Control Cholesterol Naturally

March 25, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Blood Cholesterol is produced by our body for several purposes.In some people it is produced more than is required by our body,especially when the diet contains saturated fats. Saturated fats in the diet force the body to make too much cholesterol. The cholesterolmay become high when our diet is rich in saturated fats that are found only in animal products. Plant foods do not contain any cholesterol, but the animal foods are loaded with cholesterol and fats. Most of the fast foods are very rich in fats, monounsaturated fats. If youeat lot of meats and fast foods, then the chances are that you have high cholesterol. You should get your blood cholesterol checked. Remember that without your blood cholesterol report, you can not know if you have high cholesterol.

Blood cholesterol can be both good and bad. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol & HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol is knownas “bad cholesterol” because it gets deposited on the walls of thearteries as plaque, and restricting the flow of the blood. The HDL cholesterol, known as the “good cholesterol” helps remove the plaquefrom the arteries. Both the types of cholesterol are produced by ourbody for certain functions and are always present in our blood. The problem arises when the cholesterol is produced more than is required by our body. The following are the desirable levels of cholesterol in adults:

Total Cholesterol: below 200 mg/dlLDL cholesterol: less than 130 mg/dLHDL cholesterol: more than 35mg/dL

HDL cholesterol of less than 35mg/dL is a risk factor for heart disease, even if your total cholesterol is within limits. Both LDL and HDL cholesterol can be improved with regular exercise and eating low fat cholesterol friendly foods.

To take better care of your heart and reducing your risk for heart attack, you must understand the complete facts about cholesterol and howto control cholesterol.

Note that you do not always need to take medication to lower cholesterol. There are several natural heart friendly foods that are good for controlling cholesterol without any medication. Good eating habits and some exercise can control your cholesterol and triglycerides naturally.

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Copyright 2004 P. Mehta http://www.fatfreekitchen.com

Author: P. Mehta
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Is Cholesterol Truly Bad For You?

March 23, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

A misguided fallacy that persists to this day is the belief that dietary cholesterol from saturated fats increases your risk of heart attacks. The anti-saturated fat propaganda was started in the late 1950s by the American vegetable oil industry, in competition with the traditional fats like butter, lard (pork fat), and beef tallow (rendered beef fat).

As partially hydrogenated vegetable oils became more and more widely used and traditional fats shunned, we began to see an epidemic of heart attacks. The medical community initially blamed dietary cholesterol from saturated fats as the cause of the problem.

It was not until the late 1980s when the Canadian government first reported on the adverse effects of trans fat (product of partially hydrogentated vegetable oils) on blood cholesterol. Then finally in 1992, the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) acknowledged that heart disease, breast and prostate cancers are related to increased intakes of trans fat.

Dietary cholesterol is not associated with high blood cholesterol and risk of heart attacks. High blood cholesterol is the result of eating too much trans fat and having too much inflammation in your body.

Role Of Cholesterol In Our Body

The saturated fats from animal sources like meat, eggs, dairy products, and seafood contain cholesterol. For decades we have been avoiding dietary cholesterol for fear of high blood cholesterol and heart attacks. The truth is that our body actually requires a great deal of cholesterol for proper functioning. It is not even possible for us to eat enough cholesterol-containing foods every day to supply the amount that is needed for proper functioning.

First, the intestinal cells absorb less than half of the cholesterol that we eat.

Second, cholesterol from food sources only makes up about 20% of our body’s daily cholesterol needs, our liver has to produce the other 80%. When there is no cholesterol in the diet, as in the case for strict vegetarians, the body’s cholesterol synthesis becomes very active.

Cholesterol is vital for many body functions. We cannot survive without cholesterol.

Cholesterol plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of all our cells. It helps the cell membranes keep their proper shape.

Cholesterol in the skin is used in the process of vitamin D production.

Cholesterol helps the liver produce bile acids. These acids are essential for digestion of fats.

Cholesterol ensures that our brain (made of mainly saturated fats and cholesterol) functions properly by aiding the route of electrical impulses. Without it, we would have difficulty focusing and we might lose memory.

Cholesterol plays an important role in the formation of sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Cholesterol acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us deal with stress.

Cholesterol acts as an antioxidant against free radical attack.

Cholesterol is used by the body as a raw material for the healing process. This is the reason the injured areas in the arteries (as in atherosclerosis) have cholesterol along with several other components such as calcium and collagen in the scar tissue.

We now know that coronary heart disease is caused by damage to the lining of our arteries. When damage occurs, chemicals are released to initiate the process of inflammation. Our liver manufactures cholesterol, then transports it through the bloodstream to repair the damaged tissue. If the damage is excessive, extra cholesterol will be distributed. Ultimately, scars, which we call plague, form inside our arteries.

Understanding Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol is sometimes called a fat, but in reality it is a special kind of alcohol. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood; therefore, it is transported in the circulatory system within carriers called lipoproteins (packages of fat and protein). There are many different types of lipoproteins within the blood; the two most abundant types are the high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and the low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The cholesterol within all the various lipoproteins is identical.

Many call HDL the “good” cholesterol because it takes old cholesterol that has been discarded by cells from the arteries back to the liver for recycling or excretion. Having large numbers of HDL particles correlates with good health. LDL, on the other hand, is usually called the “bad” cholesterol because it transports cholesterol from the liver to the damaged tissues. Having large numbers of LDL particles is an indication of inflammation and is strongly associated with accumulation of plague in the arteries.

Preventing Chronic Inflammation

Since inflammation is the cause of high blood cholesterol, having your blood tested for C-reactive protein (CRP) is an outstanding way to screen for hidden inflammation.

There are many nutritional and lifestyle approaches to reducing inflammation:

Avoid all trans fat. A process called “partial hydrogenation” converts liquid vegetable oils into a man-made fat that has better functional characteristics for cooking, frying, and baking. Trans fat is detrimental because it lowers HDL (good) cholesterol and raises blood levels of Lp(a). It has become the mainstream of processed foods due to its lower cost and longer shelf life.

Avoid using margarine and hydrogenated vegetable oils made from canola, corn, safflower, soybean, and sunflower. Trans fat is also found in many baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, snack chips and deep fried foods such as doughnuts, fried chicken, and French fries.

Increase intake of omega-3 fats and reduce intake of omega-6 fats. Omega-3 fats are anti-inflammatory and omega-6 fats are pro-inflammatory but both are essential fatty acids required by the body. In our modern day diet, we just consume too much of the omega-6s (mostly from processed foods) and not enough of the omega-3s.

Best sources of omega-3 fats are fatty, cold-water fish or a high-quality, mercury and toxin-free fish oil. Flaxseed oil which contains alpha linolenic acid (ALA), the precursor of omega-3 fats, is not as preferable since many people are not effective in the conversion of ALA to omega-3s.

Omega-6 fats are found in vegetable oils such as corn, evening primrose, hemp, safflower, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. If you choose to use vegetable oils, only buy the cold-pressed version (all cold-pressed oils are expeller-pressed, but expeller-pressed oils are not necessarily cold-pressed) as high temperature processing always results in the formation of free radicals which depletes your body’s antioxidant storage.

Avoid foods cooked at high temperatures and charred meats.

Optimize your insulin levels by eliminating sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup) and refined carbohydrates. Stick to low-glycemic, high-fiber carbohydrates.

Optimize your vitamin D levels. A simple blood test called “25(OH) vitamin D” will give you a good indication. If necessary, take an oral supplement of D3 (cholecalciferol).

Start exercising at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. When you exercise, you increase your blood circulation throughout the body and your immune system gets strengthened.

Don’t stress. If you cannot reduce it, find ways to cope with it.

If you drink, limit to one alcoholic drink a day for women and two for men.

Do not smoke.

The Bottom Line

The amount of cholesterol that we eat is not associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Our body requires much cholesterol for many vital functions.

Our body has very active cholesterol synthesis capability to supplement whatever shortfall in our diet.

If you are not allergic to eggs, it is okay to eat one whole egg every day.

Trans fat is the worse of all fats. Do not use margarine; use a traditional fat such as butter instead. Avoid foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Stay away from deep fried foods and commercial baked goods. Be aware of the type of oil used in your favorite restaurants.

Accumulation of plague in arteries is an indication of chronic inflammation in your body.

Increase intake of omega-3s from fatty, cold water fish.

Reduce intake of omega-6s by consuming less vegetable oils and processed foods.

Exercise, reduce stress, drink moderately, and do not smoke.

Author: Carol Chuang
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The Cholesterol Myth Simplified

March 20, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Anybody over the age of 50 probably feels that for the past twenty years or so, they’ve been continually hammered with advice to reduce the amount of cholesterol in their diet so as to prevent atherosclerosis (thickening of the arteries) and the likelihood of death from a stroke or heart-attack. Doctors, Nutritionists, the Giant Food-Producers and the Government remind us that “fat is a killer” and if we ignore their advice we’ll be damned to suffer the mortal effects of heart disease.

It would be logical to assume then, that the advice is sound, well-reasoned and can be backed up by scientific research. But, behind the scenes the evidence doesn’t seem to be as clear-cut as the propaganda proclaims. According to medical researchers, much of the findings on Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) have been misinterpreted, promulgated falsely and where truth indicates the contrary, covered up.

In the mid 1920’s when the predicted life-expectancy was 60 years of age, coronary heart disease (CHD) had already become a major and unexplained health problem in some of the industrialized countries. Deficiency diseases such as rickets beriberi, pellagra and scurvy were also epidemic.

After decades of in-depth food research during which time vitamins, micro-nutrients and the constituents of protein were discovered, just before the advent of World War II in 1939, the British Medical Association released a report encouraging people to eat more eggs, meat and dairy products (the BMA Diet) to ensure that the full spectrum of vitamins and other essential nutrients were being consumed on a daily basis.

Free, “full-cream” school milk programs were instituted and long before the introduction of antibiotics and childhood immunization, the improved diet seemed to have eliminated most of the deficiency-diseases and dramatically reduced the incidence of the childhood diseases such as measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and diphtheria.

Other countries followed the British lead.

From the end of World War 2 in 1945 until 1975, due to the availability of cheap, sweetened, processed foods, Americans had doubled the amount of sugar in their diet to a whopping 118 pounds per person per year and rising. The amount of unhealthy, trans-isomer fats from fried fast-foods had also increased exponentially. At the same time, the “modern” diseases emerged: allergies, asthma, attention deficit disorder, cancer and the diseases of excess − obesity and diabetes. Atherosclerosis and heart-disease were again on the rise.

Years earlier, in 1951, as a result of pathological research performed on American soldiers killed in the Korean War it had been discovered that 75% of them, with an average age of only twenty-one years, exhibited extreme examples of advanced heart-disease with significant numbers having at least one coronary artery completely blocked by a fatty, fibrous substance containing cholesterol. Yet none of those affected had shown any symptoms of heart disease. Most alarming was the fact that historically, death from heart disease seldom occurred in anybody younger than 50 years of age.

Because autopsies on older people who died from heart disease often had higher levels of blood-cholesterol than what was considered “normal” at the time, and sufferers of a fairly rare and usually hereditary disease called “familial hyper-cholesterolaemia” also seemed to suffer more from coronary heart disease, and the fact that cholesterol is present in most fats, it was hypothesized that fat and cholesterol might be to blame for heart-disease and atherosclerosis.

However, people suffering with myxo-edema (hypo-thyroidism and excessive weight gain) or nephrosis (lesions of the epithelial lining of the renal tubules) also have elevated blood cholesterol levels but they don’t have any higher incidence of coronary heart disease than the general population. Nor does high blood-cholesterol in people over 60 years of age predict CHD.

By 1990, however, thanks to the improved health resulting from the BMA Diet, life expectancy had climbed from the estimated 60 years of age pre-World War II, to 75 years of age by 1990. But in the United States of America, coronary heart disease was raging out of control. The finger of culpability was again pointed at the excess fat in the fried foods consumed by Americans.

Almost forty years after the Korean War autopsies to pin America’s heart-disease problem specifically on “fat” and “cholesterol” in the diet? What was completely ignored was the fact that Mediterranean countries, where people ate a lot more high-cholesterol foods, didn’t suffer anywhere near the same level of heart-disease as Americans did. No thought was given to the possibility that there might be “good” fat and “bad” fat or some other contributing factors!

Without any credible evidence, simply because eggs, meat and dairy products contained fats and cholesterol, it was proclaimed that those same foods were causing heart disease!

How could that be? What’s the basis for the accusation? Simply a hypothesis? Didn’t the BMA advise us to increase consumption of those same foods? What about the eradication of the diseases of deficiency?

Now, even though research has proven that not all fats are treated the same way in the body and we know a certain amount of dietary fat is essential for good health, the establishment still blames fat and cholesterol in general, for the ongoing heart-disease problem.

Well, what, exactly, is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat manufactured within the biological systems of all animals and is essential for life. The human body uses large quantities of cholesterol every day and the substance is so important that, with the exception of the brain, all cells have the ability to make it from simpler substances within the body. It plays a role in intra-cellular transport, cell signaling and nerve to brain conduction. As body-cells die, cholesterol is a major building block from which the new cell-walls are made. It’s also used to make hormones (including the sex hormones), bile acids and, in conjunction with sunlight on the skin, vitamin D 3.

Much of the information on how cholesterol functioned within the human system hadn’t even been discovered when it was blamed as the cause of heart-disease!

It’s fair to say that cholesterol is one of the most important substances in the body. So, cholesterol, in and of itself, is not bad. In fact, for every 150 pounds (68 kg) of body-weight, there naturally exists within the human system 3,500 mg of cholesterol. Each day, approximately 1,000 mg is synthesized to replace whatever had been used in normal arterial repair and cellular activities.

However, cholesterol is also found in food, the best dietary sources being eggs, meat and dairy products. If we ingest more than the necessary 1,000 mg, our organs simply produce less so as to maintain the normal chemical balance. If our daily diet provides 250 mg of cholesterol, the “system” absorbs about 200 mg of it and passes the rest through as waste and will only synthesize 800 mg. There is no evidence that all dietary cholesterol ends up in the blood supply. And if less cholesterol is ingested, the system compensates by making more, especially when the demand for arterial repair is excessive due to a faulty diet deficient in a usable form of Vitamin C.

We are the only animal that does not synthesize its own Vitamin C and it’s the one vitamin that’s essential to keep our skin and the arterial walls flexible and healthy. Damage to arteries can be caused by infectious bacteria or viruses and when a weakness in a wall is detected, cholesterol is transported directly from the liver within a Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) transporter and used to patch over the weak spot. After the repair is complete and Vitamin C levels are restored, High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) transport the used cholesterol back to the liver for recycling.

Over time, if the infection continues and Vitamin C levels are not normalized, excessive cholesterol patches may build up to the point where they block blood flow in the arteries. Those arterial blockages can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Even though most cardiovascular disease becomes evident after the age of 60, statistically, most people over that age with elevated levels of cholesterol have fewer heart attacks than those with low cholesterol. It’s also been shown that low levels of cholesterol put the body’s immune-system at risk.

So, we know that an excessive build-up of cholesterol can cause blockages to the blood supply but we also know that the system manufactures it in response to weaknesses and lesions in the arteries through which the blood flows. Clinical studies have shown that less than 20% of dietary cholesterol is absorbed into the blood-stream and the level of cholesterol in the blood is hardly affected by the amount of it in the foods we eat. So, regardless of how much cholesterol there might be in the diet, all of it is not absorbed into the blood-stream and there’s no research to prove that dietary cholesterol causes elevated blood-cholesterol.

The actual and more significant causes of coronary heart disease leading to high blood-cholesterol being the messenger of the problem, are:

Tobacco use

Lack of exercise

Obesity

Diabetes

Stress

Hereditary factors

Faulty diet, high in simple carbohydrates.

If all of those are corrected, cholesterol levels normalize.

So, it’s not a matter of what’s in the diet, but more a case of what’s not being provided either through deficiency in the diet or poor absorption. Instead of basing the blame on a flawed hypothesis, wouldn’t it be a stronger “hypothesis” to blame the cholesterol build-up on the underlying cause due to the dietary deficiency that triggered the body to make more cholesterol than on the cholesterol itself?
If a car is leaking gasoline due to a rusted out fuel tank, is the gasoline the problem?

Instead of laying the blame on an essential, natural substance and merely eliminating the messenger (high blood-cholesterol) of a more serious potential problem − atherosclerosis or heart disease, wouldn’t it make more sense to attack the cause of the excessive cholesterol build-up, which, would seem to be an ongoing weakness or damage in the artery walls possibly caused by a nutrient or vitamin deficiency.

Yet Government Agencies, food companies and the media continue to warn against “fat and cholesterol in the diet”. And, in so doing, instead of addressing the cause of the problem (dietary deficiencies) they’re merely treating a symptom (the excessive build-up of cholesterol) with drugs and the complete elimination of some of the most essential nutrients for our continued health and well-being.

Author: Luigi Kleinsasser
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Testing Cholesterol Level

March 17, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is a substance which is found naturally in our blood and as a part of cell membranes. It is made by our liver but we can also get it with food we eat – animal products like meats, dairy fats, and egg yolks. Cholesterol is needed to make hormones and vitamin D. But cholesterol can also contribute to plaque formation in our blood vessels, a process called atherosclerosis and to increased risk of heart disease. In general cholesterol levels are largely determined by genetics – having a low level of cholesterol in our blood is natural and healthy but having a high cholesterol level can be dangerous.

To understand how cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis and heart disease, we should first understand where it is present and how it is carried around our body. Cholesterol is transported in the bloodstream with lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are special proteins of which two types are important in cholesterol transportation. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) transport cholesterol away from blood vessels (good for us), while low-density lipoproteins (LDL) can penetrate walls of our blood vessels, deposit cholesterol and form plaque (bad for us).

There are also other types of lipoproteins like very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are similar to low-density lipoproteins, but can more easily penetrate walls of our blood vessels; intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) like very-low-density lipoproteins, these also carry triglycerides and cholesterol; and chylomicrons which carry only a small percentage of cholesterol and are mostly rich in triglycerides (another type of fat).

High levels of LDL, IDL and VLDL lipoproteins contribute to increased risk of heart attack because these types of lipoproteins actually harm arteries. On the other hand, higher levels of HDL lipoproteins reduce risk of heart attack because these lipoproteins transport cholesterol away from the blood stream.

To keep cholesterol at safe levels we should focus on reducing LDLs while increasing HDLs. This can usually be done by taking care of what kind of food we eat. In order to know if we need to regulate our cholesterol level we should first measure it. For people older than 20 years it is advised to test cholesterol level every 5 years and adults over 45 years should have cholesterol test every few years.

The level of cholesterol in our blood is determined with a blood test. It can be done clinically or at home. There are many home cholesterol test kits available. Some tests measure only the total cholesterol level while others can measure also HDL and LDL levels. The cholesterol level in our blood is measured in units mmol/l. It is important to measure both types, LDL and HDL, because their ratio is also important – LDL to HDL ratio should be less than 4. Sometimes also the Cholesterol/HDL ratio is calculated. It is determined by dividing the total cholesterol level by the HDL cholesterol level and for most people this ratio should be below 5:1. The ideal Cholesterol/HDL ratio is below 3.5:1.

Normal cholesterol levels are the following:

  • Total cholesterol level: less than 5.5 mmol/l
  • LDL level: less than 3.5 mmol/l
  • HDL level: greater than 1.0 mmol/l
  • LDL to HDL ratio: less than 4
  • Triglycerides level: less than 2.0 mmol/l

Cholesterol level can be lowered naturally. Foods rich in soluble fiber like fruits and vegetables, in particular citrus fruits and apples, have been shown to help decrease blood cholesterol level by binding it to fibers and thus preventing it from being absorbed into the body. Patients who have not improved their cholesterol levels with natural ways like with dietary and lifestyle changes can use cholesterol medications to regulate their cholesterol level.

Before investing in home cholesterol test kits, we should consult our doctor. Even when cholesterol testing is done by trained professionals in a lab, there can be significant variability in test results. The variability may be even greater with home cholesterol test kits, especially if we’re not fasting when we take the test. Home cholesterol test kits are widely available. They are practical, we can easily determine our total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels in few minutes. However, we should be also aware of the accuracy of such home tests. Usually it is at least 95% but can vary. And we should also remember that home cholesterol tests don’t replace clinical cholesterol tests – nor do they offer an overall assessment of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Author: Jan Pascal
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Causes of High Cholesterol – The Causes and Tips to Reduce High Cholesterol

March 14, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

The causes of high cholesterol are numerous and common. If you don’t have high cholesterol and your looking for a preventative measure, I applaud you and your efforts. Prevention is the best solution.

There is a tipping point at a certain level where you enter a danger zone. Although it takes years of bad habits and age to amplify the problem, cholesterol only becomes a problem at a certain point. At this high point, you have to start changing your diet and exercise in order to prevent heart disease. The problem is you are no longer allowed to have a balanced diet. People with high cholesterol are told to avoid high cholesterol foods and for some, this is the only source of protein and important nutrients.

Your job is to understand what causes high cholesterol in order to keep your levels at bay. The first aspect of cholesterol that everyone needs to know about is that their are 2 different types.

Good Cholesterol (Also known as, HDL cholesterol) – This is the type of cholesterol in the body that removes extra cholesterol from the body. You see, the body needs cholesterol to form cell membranes, produce vitamin D, produce bile to digest fat, and many other things. You don’t need too much cholesterol in order to follow through on these different processes. Your body uses HDL cholesterol in order to remove all the extra.

Bad Cholesterol (Also known as, LDL cholesterol) – This is the type of cholesterol that brings cholesterol to the rest of the body. Out of all the causes of high cholesterol, this has to be one of the most prominent. This type sends cholesterol to the cells. It is more likely to be turned into plaque by free radicals. When your cholesterol turns into plaque, it builds up on the artery walls. one day when your not aware, the bubble of plaque bursts and unleashes blobs of fat that get stuck and have the tendency to cause a heart attack.

The causes of high cholesterol really have to do a lot with the different types of cholesterol.

1. Overeating Saturated Fat Foods

If you eat foods with high saturated fat content, you are at a high risk for high cholesterol. Ingesting saturated fat always increases the level of cholesterol the body produces. The liver understands that their is more fat to process so it creates more cholesterol to take care of it. Remember, cholesterol is used in the production of bile. Since bile is necessary in order to process fat, cholesterol is required in order to produce bile.

In addition, fat is also turned into triglycerides or the basic form that is stored in the body. Cholesterol is required to transport this to the cells. Again, the more fat eaten, the more that has to be stored in the body. This is an additional burden that has to be carried through the blood and increases the constant level of cholesterol.

2. Lack of exercise

This is another one of the larger causes of high cholesterol in the body. Exercise is shown to increase levels of good cholesterol in the body. If you don’t exercise, your good cholesterol will ultimately me lower. If your good cholesterol level is low, there is not enough of it to transport all the excess out of your body.

3. Genetics

Studies have shown that genetics has a lot to do with different cholesterol levels. Even if you stay on a healthy diet and exercise, you can still have high cholesterol. This is one of the causes of high cholesterol that is very difficult to explain and treat.

Now that you know what it takes to reach high levels of cholesterol, try to prevent that from ever happening by keeping fit, eating healthy foods, and above all, by taking the right supplement. If you are at risk for high cholesterol, it is recommended that your daily supplement be specific for high cholesterol. Studies have shown the preventative powers of cholesterol lowering supplements. Their ingredients are a special blend of different cholesterol managing substances, vitamins, and minerals.

Author: George Christodoulou
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High Cholesterol Ldl Hdl And The Best Diet To Lower Cholesterol And Reach Healthy Cholesterol Levels

March 11, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

It is time to clear up the confusion once and for all.

If suddenly all of the cholesterol in your body disappeared, you would literally melt into the floor like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz.  You would melt because the “structural framework” of the cell is made almost entirely of cholesterol, and without the structural framework the cell would collapse,  This waxy-alcohol is so important to so many life processes, that besides it being available in animal-based foods, your body makes it in two specific ways.

First, every day your liver makes cholesterol and sends it streaming into your blood where, ideally, it is absorbed into the cells where it is needed.  Anything not taken into the cell for use is transported back to the liver where it is recycled or simply eliminated.  It is important to note that every cell in your body has the ability to make what it needs internally, and every cell in your body has the ability to grab in out of the the blood and bring it into the cell for use.

Your total cholesterol is determined primarily by whether your cells make it internally, or instead, gather what is needed directly from the blood. 

Consuming cholesterol containing foods is NOT a factor in determining if the cells make it internally or gather it from the blood. Numerous studies document the fact that even  massive changes in egg, meat, and any animal-source food consumption, up or down, have only a minor effect on total level measured by your doctor. .

Two Ways Your Cells Get What They Need

  1. Cells make it internally, which means it is not gathered from the blood, and/or;
  2. The cells do not make it internally and instead, send cell receptors, (kind of like a catchers mitt), from deep inside the cell to the surface of the cell to grab what is needed from the blood and bring it back inside the cell.

The only reason your liver makes cholesterol is to send it cruising through your blood so the cells can grab what they need.  Too bad the liver and the cells don’t communicate because the liver makes it every day regardless of whether or not the cells harvest it from the blood.

  • If your cells make it internally, then no cell receptors, (remember the catchers mitt) are sent to gather cholesterol from the blood, and blood levels increase.
  • If instead of making it internally, the cell gather what’s needed from the blood, then blood levels typically remain low.

The cells don’t care how they get what they need BUT YOU SHOULD because there is a correlation between elevated levels and heart health.

Much of the confusion on this topic has to do with the fact that consuming cholesterol-rich foods has only a very small effect on determining total blood levels. Your liver manufacturers about 2000 mg. of cholesterol every day.  If you enjoy foods that contain it, the liver simply does not make as much. 

If you get 1000 mg. in your diet, the liver only makes 1000 mg., giving you a total of 2000 mg for the day.  If you consume zero for 24 hours,  your liver makes 2000 mg for the day, if you consume 1500 mg. in food, your liver only makes 500 mg. more for the day.  You get the idea.  If you don’t get cholesterol in food, your liver makes it.  If you do get it in food, your liver makes 2000 mg, minus the amount you consumed that day.

The bottom line is,  food accounts for a maximum of 20% of your total at any given time, which means 80% of the reason for a high, low  or normal total HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONSUME CHOLESTEROL CONTAINING FOODS, which means trying to control your total level by rigorously avoiding animal-based food products is a misguided and highly inefficient approach.

The key to healthy numbers is to get the cell to gather what it needs out of the blood and NOT produce cholesterol internally.

By gathering from  the blood, total blood levels typically stays well within a healthy range, and the important HDL to LDL ratios also stay in the healthy range.

A specific enzyme with a long, complicated name controls the manufacture of cholesterol inside the cells.  When this enzyme IS ACTIVE then LDL is made inside the cell and little or none is scavenged from the blood.  If the enzyme IS NOT ACTIVE, then little if any is made inside the cell and what is needed is harvested directly out of the blood, which of course lowers the total blood level.

Better yet, low density lipoprotein, (LDL), often considered bad, is what the cell gathers from the blood which means the total lowers and the so called bad, lowers the most.

Popular prescription drug work the same way, except with horrific side effects. The drugs work by inhibiting the enzyme that activates cellular production, because if there is no internal production, the cell will gathers what it needs directly from the blood, naturally lowering blood levels.

The secret to establish and maintain normal, healthy levels is to ACTIVATE cells to sweep it out of the blood and NATURALLY DEACTIVATE the enzyme that causes cells to make it internally.

The “secret” is really no secret at all; in fact any medical physiology textbook clearly explains that the metabolic hormones insulin and glucagon are the two hormones that regulate the rate of cholesterol synthesis inside the cells.

Insulin activates the enzyme that causes cells to make cholesterol internally.  This means that if blood-insulin levels become elevated for any reason, the cells immediately begin to make it internally and stop gathering from the blood, which leads to higher numbers.

The metabolic hormone glucagon has exactly the opposite affect; glucagon inhibits the enzyme that causes production inside the cell.  If the cell does not make it internally, cell receptors go to the surface of the cell and gather directly from the blood, which means your total will, in all probability, be normal.

This is not new information and is well known cellular biochemistry, in fact it is the EXACT biochemistry that expensive side-effect laden drugs are based on.

Lowering Cholesterol Naturally With Dietary Change

Eat in a way that avoids the production of excess insulin and odds are your everything your doctor measures in a blood test will improve; there will in all probability be less of anything your doctor considers bad and more of everything your doctor considers good, and except for eating eating a little differently, it will seem effortless on your part.

This is not opinion, this is metabolic fact clearly explained in medical physiology textbooks since mid 1950.  With this knowledge it is crystal clear that dietary cholesterol consumption plays a VERY SMALL ROLE in determining total levels and is essentially a non-issue for most people including millions who have been scared into taking drugs to get lower numbers.

Understanding HDL and LDL

There are two more pieces to the puzzle, the first piece has to do with understanding the ratio between the “good” and the “bad”" cholesterol, the second piece of the puzzle has to do with understanding the effect diet has on the total.

First the ratios: Ratios are simple.   As soon as you understand the difference between LDL and HDL you’ll understand practically everything.

Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is a protein that transports cholesterol from the liver into the blood, making it available for absorption into the cells.  Low-density lipoproteins are like wheel barrows or trucks, loaded with cholesterol, bringing it into the blood stream just in case the cells need it. 

Unfortunately, if you eat in a way that causes the constant presence of excess insulin in your system, these LDL truckloads are not needed because the cells are making all everything they need internally.

If the cells make everything internally, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) sent through the blood from the liver are unnecessary, which means the excess is subject to build up in  the blood, tissues and arteries, setting the stage for serious health problems.

High density lipoprotein, or HDL, help eliminate excess LDL by collecting it from the tissues and arteries and transporting it out of the blood and back to the liver where it is recycled or disposed of. 

HDL particles are like the LDL clean-up crew.  HDL particles are the empty trucks sent into the blood stream to load up all the excess, extra sticky LDL that spills out and collects in the tissues and arteries and then  transport it out of the blood. Clearly, cleaning up excess LDL lowers the total.

LDL is recognized as “bad” because LDL transports cholesterol INTO the blood. HDL is considered “good” because HDL gathers up excess LDL and transports it OUT of the blood.  With this in mind, it’s easy to understand the importance of having the proper ratio of  HDL to LDL. If the ratio of LDL to HDL is too high that means your blood is being loaded with extra sticky LDL faster than the HDL clean-up crew can remove it, which means the stuff is building up inside the tissues and arteries, and that’s bad.

Doctors have determined that having the proper ratio between HDL and LDL is a more important predictor of health than the total number.  In other words, the person with a total of 260 mg/dl and a good HDL to LDL ratio is in better shape health-wise than someone with a 175 mg/dl total reading whose LDL level is too high compared to their HDL level.

Two ratio standards are commonly accepted by most doctors and researchers:

  1. Total divided by HDL should be below 4; and,
  2.  LDL divided by HDL should be below 3.

There is near universal agreement in the medical and scientific community that the further your ratios are from these standards the greater the risk of developing heart disease.

It is INCORRECT to assume that a lower and ever lower total somehow translates into better health.

Research clearly shows the “ideal healthy range” is in the 180-to 200 mg/dl range, and most importantly, with the proper HDL to LDL ratios.

Historically, total levels over 200 correlate positively with increased risk of heart disease, and levels lower than 180 correlate positively with almost every serious disease known except heart disease.

We know insulin stimulates the cell to produce cholesterol internally.  Given this, it should be clear that the key to maintaining a normal, healthy level is to eat in a way that does not stimulate an insulin response.

We know that LDL carries cholesterol into the blood and HDL carries unused LDL particles out of the blood, which s why HDL is recognized as being good.  The next piece of the puzzle explains the affect food consumption has on your total level.

There is a great deal of confusion over which foods affect the blood levels the most. 

It is a popular misconception that the best way to lower numbers naturally is to avoid all cholesterol containing foods and consume primarily a low fat diet.  This is fundamentally wrong.  A rigidly enforced, low fat, no-animal-product diet can result in a lower total, but that kind of diet has only a minor affect at best, and causes a disproportionate drop in the good HDL in relationship to the extra sticky LDL, and that increases the risk of heart disease. 

Research proves beyond doubt  that a higher total with a good HDL to LDL ratio is overall MUCH healthier than lower total with a poor HDL to LDL ratio. This means that while low fat diets may result in slightly lower total numbers, following these diets may actually INCREASE the risk of heart disease.  Even though total cholesterol drops, disease risk increases because the level of the “good” HDL, that transports sticky LDL out of the blood drops, too low compared to the reduction in the sticky LDL.

  • When HDL is too low in relationship to LDL, the blood flows thick with extra sticky LDL that builds up inside the tissues and arteries. 
  • We know  that a diet high in carbohydrates stimulates excess insulin to flood into the blood stream and cause the cells to make cholesterol internally.

Given this reality of human biochemistry, you can see that a diet high in sugar or carbohydrate is the PRIMARY cause of cholesterol build up in the blood, and this happens regardless of much or how little animal-source foods you eat along the way.

To put it another way, if you went on a 100% cholesterol-free diet for one year, at the end of that year the maximum possible drop in your total would be 20%.Likewise, if you went on a 100% cholesterol-only diet for one year, at the end of the year the maximum possible increase in your total would be 20%.  And while 20% is no small amount, but obviously, 80% is a lot more?  A small change in the 80% is more meaningful than a large change in the 20%.

The problem with cutting animal-source foods from your diet is that you miss out on many healthy, delicious, nutritious foods that ultimately have very little affect on your total number and even less affect on the all-important HDL to LDL ratio.

If you never take another bite food containing cholesterol in your life and instead eat only bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, sweets and so on; there is 100% certainty your LDL  number and triglycerides would go sky high.  In other words, enjoy the steak and eggs or not, but either way if you load up on bread, rice, potatoes and desserts, you’re destined to have high LDL, an unhealthy HDL to LDL ratio, and are likely to be awarded a lifetime prescription for dangerous drugs loaded with bad side effects. 

When food crosses your lips there are only two possible metabolic outcomes.  Depending on your food choice either insulin OR glucagon becomes the dominant hormone in your system for the next several hours.

If insulin takes over, you make and store fat at a rapid rate and your cells make everything internally.  If glucagon takes control you burn stored fat and your cells harvest cholesterol directly from your blood.  Ultimately this is simple stuff!

Since glucagon gives you desirable metabolic results and insulin gives you undesirable ones, the question becomes; what kind diet puts glucagon in the metabolic drivers seat?  Here are the facts so you can decide for yourself.

Research proves that a diet low in sugar and refined carbohydrates and higher in protein and naturally occurring fats, like the fat in milk, cheese, butter, and meat, not only lower total cholesterol, but result in much healthier HDL to LDL ratios than any other diet tested, and they have all been tested repeatedly.

Reducing foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates is vitally important because carbohydrates cause excess insulin and excess insulin causes most of the problems.

  • If you cut back on food and drink high in sugar or carbohydrates, your blood-insulin level remains normal.  
  • If insulin is not high, that means the glucagon is the active metabolic hormone.
  • And when glucagon is the active metabolic hormone,  you burn stored fat for energy, and end up with lower triglycerides, lower your total cholesterol, and a healthier HDL to LDL ratio.

In other words, pull this off and you improve your health in a variety of important ways. 

This is quite a turn of events.  For years the experts said to only a low fat diet and pile on the foods high in carbohydrates, because they are low in fat and provide lots of energy.  Clearly the ever-worsening tragedy of obesity, diabetes, and increasing heart disease has proven this advice to be astonishingly wrong and it’s wrong regardless of who gives it because the proven facts of human biochemistry are what they are and that is simply that.

The new advice is not based on “popular wisdom,” “common knowledge,” “common practice” or “opinion” and instead is based on a more complete understanding of medical physiology, cellular biology, and the human endocrine system

Now for the final question concerning metabolism.  How do you put glucagon securely in the metabolic drivers seat and begin to enjoy the wonderful health benefits gained from establishing the proper insulin/glucagon balance in your body.  And the answer in a word is PROTEIN

Protein provides significant nutrition without causing a rise in blood sugar, but the key is not just getting protein, the key is getting protein WITHOUT excess carbohydrates.

With or without protein, excess carbohydrates cause a sharp rise in blood sugar and that produces an insulin response, which leads to fat production and storage, high triglycerides, and increased cholesterol.  When you enjoy a delicious protein meal with minimal carbohydrates coming primarily from fresh green vegetables or fresh seasonal fruit, you set up the IDEAL conditions to establish a perfect metabolic relationship between insulin and glucagon.

To help clarify the effect food has on the insulin-glucagon relationship, consider the following facts.

  1. A normal healthy person has slightly less than one single teaspoon of glucose circulating in their entire blood stream at any single time.
  2. A carbohydrate is nothing more than several different kinds of sugar molecules linked together. Once eaten, these sugars are quickly broken down into glucose which instantly enters your blood and causes blood sugar to rise rapidly, just like eating candy does.
  3. Insulin production is the natural, healthy response to lower rapidly rising blood sugar, which is why consuming food or drink high sugar, or carbohydrates that quickly break down into sugar, will always result in a quick rise in insulin.

How many carbohydrates does it take to produce an insulin response?

To answer this, keep in mind that 5 grams of carbohydrate equals approximately 1 teaspoon of sugar, which is close to the normal amount of sugar found in the blood.

Now, a single can of one of the better-known brands of soft drinks lists 39 grams of carbohydrates in the nutrition information panel printed on the can.

Divide 39 total carbohydrate grams by 5 grams per teaspoon and you quickly discover that this single can of soda water contains nearly 8 teaspoons of sugar that will actually enter your blood.

Since 1 teaspoon of sugar is the normal healthy amount contained in the blood, 8 times that amount is clearly too much, which means if you drink that soft drink a quick rise in blood sugar and a quick insulin response to lower the rising blood sugar is absolutely guaranteed.

How high do insulin levels climb in order to reduce rising blood sugar?

According to the Textbook of Medical Physiology, insulin secreted to bring down rising blood sugar rises dramatically within 15 minutes and peaks 2-3 hours later in ranges that are from 10 to 25 times above normal, and insulin levels remain elevated for hours.

Now that you understand that once stimulated, insulin levels stay elevated for several hours, it is easy to understand how eating sugary foods or high carbohydrate meals and snacks throughout the day essentially insures that insulin stays abnormally high all day long and that glucagon is left entirely out of the metabolic picture.

The key to activating glucagon and putting it in the metabolic drivers seat is to eat meals with plenty of protein and, carbohydrates almost entirely from fresh vegetables. As long as you avoid the chemically altered fats that produce dangerous trans fatty acids, dietary fat consumption is essentially not an issue because, much like protein, natural fat is turned into structural raw material needed for cell growth and maintenance.

Keep in mind that your body contains something on the order of a hundred trillion cells and each and every one of them is made from and contains both protein and fat.Not one single cell in your body is made from carbohydrates.  Protein and fat consumption is essential to life.  Without a regular supply of protein and fat your health would fail.

Carbohydrate consumption is not essential to life.  Of course some carbohydrates are healthy and very good for you, but if you never ate another carbohydrate in your life it would not make you sick and you could be as healthy as anyone who ever walked the planet.

There is not a single disease associated with a lack of carbohydrates. The reason for this is that dietary consumption of carbohydrates is simply not that important because your body can instantly make all the glucose it needs directly from protein and fat.

The important point is that to keep excess insulin to a minimum and insure you have enough glucagon in your system, you need meals that contain protein and are low in processed and starchy carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, corn, sweet drinks, added sugar and so on.

Excess insulin is a serious threat to your health.  Excess insulin is your enemy and excess insulin is produced in your body primarily as a direct result of your food choices.  Excess insulin leads to higher triglycerides, higher cholesterol, poor HDL to LDL ratios, higher blood pressure, excess fat production and storage, obesity, insulin resistance, and dramatically increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

  • Glucagon is your friend and enjoying protein meals with a minimum of processed carbohydrates activates glucagon in your system.
  • Glucagon is the hormone that causes you to burn stored body fat for energy. When glucagon is in the metabolic drivers seat it is amazingly easy to establish and maintain your ideal healthy body weight ESPECIALLY when you are getting the essential nutrients.

There is increasing awareness in the medical community that total cholesterol level is no where near the significant  predictor of heart disease as once believed as long as HDL and LDL are in proper relationship.  Of course you would never believe that if you watch the drug commercials on television, but the facts remain, excluding the possibility of a malfunctioning liver or some rare genetic malady, NO ONE needs drugs to lower cholesterol because it can be easily controlled by reducing insulin-spiking, sugar and high carbohydrate foods in your diet.

Having great health is a choice you can make and it is an easy choice to make when you know how!

Author: Russell Martino
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Lower Your Cholesterol and Live Longer

March 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is formed from two different sources, as it is both created in the liver and derived from the different foods that we consume. There are also two different forms of cholesterol, LDL and HDL. LDL cholesterol is considered to be the bad form of cholesterol because it has a tendency to build up inside the walls of arteries, which can lead to inflammation and the formation of clots, and eventually even heart disease.

HDL cholesterol, however, helps to transport LDL bad cholesterol out from the blood vessels, and back into your liver where it can be processed properly and then eliminated. Both LDL and HDL cholesterol come together to form what is your total cholesterol count, along with your triglycerides. Generally, you should be aiming for a high HDL, and a low LDL in order to make your heart the healthiest.

For many people, genetics can easily be blamed for unhealthy cholesterol numbers

However, this is not always the case because many people also have unhealthy cholesterol numbers thanks to a diet which is high in saturated fat which is converted into cholesterol in the body. But for most people, it is actually a combination of both of these things which creates the unhealthy cholesterol level in their bodies.

When it comes to high in saturated fat foods, which cause your bad cholesterol level to rise, the typical suspects are foods which are high in animal fats, such as whole-milk dairy products, pork, lamb, veal and beef among others.

There are also foods which are naturally high in cholesterol, such as the yolk of an egg, but it is still debatable whether this cholesterol is actually bad for you or not. Cutting back on these foods, or eliminating them from your diet all together is generally the recommended course of action if you are dealing with high cholesterol.

The process of lowering your blood cholesterol begins with diet modification

By lowering how much saturated fat you consume, and increasing the amount of soluble fiber foods you consume, you can reduce your cholesterol. Foods which are high in soluble fiber, like oatmeal, strawberries, citrus fruits, peas and Brussels sprouts can bind to the cholesterol which is present in your intestines, which helps the body excrete them. Additionally, these soluble fiber foods are also typically low in both fat and cholesterol, in addition to being packed with heaps of healthy nutrients and vitamins.

Another great way for you to begin the process of lowering your bad cholesterol levels is to lose a small amount of weight. 10 pounds is typically enough to start showing an improvement in your cholesterol level, because excess weight can significantly raise your LDL cholesterol level, and could possibly be lowering your HDL cholesterol as well.

Finally, if you are a smoker you should be aware of the fact that smoking can significantly reduce your HDL cholesterol level, so your heart health may be significantly boosted by quitting. Within a few weeks or months, you will notice that your HDL cholesterol level is rising, which will improve your cholesterol level and the health of your heart.

There are a variety of different ways to treat problems with high LDL cholesterol levels, and there are five different groups of drugs which are used to lower cholesterol levels. Typically, someone with high cholesterol will take one of these drugs from two of these different categories in order to achieve effective treatment.

Statins: These drugs help to prevent the liver from creating new cholesterol. Some of the drugs in this category include Atorvastatin, which is better known as Lipitor, Fluvastatin, which is better known as Lescol, Rosuvastatin which is better known as Crestor, and Simvastatin which is better known as Zocor.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: These drugs help to prevent the absorption of cholesterol in your small intestines. Some of the drugs in this category include Ezetimibe, which is better known as Zetia, and Vytorin which combines Zetia with a statin Simvastatin fibrate like gemfibrozil or fenofibrate.

Bile Acid Binding Resins: These drugs work in the intestines in order to bind to cholesterol, aiding your body in the process of excreting it. Some of the drugs that are in this category include Cholestyramine, which is known as Questran and Prevalite, Colestipol which is better known as Colestid, and Colesevelam which is better known as WelChol.

Niacin: Niacin is a form of vitamin B, and it may work by decreasing the production of cholesterol in your liver, but it is not totally clear yet how therapeutic doses of Niacin actually reduce cholesterol. There are several brand names for this form of Niacin, including Niaspan and Advicor, which actually combines the Vitamin B Niacin with a statin called Lovastatin.

Because your cholesterol levels contribute so heavily to the health of your heart, it is imperative that you maintain health levels in order to live a long, healthy life. If you continue to maintain a high LDL bad cholesterol level, the heart of your health will deteriorate, and you will find years shaved off your life. Maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol is an easy task as long as you understand the impact that cholesterol has on your body and how you can control it.

If you cannot control your blood cholesterol by yourself through exercise and proper nutrition, you should consult a doctor to find the right medication cocktail which will do the trick.

Author: Sabel Todd
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Cholesterol at a Glance

March 5, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

It is extremely important for each and every single individual to learn the basics regarding cholesterol levels. Everyone stands the chance of developing high cholesterol. Here, we will take a glance at cholesterol and how it can affect you.

Cholesterol is created naturally in the body by the liver. However, there are many different types of foods that we can acquire cholesterol from as well. These foods include things like eggs, various types of diary products, and even different types of meat.

Many individuals are under the impression that cholesterol is a bad thing. This is not true. While there is a “good” cholesterol type, and a “bad” cholesterol type, this substance is needed for the proper functioning of the body.

The “bad” type of cholesterol is often referred to as “LDL”. This stands for low-density lipoprotein. While this is an essential component to the body, excess levels of it can result in serious health complications, such as heart disease. Extremely low levels of LDL cholesterol have been found to result in different types of cancers.

The “good” type of cholesterol is often referred to as “HDL”. This stands for high-density lipoprotein. It has been determined that this type of cholesterol is beneficial in protecting an individual against heart problems, and other health risks. This is due to the fact that it helps to eliminate the amount of “bad” cholesterol in the body and pushes LDL through the arteries.

Cholesterol is an essential in the process of producing hormones within the body. In addition to this, cholesterol also helps to create a steady supply of vitamin D in the body and increases the amount of acids that help to break down bile. This is important to the body as it helps to process and digest fat that the body is exposed to.

If an individual has too much cholesterol that is considered “bad” in the body, many different things occur. The first thing that happens is that the body starts to accumulate a buildup of plaque in the arteries. As time progresses, this results in what many refer to as the “hardening” of the arteries, or “atherosclerosis”.

When the arteries experience this type of complication, the passageways may become narrowed. This narrowing of the passageways may become so severe that the artery becomes obstructed. This will decrease the mobility of the blood in the body. As a result, the heart and other important organs of the body will fail to receive the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients.

When the body does not receive the necessary oxygen, nutrients, and other substances in the body, then that can result in the failure of the functionality of these essential body components. Many who have experienced this issue have experienced a heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical complications.

In addition to LDL and HDL cholesterol, there are two other types of cholesterol. The next type is called “VLDL”. This is also called “very low density lipoproteins”. This type is quite high when it comes to the amount of fats that are contained in it, but extremely low when it comes to protein.

The fourth type of cholesterol is called “triglycerides”. Specifically, this particular item is actually a “fat”. When an individual experiences VLDL, triglycerides are carried through the blood. This can pose a number of health risks for an individual.

There are many different factors that can affect the cholesterol levels of an individual. The first factor is an individual’s weight level. People who are overweight, or considered to be “obese” normally have high cholesterol levels. It is important to maintain a weight that is appropriate to the body mass index in order to avoid this complication.

The next thing that can affect a person’s cholesterol levels is their family medical history. It has been established that high cholesterol can actually run in the family. If an individual has a genetic predisposition of high cholesterol levels, it is likely that they will experience it as well.

If an individual is gaining in years, the possibility of acquiring high cholesterol is a possibility. It has been determined that as an individual ages, the possibility of experiencing high cholesterol is high. If a female experiences menopause, their chances of developing high cholesterol are also elevated.

People who have low levels of physical activity are prone to developing high cholesterol levels. It has been established that the average person should engage in approximately three to four hours of exercise on a weekly basic in order to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol in the body.

The next factor that can greatly increase the amount of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol in the body is an individual’s diet. Diet has one of the largest impacts on cholesterol levels. People who consume a healthy diet of various types of fatty fish, a variety of nuts, and soy-based products are less likely to have high cholesterol complications.

There are a number of medical conditions that can result in high levels of cholesterol. For example, many people who experience the devastating condition of diabetes may experience high levels of LDL cholesterol. It is important for these individuals to appropriately manage their sugar levels to decrease this possibility.

Many individuals pay no attention to their cholesterol levels. This can be a very unfortunate experience for many. For every five people in the world, there is at least one person who experiences high amounts of LDL cholesterol, and low amounts of HDL cholesterol. This issue should be taken very seriously.

Individual’s who suffer from the effects of high cholesterol levels can develop cardiovascular disease. People who suffer from this medical complication can experience a serious heart attack, and/or a stroke. While many may live to speak of their experience with a heart attack and/or stroke, there are many who do not. Cholesterol can actually turn fatal for many people around the world!

If you are concerned about your health, you should make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you have high cholesterol. If you find that you do, you should work closely with the treatment guidelines that your doctor outlines for you.

Author: V.K. Rajagopalan
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Diet to Lower Cholesterol – A Simple Explanation of Just What is Cholesterol

March 2, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Many people understand that cholesterol is either bad for you or good but beyond that, they do not understand just exactly what is cholesterol. Doctors will give you a long explanation which only they can comprehend but cholesterol can be simplified in one statement. Cholesterol is a waxy material that the liver fabricates which is carries out a number of responsibilities for the health of our bodies.

When we consume foods in our daily diet, our liver takes the food and turns it into cholesterol which helps aid in developing bile salts to digest the fat, build cell walls, and to create vitamin D. So why would we worry about eating too many foods that produce too much cholesterol in our body? The answer lies in the fact that too much of anything is essentially bad for you. If we understand what is cholesterol, we can better steer clear of consuming to much cholesterol.

The Bad And Good Cholesterol.

One easy way to watch our cholesterol level is to understand what foods that we eat in our daily diet which produce the good cholesterol bad cholesterol. Foods that carry animal fat such as dairy and meats carry bad cholesterol, Foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains carry no cholesterol at all.

When we eat foods that have too much bad cholesterol it can cause some major damage such as the hardening of our arteries. This occurs when too much bad cholesterol is in our system because it builds up plaque which blocks the arteries and prevents blood flow.

Good cholesterol behaves very differently than bad cholesterol because its main goal to keep our bodies healthy. What the good cholesterol does is carry the surplus of cholesterol we have in our bodies to the liver so it can create bile salt and expel it from our system.

High Cholesterol Is Caused By What?

When we ask our doctor about our cholesterol level, it is usually because we are worried about having a high cholesterol level. Having a high cholesterol level can be caused for many different reasons but the main cause is age. You see, our cholesterol level goes up as we get older.

There are many things that can cause us to get high cholesterol levels. One thing is we may inherit from our parents. If your parents have high cholesterol, you should ask your doctor to be tested to make sure if you have it or not. Another thing is doing physical activity. When we exercise and do any other physical activity, this causes our good cholesterol levels to rise thus keeping us healthy.

When we are looking at the causes and cures for high cholesterol, we often find a direct link between the food we eat and our cholesterol levels. If we eat foods rich in fiber, vegetables, beans, fish, and fruits we can keep the good cholesterol levels up within our body. We also need to try and avoid eating foods that promote high cholesterol levels within our body like meat and dairy products.When we go to the doctor and he gives us our cholesterol reading, many do not understand just exactly what he is talking about. Many people know that cholesterol is either good for you or bad, but many do not understand what is cholesterol. Cholesterol is simply a waxy matter that the liver creates which handles a number of duties in our body.

Author: Delynda Lardone
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