels. Most physicians would never consider prescribing statin drugs to people without actual heart disease or high cholesterol levels because of the many health risks of the drugs. However, the combination of pantethine and plant sterols are very effective in helping those people with heart disease, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, as well as those just wanting the extra health insurance for their hearts. Pantethine and plant sterols are both very safe. Although some people may experience a mild upset stomach when first taking pantethine, taking the combination of pantethine and plant sterols with meals can usually solve this problem. Pantethine and plant sterols are available at your local or internet vitamin store
Because of the great efforts of the American Heart Association and other similar organizations, we have gained a lot of knowledge on cholesterol and its effects on our health. We know that high cholesterol levels increase our risk for heart attacks and strokes. We also know that lowering our cholesterol levels will reduce this risk and keep our hearts and blood vessels healthy. Additionally, we know that diet, weight loss, and exercise can help us lower our cholesterol levels. Prescription drugs that lower cholesterol have recently become available and advertised by pharmaceutical companies. However, these medications have some serious side effects including myopathy, reduction in CoQ10 levels, which can lead to heart disease, and rhabdomyaolysis, a rare, but fatal condition. Fortunately, there is a safe alternative to these prescription medications, pantethine and plant sterols, which are also known as phytosterols, are nature’s solution to high cholesterol levels
Cholesterol, a soft, waxy, fat-like substance, is found in every cell of the body. It is needed to help digest fats, strengthen cell membranes, insulate nerves, and make hormones. Made primarily by the liver, our body makes all the cholesterol that we actually need, but we also get additional cholesterol from the foods that we eat. The highest sources of cholesterol are egg yolks and organ meats including liver and kidney. Peanut butter, avocado, and all other plant-derived foods contain no cholesterol. However, all foods from animal sources do contain cholesterol. Even though cholesterol is responsible for many important functions in the body, too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can be very dangerous. Once blood cholesterol has reached high levels, it builds up on artery walls, and therefore increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Because the heart is a muscle, it needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. The bloodstream, which transports these nutrients to the heart through coronary arteries, cannot transport the oxygen if the arteries become narrowed or clogged by cholesterol and fat deposits. Depending on the severity, this can result in coronary heart disease, angina, or heart attack.
Because cholesterol and other fats can’t dissolve in the blood, they can’t travel on their own. Instead, they are transported to and from cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are two major lipoproteins: low density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol, and high density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. LDLs cause atherosclerosis because they clog up our arteries with the continual buildup of fat. On the other hand, HDL prevents fat buildup by carrying it away from the arteries to the liver, where it can be processed and eliminated.
Triglycerides, which are fats used as fuel by the body, can make the blood more sluggish and less capable of transporting oxygen when in high amounts. There are many medications prescribed by physicians for people with elevated triglyceride levels. Some of the most effective, and most harmful, are the statins. The all-natural combination of pantethine and plant sterols can safely lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels, while increasing HDL cholesterol
Pantethine, which is a form of pantothenic acid that is found in liver, salmon, and yeast, is known for its ability to lower cholesterol by blocking its production. The production of cholesterol in the human body is a very complex process, involving many biochemical reactions and enzyme activity. Pantethine inhibits several of these enzymes, blocking the activity of those coenzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis by about 50%. To compensate for the lowered cholesterol production, the liver pulls LDL out of the bloodstream, resulting in a lower total cholesterol level.
Plant sterols, which are the fats of plants, are found in nuts, vegetable oils, corn, and rice. They are structurally very similar to cholesterol and are therefore able to act as a stand in for cholesterol and block its absorption, causing it to be eventually excreted. If we eat enough plant sterols, the amount of cholesterol transported from the intestinal tract to the liver is greatly reduced. And, just like pantethine’s effect on the liver, this cholesterol reduction causes the liver to pull LDL cholesterol out of the blood, which reduces both total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Because the plant sterol and pantethine found in food just aren’t enough to have much of an effect on our health, we need to take a concentrated combination of pantethine and plant sterols in just the right ratio. Plant sterols, which are bound in fibers in the plants, can not be adequately consumed even if we ate lots of raw fruits and vegetables. There are also several forms of plant sterols, with some ratios of these plant sterols being more beneficial than others. While pantethine is found in several food sources, it is hard to get beneficial amounts from our food. Manufacturers of high quality nutritional supplements offer pantethine and plant sterols in the most beneficial ratio, proven by research. The best results are found when taking a combination of 400 mg of plant sterols and 200 mg of pantethine three times a day. Recent studies have shown that lowering cholesterol in people without heart disease can greatly reduce their risk for ever developing CHD, along with heart attacks and atherosclerosis. This is also true for those with high cholesterol levels and for those with average cholesterol levels. Most physicians would never consider prescribing statin drugs to people without actual heart disease or high cholesterol levels because of the many health risks of the drugs. However, the combination of pantethine and plant sterols are very effective in helping those people with heart disease, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, as well as those just wanting the extra health insurance for their hearts. Pantethine and plant sterols are both very safe. Although some people may experience a mild upset stomach when first taking pantethine, taking the combination of pantethine and plant sterols with meals can usually solve this problem. Pantethine and plant sterols are available at your local or internet vitamin store
Heart Disease And Cholesterol
Heart Disease And Cholesterol by Keefe Figgatt
The medical community has long believed that high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease. Few will dispute this belief, but there are other factors that can lead to severe and even fatal heart conditions.
Medical experts who took part in the Framingham Heart Study determined that high blood cholesterol is one of the factors leading to coronary heart disease or CHD.
Results of this study showed that people with higher cholesterol levels were also more likely to have coronary heart disease. In fact, it's unusual for people with low cholesterol to suffer from CHD.
The connection between high blood cholesterol and heart disease was also confirmed by another group of experts, whose studies showed that lowering the total LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) level could drastically reduce coronary heart disease.
A recent series of cholesterol trials using statin drugs showed that lowering both total and LDL cholesterol levels could greatly reduce the chance of experiencing heart attack, angioplasty (a surgical bypass) or death due to coronary heart disease-related causes.
Other factors, in addition to high cholesterol levels, can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Some of these factors can be lowered with relatively simple diet, medication or lifestyle changes, but others cannot be altered.
As you present more combined risk factors, you face a greater likelihood of experiencing heart disease.
The greatest unchangeable risk factors are as follows:
* Age (55 and over for women, 45 and over for men)
* Family medical history. If you have parents or a sibling who died from heart disease at the ages stated above, you face a higher risk
There are some risk factors that you have the power to change.
They are:
* High total cholesterol and high LDL or "bad" cholesterol poses a risk. You can also lower your HDL or "good" cholesterol levels
* Reduce your blood pressure
* Quit smoking
* Manage your diabetes. Diabetics face a higher risk of developing heart disease
* Take part in physical activity
* Lose weight. Obesity and excess weight increases your riskIf you possess one or more of these high-risk factors, see your physician for ways to take action and reduce the risk of heart attack.
Some experts insist that high blood cholesterol and heart disease are somewhat connected. Others, on the other hand, hold that too much animal fat resulting in high cholesterol contributes to heart disease.
These experts argue that there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" cholesterol.
They believe that mental stress, physical activity and a change in body weight may influence the level of the blood cholesterol, and that high blood cholesterol is not dangerous but simply a reflection of an unhealthy condition.
While the experts may disagree on the factors of cholesterol and heart disease, everyone can agree that we all need to reduce our risks and increase our quality of life
The medical community has long believed that high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease. Few will dispute this belief, but there are other factors that can lead to severe and even fatal heart conditions.
Medical experts who took part in the Framingham Heart Study determined that high blood cholesterol is one of the factors leading to coronary heart disease or CHD.
Results of this study showed that people with higher cholesterol levels were also more likely to have coronary heart disease. In fact, it's unusual for people with low cholesterol to suffer from CHD.
The connection between high blood cholesterol and heart disease was also confirmed by another group of experts, whose studies showed that lowering the total LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) level could drastically reduce coronary heart disease.
A recent series of cholesterol trials using statin drugs showed that lowering both total and LDL cholesterol levels could greatly reduce the chance of experiencing heart attack, angioplasty (a surgical bypass) or death due to coronary heart disease-related causes.
Other factors, in addition to high cholesterol levels, can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Some of these factors can be lowered with relatively simple diet, medication or lifestyle changes, but others cannot be altered.
As you present more combined risk factors, you face a greater likelihood of experiencing heart disease.
The greatest unchangeable risk factors are as follows:
* Age (55 and over for women, 45 and over for men)
* Family medical history. If you have parents or a sibling who died from heart disease at the ages stated above, you face a higher risk
There are some risk factors that you have the power to change.
They are:
* High total cholesterol and high LDL or "bad" cholesterol poses a risk. You can also lower your HDL or "good" cholesterol levels
* Reduce your blood pressure
* Quit smoking
* Manage your diabetes. Diabetics face a higher risk of developing heart disease
* Take part in physical activity
* Lose weight. Obesity and excess weight increases your riskIf you possess one or more of these high-risk factors, see your physician for ways to take action and reduce the risk of heart attack.
Some experts insist that high blood cholesterol and heart disease are somewhat connected. Others, on the other hand, hold that too much animal fat resulting in high cholesterol contributes to heart disease.
These experts argue that there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" cholesterol.
They believe that mental stress, physical activity and a change in body weight may influence the level of the blood cholesterol, and that high blood cholesterol is not dangerous but simply a reflection of an unhealthy condition.
While the experts may disagree on the factors of cholesterol and heart disease, everyone can agree that we all need to reduce our risks and increase our quality of life
High Cholesterol Something We Can Change
High Cholesterol Something We Can Change
by Lac Tran
High cholesterol levels are mainly caused by our bodies’ inability to deal with high-fat diets. Humans exercised regularly and consumed a low-fat diet for millennia.
We now have easy access to fatty and high cholesterol foods, and often our lives are sedentary. The result - 1 in 3 people in the US have high cholesterol - is inevitable.High cholesterol raises your chances of getting coronary heart disease.
If you lower cholesterol, you lower the overall risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack
If you have high cholesterol levels, cholesterol can be deposited in your coronary arteries as a plaque, where it constricts the flow of blood and contributes to coronary heart disease.
When you lower cholesterol, you can slow, stop, and reverse the buildup of plaque. When you lower cholesterol, you also reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Even in people who have already suffered a heart attack, the chances of having future attacks can be substantially reduced if they lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance, a kind of lipid packaged inside a lipoprotein that your body needs to produce certain hormones, digestive bile, and vitamin D.
A large amount of brain tissue is made up of cholesterol as it insulates the nerves. You need cholesterol to live.There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL, or low density lipoprotein (also called “bad” cholesterol), and HDL, or high density lipoprotein (also called “good” cholesterol).
If you want to lower cholesterol, you look at the total of LDL added to HDL, but you also look at individual levels of LDL and HDL. *You want to lower LDL and total cholesterol, and raise HDL.
Often people with high cholesterol also have high triglycerides, another type of lipid. Lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol, lower triglycerides as well, and all this together improves overall health.
To discover whether you need to lower cholesterol, you need a “fasting lipid profile,” or cholesterol test. Ask your physician for a test if you think you may have high cholesterol.
There are 10 good ways to lower cholesterol:
1. Reduce weight if you are overweight.
2. Eat six or more meals/snacks in small portions and well-spaced throughout the day.
3. Eat monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as canola and olive oils, nuts and seeds.
4. Eat legumes, low- or non-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other high-fiber foods.
5. Reduce saturated-fat foods such as meats, cheese, butter, baked goods, fried foods; high cholesterol foods such as butter, cheese, and meats; trans-fat foods such as processed foods with partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated oils.
6. Fast three hours before bedtime.
7. Drink lots of water.
8. Exercise daily to manage stress
9. Follow your doctor’s advice regarding medication.
10. Take supplements that lower cholesterol.
Heart disease kills more men and women in the U.S. than any other disease. Over one million Americans have heart attacks annually; half a million people die from heart disease.
The 1994 study, “Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study,” found that lowering cholesterol can prevent heart attacks and reduce death in men and women who already have heart disease and high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is usually something we can change, and during the process of change we become healthier.
by Lac Tran
High cholesterol levels are mainly caused by our bodies’ inability to deal with high-fat diets. Humans exercised regularly and consumed a low-fat diet for millennia.
We now have easy access to fatty and high cholesterol foods, and often our lives are sedentary. The result - 1 in 3 people in the US have high cholesterol - is inevitable.High cholesterol raises your chances of getting coronary heart disease.
If you lower cholesterol, you lower the overall risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack
If you have high cholesterol levels, cholesterol can be deposited in your coronary arteries as a plaque, where it constricts the flow of blood and contributes to coronary heart disease.
When you lower cholesterol, you can slow, stop, and reverse the buildup of plaque. When you lower cholesterol, you also reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Even in people who have already suffered a heart attack, the chances of having future attacks can be substantially reduced if they lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance, a kind of lipid packaged inside a lipoprotein that your body needs to produce certain hormones, digestive bile, and vitamin D.
A large amount of brain tissue is made up of cholesterol as it insulates the nerves. You need cholesterol to live.There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL, or low density lipoprotein (also called “bad” cholesterol), and HDL, or high density lipoprotein (also called “good” cholesterol).
If you want to lower cholesterol, you look at the total of LDL added to HDL, but you also look at individual levels of LDL and HDL. *You want to lower LDL and total cholesterol, and raise HDL.
Often people with high cholesterol also have high triglycerides, another type of lipid. Lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol, lower triglycerides as well, and all this together improves overall health.
To discover whether you need to lower cholesterol, you need a “fasting lipid profile,” or cholesterol test. Ask your physician for a test if you think you may have high cholesterol.
There are 10 good ways to lower cholesterol:
1. Reduce weight if you are overweight.
2. Eat six or more meals/snacks in small portions and well-spaced throughout the day.
3. Eat monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as canola and olive oils, nuts and seeds.
4. Eat legumes, low- or non-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other high-fiber foods.
5. Reduce saturated-fat foods such as meats, cheese, butter, baked goods, fried foods; high cholesterol foods such as butter, cheese, and meats; trans-fat foods such as processed foods with partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated oils.
6. Fast three hours before bedtime.
7. Drink lots of water.
8. Exercise daily to manage stress
9. Follow your doctor’s advice regarding medication.
10. Take supplements that lower cholesterol.
Heart disease kills more men and women in the U.S. than any other disease. Over one million Americans have heart attacks annually; half a million people die from heart disease.
The 1994 study, “Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study,” found that lowering cholesterol can prevent heart attacks and reduce death in men and women who already have heart disease and high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is usually something we can change, and during the process of change we become healthier.
Plant Fats Reduce Cholesterol
Plant Fats Reduce Cholesterol by Ethan Miller
New research published last October in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that patients with high cholesterol who are take high-dose statin drugs may reduce the damage to their hearts by supplementing their diets with foods rich in plant sterols.
High cholesterol -- hypercholesterolaemia –causes cardiovascular disease. Heart disease causes 50 percent of deaths in Europe, and costs the EU $202 billion each year
The new research confirms previous studies by claiming that patients with high cholesterol can reduce their cholesterol levels by 8 to 17 percent by consuming 1.5 to 3 grams of plant sterols or stanols every day, which translates to a reduction in the risk of heart disease.
Researchers from the University Medical Centre Utrecht and the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands studied 20 hypercholesterolaemic patients who took the daily maximum dose of statin drugs -- atorvastatin or simvastatin, 80 mg.
The study split the participants into two groups: the first received 3 grams of plant stanol-enriched margarine per day (Johnson & Johnson brand Benecol) for six weeks, and the second group received stanol-free margarine each day for six weeks.
Both margarines contained 62 percent fat. At the end of the trial, the group given stanol-enriched margarine had a 9.9 percent reduction in plasma cholesterol and a 15.6 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol. Their levels of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) -- responsible for transporting cholesterol to tissues -- dropped by 10.8 percent.
Conversely, the control group only experienced a 7.7 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol remained the same, and ApoB levels fell by 6.8 percent. "Intensive dietary intervention with addition of plant stanols results in clinically relevant reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients optimally treated with statins, compared with similar patients on statins receiving only standard care," the researchers wrote.
Mike Adams, author of "Grocery Warning," says this research should indicate to patients that plant stanols and sterols can actually replace statin drugs
"Statin drugs are dangerous chemicals that can produce extremely harmful -- even fatal -- side effects," Adams said. "Replacing them with plant-based medicines under the care of a naturopathic physician can greatly improve the health of patients while greatly reducing the cost of their treatment." Source: Newtarget.com
Some of these cholesterol lowering drugs have negative side effects such as memory loss, muscle fatigue, CoQ10 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, sex hormone depletion and adrenal depletion.
This research confirms what naturalists have been telling the health industry for a decade. It is not eating fat that increases cholesterol. Eating animal fat increases cholesterol. In fact, switching from animal fat to plant fat can actually lower cholesterol.
Plant fats from avocados, almonds, pecans, peanuts, chia seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, and so on. If it's from the plant world, the fat is good for you – in moderation.
The trick is to eat ‘raw’ fats, not cooked fats. One serving of raw almonds a day can reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke by 53 percent, according to the research quoted by Mike Adams.
And raw nuts and seeds offer plenty of calcium, to replace dairy products. Chia seeds and almonds are both good sources of calcium.
The medical community is working toward finding healthy methods of lowering cholesterol but self-empowerment and personal responsibility is still the defining factor in survival rates
New research published last October in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that patients with high cholesterol who are take high-dose statin drugs may reduce the damage to their hearts by supplementing their diets with foods rich in plant sterols.
High cholesterol -- hypercholesterolaemia –causes cardiovascular disease. Heart disease causes 50 percent of deaths in Europe, and costs the EU $202 billion each year
The new research confirms previous studies by claiming that patients with high cholesterol can reduce their cholesterol levels by 8 to 17 percent by consuming 1.5 to 3 grams of plant sterols or stanols every day, which translates to a reduction in the risk of heart disease.
Researchers from the University Medical Centre Utrecht and the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands studied 20 hypercholesterolaemic patients who took the daily maximum dose of statin drugs -- atorvastatin or simvastatin, 80 mg.
The study split the participants into two groups: the first received 3 grams of plant stanol-enriched margarine per day (Johnson & Johnson brand Benecol) for six weeks, and the second group received stanol-free margarine each day for six weeks.
Both margarines contained 62 percent fat. At the end of the trial, the group given stanol-enriched margarine had a 9.9 percent reduction in plasma cholesterol and a 15.6 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol. Their levels of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) -- responsible for transporting cholesterol to tissues -- dropped by 10.8 percent.
Conversely, the control group only experienced a 7.7 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol remained the same, and ApoB levels fell by 6.8 percent. "Intensive dietary intervention with addition of plant stanols results in clinically relevant reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients optimally treated with statins, compared with similar patients on statins receiving only standard care," the researchers wrote.
Mike Adams, author of "Grocery Warning," says this research should indicate to patients that plant stanols and sterols can actually replace statin drugs
"Statin drugs are dangerous chemicals that can produce extremely harmful -- even fatal -- side effects," Adams said. "Replacing them with plant-based medicines under the care of a naturopathic physician can greatly improve the health of patients while greatly reducing the cost of their treatment." Source: Newtarget.com
Some of these cholesterol lowering drugs have negative side effects such as memory loss, muscle fatigue, CoQ10 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, sex hormone depletion and adrenal depletion.
This research confirms what naturalists have been telling the health industry for a decade. It is not eating fat that increases cholesterol. Eating animal fat increases cholesterol. In fact, switching from animal fat to plant fat can actually lower cholesterol.
Plant fats from avocados, almonds, pecans, peanuts, chia seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, and so on. If it's from the plant world, the fat is good for you – in moderation.
The trick is to eat ‘raw’ fats, not cooked fats. One serving of raw almonds a day can reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke by 53 percent, according to the research quoted by Mike Adams.
And raw nuts and seeds offer plenty of calcium, to replace dairy products. Chia seeds and almonds are both good sources of calcium.
The medical community is working toward finding healthy methods of lowering cholesterol but self-empowerment and personal responsibility is still the defining factor in survival rates
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