Study: Psoriasis in Kids Linked to Obesity, Heart Risks

May 20, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol foods · Comment 

Overweight and obese children are at greater risk for developing psoriasis, and teens who have this inflammatory skin condition are more likely to have high blood cholesterol levels regardless of their body weight.

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Alkem, Swedish co in pact to develop new drug module

May 1, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Top unlisted domestic drug maker, Alkem Laboratories, with an annual turnover of over R1,500 crore, has entered into an agreement with Swedish pharma firm Karo Bio for developing and commercialising a new drug molecule eprotirome, for patients with high blood cholesterol.

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What Conditions Are Affected by an Anti-inflammatory Diet?

April 23, 2011 · Posted in diets to lower cholesterol · Comment 

What Conditions are Affected by an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

There are more than 40 autoimmune diseases alone that are positively affected by adding anti-inflammatory foods to the diet. While many of these conditions are rare, it is the most common conditions that affect more people and thus these dietary changes could be the single, most important step toward better health.

Obesity and the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Being obese or overweight is a fact for more than 2/3 of the people in the United States alone. While this country is most familiar with the negative health risks associated with being overweight, other countries are quickly increasing the numbers of their overweight and obese populations.

Being obese or overweight affects overall body health dramatically. The potential health risks include diabetes, coronary heart disease, high blood cholesterol, stroke and high blood pressure. The interesting thing is that all of these conditions are inflammatory in nature. When the body is overweight, it enters into a constant state of inflammation. Over time, health degrades and these health conditions result.

Choosing an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce weight and reduce the risk of contracting a weight related illness. Recent studies have linked obesity related diabetes, not to the weight, per se, but to the inflammation occurring in the body as a result of being overweight. Reduce the weight and pick up an anti-inflammatory diet and the diabetes may simply fade away.

Arthritis and the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Another huge concern for the general population is arthritis. Severe cases can limit the use of hands, leg joints and knee joints to the point of being bed ridden or forced to use a cane or other ambulatory device. Arthritis is an auto-immune reaction in the body. This means the immune system reacts as if there is a foreign substance in the joints and inflames to protect the surrounding tissues. Over time, the chronic inflammation can lead to tissue degradation and further health problems.

An anti-inflammatory diet can decrease the inflammation of the joints to significantly prolong the time the affected joints can survive before long term effects result. In this case, the anti-inflammatory diet may not cure the arthritis, but it can reduce pain and connective tissue damage. Tissue damage from arthritis is not reversible, so preventing that damage from occurring is important to overall health. Significant tissue damage as a result of inflammation can leave the joints with no protective barrier between bones. Eventually, bones scrape on bones and replacement surgery may be necessary.

Saving a Life With an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Asthma is a dangerous condition. The illness is characterized by an acute inflammation of the bronchial tubes that reduces air flow to the lungs. In some cases, this inflammation can lead to death. As is the case with arthritis, asthma cannot be cured by an anti-inflammatory diet, but reducing the acuteness of the reaction may mean the difference between life and death.

Choosing anti-inflammatory foods whether to lose weight or protect health and life is a good choice for everyone. Chances are someone you know is affected by inflammation on a daily basis. This inflammation can cause more than just uncomfortability – it can cause prolonged illness and even death. Dietary changes are a very simple way to reduce that risk.

Another great supplemnt to add to your diet is Nopalea.

Jason Cadwell PhotoAbout Author
Jason Cadwell is a successful representative for Sonoran Bloom Noplaea, the Anti-Inflammatory Drink. Take the Nopalea Challenge and Get A FREE Bottle to try. Get more info on the product at http://www.prosathomenetwork.com

How niacin fights high cholesterol: New research gets to the heart of the problem

October 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

High blood lipids are a big risk factor for developing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately one of every six adult Americans has high blood cholesterol and about every 25 seconds, an American will have a heart attack, and nearly one every minute will die from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Natural Remedies For High Cholesterol That Are Easy And Effective

September 15, 2010 · Posted in diets to lower cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is identified as a yellowish substance and considered as one of the vital ingredients of the body. There are two types of cholesterol that are present in the body. They are described as the bad and the good one. It is observe that having too much bad cholesterol is usually resulting to high blood pressure that in most cases causing death to several individual. So, to avoid such condition there are natural remedies for high blood cholesterol that can be done. To name a few, listed below are the popular natural remedies –

1. Onion Juice – These lessens the cholesterol level and functions as a tonic. It also helps to clean the blood, digestive system, treat insomnia and regulates the heart action and aid in lessening the cholesterol. Among all of those natural remedies this is considered as the best and easy one.

2. Serrapeptase – This is a natural preteolytic enzyme that is secluded from micro-organism. This kind of enzyme is acquired through fermenting plants. It contains anti-inflammatory effects and is as well immunologically active to clean the blood vessels.

3. Garlic – This is one of the natural remedies for high cholesterol that is determined as the most efficient one. You should consume one to two fresh cloves in different forms like soup, pickles and salad. There are also capsules that are available that you can also take in. To take an average dose of two or three capsule everyday continuously for 12 weeks can absolutely help decreases high cholesterol.

4. Avoid Foods Rich in Cholesterol – The common foods that contain this one are eggs, organ meats, cheese, butter, whole milk, beef and vegetables oil. This procedure does not necessarily mean that you should not eat them rather to consume it less. This kind of prevention is considered as a very useful one.

5. Lecithin – This is a fatty food substance that is very helpful in administering the cholesterol levels. Egg yolk, vegetables oil, whole grain cereals, soybeans and unpasteurized milk are the foods that are best source of this.

These are the five natural remedies for high cholesterol that you can use. Bear in mind that once you neglect treating your high cholesterol there is a big possibility that it may cause problem to your entire health. Hence, if you find out that your cholesterol is high right now better start doing the things that are mentioned above to lessen it.

70 Percent Of Ontario Adults Obese Or Overweight

September 14, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 
David Goodhue – AHN News Reporter

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – Almost three-quarters of adults in the Canadian province of Ontario are overweight or obese, according to a University of Ottawa study.

The researchers said many of these people are putting themselves at risk for high blood pressure and other conditions that could lead to heart attack or stroke.

Dr. Frans Leenen of the university’s Heart Institute Hypertension Unit said in a statement that 70 percent of Ottawa’s adults are overweight or obese because they are eating “far more than our bodies require. We know better than ever that even being overweight creates other problems such as diabetes and high blood cholesterol levels and thereby endangers cardiovascular health.”

The study examined 2,552 Ontarians aged 20 to 79 in 16 communities in the province. The researchers said 48 percent of the participants were overweight and 22 percent were obese. More than 50 percent of adults over the age of 60 had high blood pressure, and most of these people were receiving treatment for the condition.

High blood pressure was more common in ethnic groups, especially blacks and south Asians, the researchers said.

A report on the study is published in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

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High Cholesterol – 6 Useful Natural Remedies And Herbal Treatment

September 13, 2010 · Posted in diets to lower cholesterol · Comment 

Usually cholesterol is produced in the liver and it is one of the essential ingredients of our body. 20-30% of the cholesterol is obtained from the food we eat. The measurement of cholesterol is taken in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood. The normal range of the cholesterol varies between 150-200 mg per 100 ml. It is also known as lipoproteins as in blood cholesterol occurs in combination with certain lipids or fats.

Cholesterol or lipoproteins are classified into two types –

1. Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
2. High density lipoprotein (HDL)

Low density lipoprotein is related with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels and it is also considered to be harmful. It may result into the problems like stroke, heart disease etc. whereas the high density lipoprotein helps to remove the cholesterol from the circulation and also reduces the risk of heart disease.

Some of the major symptoms of high blood cholesterol are excess fatigue and feel of uneasiness, pain and heaviness in the chest area, breathlessness and general fatigue.

Some of the major causes of high blood cholesterol –

1. Obesity
2. Genetic factors
3. Stress and over workload
4. Diseases like kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus and also due to hypothyroidism.
5. Intake of high fat diet can be a major cause of high BP.

It can be treated by natural home remedies. Some of the natural remedies to treat high cholesterol are given below –

1. Make a mixture by adding one tea spoon of lime juice and one teaspoon of honey in one cup of hot water. Drink this mixture daily in the morning if you want to lower your cholesterol naturally.

2. High serum cholesterol can also be controlled by intake of fenugreek seeds regularly. It is an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.

3. Take a glass of water and add 1 teaspoon of methi powder in it. Drink this solution for one month in an empty stomach. It is an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.

4. Increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin E like sunflower seeds, soyabean oils, butter, safflower and also the sprouted seeds and grains.

5. Take a glass of water and add two tablespoons of dry seeds of coriander and allow it to boil properly. Allow it to cool and strain the decoction. Take this decoction two times a day for lowering of the cholesterol. It is also an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.

6. Intake of onion juice is also very effective for the treatment of high cholesterol. It reduces the cholesterol, clean the blood and also regulate the heart.

Nick Mutt PhotoAbout Author
Read useful Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure. Also find effective Home Remedies for High Cholesterol. Read information on Terminalia Arjuna Benefits.

Cholesterol Treatment – Simple and Useful Home Remedies for Cholesterol

September 5, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is the fat-like substance, which is an important ingredient for life. The human body contains about 100 g of cholesterol. The human body itself manufactures its required cholesterol, and any cholesterol that comes from diet is extra — and it’s harmful.

Benefits of body cholesterol -

Most of the cholesterol in the body is included in the membranes from which cells formation takes place. It is also the starting ingredient for the synthesis of the steroid hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol and mineralocorticoids.

Cholesterol is also the originator from which the body synthesizes Vitamin D.

Cholesterol helps in the synthesis of bile acids in the liver. This is required for the absorption of fat from the contents of the intestine. The liver synthesizes about 1500 – 2000 mg of new cholesterol each day, from the products of fat metabolism.

What is high blood cholesterol? Is it risky?

High blood cholesterol termed as hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and some types of stroke. Too much cholesterol in the blood leads to development of fatty deposits in the blood vessels that supply the heart and other parts of the body. These deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries, and the heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the chances of a heart attack

(atherosclerosis). Decreased blood flow to the brain can also cause a cerebral stroke.

Healthy levels of cholesterol -

A person’s total blood cholesterol will fall into any one of these categories:

1) Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dL

2) Borderline high risk — 200-239 mg/dL

3) High risk — 240 mg/dL and over – risk of developing coronary heart disease.

What is HDL and LDL?

Cholesterol is transported through the blood attached to proteins, known as lipoprotein. The two main types of lipoproteins are:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – “bad” cholesterol that builds up in the walls of the arteries, making them hard and narrow.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – “good” cholesterol that picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver.

Total cholesterol is the sum of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and 20% of the triglyceride value.

It is important to be aware of the fact that -

1 high LDL values are bad – higher the chance of getting a heart disease

2 high HDL values are good – lower the chance of getting a heart disease.

Thus, cardiac risk ratio for an individual = total cholesterol divided by HDL cholesterol

A cardiac risk ratio greater than 7 is a danger sign.

What factors cause a high LDL and low HDL level in the body?

1) Unhealthy lifestyle habits of an individual such as lack of physical activity, being overweight.

2) Faulty eating habits. High intake of saturated fats, animal protein, butter, cheese, fried foods all lead to high cholesterol.

3) Other factors that play a role in high cholesterol include genetic composition which restricts cells from removing LDL cholesterol from the blood efficiently or cause the liver to produce too much cholesterol. This is regardless of a person’s saturated fat and cholesterol dietary intake.

4) Smoking, alcoholism, tobacco – as it damages the walls of the blood vessels, making them prone to accumulate fatty deposits.

5) High blood pressure as increased pressure on the artery walls damages arteries, leading to speedy accumulation of fatty deposits.

6) Diabetes contributes to high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. High blood sugar also damages the lining of the arteries.

Cholesterol Treatment and prevention -

1) Lifestyle changes help improve the cholesterol level. Eat a healthy diet, do regular physical activity and avoid smoking/drinking.

2) Lose excess weight. Plan a daily exercise regime such as swimming, walks, or any other sport.

3) Eat heart friendly foods

4) Choose healthier fats such as monounsaturated fats. Almonds, olive, peanut and walnuts are good sources of healthy fat.

5) Limit cholesterol intake – no more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day — or less than 200 mg if you have heart disease.

6) Eat whole grains, whole wheat flour.

7) Consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as they are rich in dietary fibre, which help lower cholesterol. Consume less of animal protein, and more of fish which is rich in omega – 3 fatty acids

7) Quit smoking and drinking

In spite of the above, if LDL remains high, the doctor may prescribe some medication or combination of medication depending on various factors, such as age, current health, risk factors, and possible side effects.

Home Remedies for Cholesterol:

* Coriander seeds are beneficial in lowering blood cholesterol. In 1 glass of water, add 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds and boil. Drink this mixture two times in a day. This is a good Home Remedy for Cholesterol

* Onion juice reduces cholesterol and works as a tonic for nervous system. It cleans blood, and regulates the heart action & helps in lowering cholesterol.

* Sunflower seeds contain a substantial amount of linoelic acid, which is helpful in reducing cholesterol deposits on the walls of the arteries. This is also useful Home Remedy for Cholesterol

* Substituting oil of sunflower seeds for some of the solid fats like butter & cream will lower cholesterol.

* Ginger reduces cholesterol, and thins the blood and thus improves the circulation. This remedy is very effective Home Remedy for Cholesterol

* Take 2-3 cloves of garlic daily to reduce high cholesterol levels.

* Turmeric helps by lowering serum cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the internal blood clots.

* Mix a teaspoon of powdered fenugreek seeds in a glass of water and take in the morning on an empty stomach for a month. This is an effective and useful Home Remedy for Cholesterol

* Prepare a mixture in a glass of water with 1-2 grams of powdered cinnamon. Strain this mixture & add a spoon of honey to it. Drink this solution once a day for 15-25 days. This helps control cholesterol.

Author is an Ayurvedic doctor having years of experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative medicine. Find out more Home Remedies for Cholesterol at http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/

He has an exclusive website on Home Remedies for various diseases. You can also contribute to the Home remedies by visiting the website

Learn About a Diet to Lower Cholesterol

July 11, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is one of the major substances that cause heart attacks, high blood cholesterol levels, and weight problems. Despite its “bad guy image,” this waxy, fat-like substances made in the body by the person’s own liver serves a number of vital functions unknown to many.

Basically, there are two types of cholesterol: the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and the High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL). The former refers to the bad type of cholesterol that is known to clog the person’s blood vessels, thus, increasing the risk for a heart attack or a heart disease. Studies show that a diet that is high in saturated fat is a main dietary cause of a raised LDL cholesterol level. The latter, on the other hand, is the good type of cholesterol that helps clear LDL cholesterol out of the blood stream, thus, reducing the risk for any heart illness. Researches have shown that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables along with average levels of omega-3 from fish oil greatly helps raise HDL cholesterol levels.

Although diet is the major reason for having high cholesterol levels, experts agree that factors such as genetics, lack of exercise or regular physical activity, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle such as excessive drinking and smoking, hormones, and varying high and low cholesterol levels can trigger the sudden increase of cholesterol levels in the body.

GETTING STARTED

Indeed, cholesterol is a growing problem in the health of many people in the world. Experts say that people over 20 years of age should be more concerned about their cholesterol levels; thus, they should start doing everything they can to lower LDL cholesterol. Although it is quite hard to stick to the needed requirements and regiments to combat the growing problem, experts say that it can be controlled with the proper diet to lower cholesterol.

Studies show that a good diet to lower cholesterol can reduce a person’s risk for heart diseases while getting rid of bad fats because this diet to emphasizes on eating heart-healthy foods. But, aside from using the proper and proven low cholesterol diets available today, the most important thing is that knowing and taking in the right foods and effective cholesterol formulas to assist in lowering cholesterol levels.

Experts say that a diet to lower cholesterol includes good foods like grains-especially whole grain products and cereals-fish rich in omega3 such as salmon and tune, a variety of fruits and leafy vegetables, nuts, juices, and the like. Here are other effective means of lowering cholesterol level through diet:

1. Make sure that you visit your attending physician first before trying out any low cholesterol diets so he/she could administer the proper examinations and access your general health status.

2. You can lower your cholesterol levels by replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat in meat, chicken, and whole milk products.

3. Refrain from eating refined carbohydrates contained by bakery products, pastas, and sugary or sugar-added foods.

4. When eating out, makes sure that you ask the waiter to make serving substitutions like steamed or boiled food preparations. If possible, also pick lean meat, fish, or skinless chicken that is broiled, baked, grilled, steamed, or poached instead of being fried and ask for lots of vegetable side dishes and fresh fruit desserts.

5. Cutting down on eggs, margarine, or butter out of your daily diet.

6. Use natural-based oils such as vegetable, corn, and olive oils when cooking instead of the usual cooking oil.

7. Load up on a lot of garlic when you’re preparing dishes because it contains substances that help lower HDL cholesterol.

8. Take in high quality daily vitamin mineral supplements like Vitamin E to improve blood circulation, and Vitamin C and vitamin B3 to lower your high cholesterol levels.

Want to find out about cholesterol ratio and low cholesterol foods? Get tips from Cholesterol Guidelines.

Nutritional Approaches for Reducing Cholesterol Levels – Part 2

June 25, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

In Part 1, the reasons why you should be concerned about cholesterol and what some of the recommended levels of total serum cholesterol were discussed. Here in Part 2, things that can affect your cholesterol levels and which of those things you can do something about and those you cannot do anything about; and things to consider in a cholesterol reduction plan are presented.

What Affects Your Cholesterol Levels?

A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. These are things you can do something about:

    o Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat can make your blood cholesterol level go up. Saturated fat is the main culprit, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level.

    o Weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise your HDL and lower your triglyceride levels.

    o Physical Activity. Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. Most health care professionals recommend that you try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days.

Things you cannot do anything about also can affect cholesterol levels. These include:

    o Age and Gender. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of menopause, women’s LDL levels tend to rise.

    o Heredity. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.

You Can Reduce Your Cholesterol with a Cholesterol Reduction Plan

The main goal of a cholesterol reduction plan is to lower your LDL level enough to reduce your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack. The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal will be. There are two main ways to lower your cholesterol:

    o Eating a cholesterol-reducing diet, being physically active and managing your weight. This is an effective method in reducing your LDL to your goal level.
    The National Cholesterol Education Program (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) recommends a cholesterol-reducing diet that is a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol eating plan that has less than 7% of calories from saturated fat and less than 200 mg of dietary cholesterol per day. It recommends only enough calories to maintain a desirable weight and avoid weight gain. If your LDL is not lowered enough by reducing your saturated fat and cholesterol intakes, the amount of soluble fiber in your diet can be increased. Supplementing your diet with certain nutrients, such as vitamin C, can also help in reducing your cholesterol levels.
    Losing weight, if you are overweight, can help lower LDL and is especially important for those with a cluster of risk factors that includes high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels and being overweight with a large waist measurement (more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women).
    Regular physical activity (30 minutes on most, if not all, days) is recommended for everyone. It can help raise HDL and lower LDL and is especially important for those with high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels who are overweight with a large waist measurement.

    o If the lifestyle change of diet, physical activity and weight management are not effective in lowering your LDL to an acceptable level; your health care professional may prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs, which are used in addition to your diet, exercise and weight management plan.

In Part 3, find out about nutritional options for reducing cholesterol levels.

Copyright 2006. Mary El-Baz. All rights reserved.

Author: Mary El-Baz, PhD
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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