What is Cholesterol? And Home Remedies For Cholesterol

September 8, 2010 · Posted in diets to lower cholesterol · Comment 

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty material (a lipid) that is an important part of the outer lining (membrane) of cells in the body of animals. Cholesterol is also establish in the blood circulation of humans. The cholesterol in a person’s blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products
Cholesterol is a fat (lipid) which is produced by the liver and is crucial for normal body functioning. Cholesterol exists in the outer layer of all cell in our body and has many functions. It is a waxy steroid and is transported in the blood plasma of every animals. It is the main sterol synthesized by animals – small amounts are also synthesized in vegetation and fungi.
Eat this! Cholesterol-fighting foods
All fresh fruits such as apples, bananas, pears, watermelon, lemons, and oranges are good. Fruits are low in saturated fats and have no cholesterol at all. A daily intake of fruits will lower cholesterol and flush the toxin out of your system.
Apples in particular are rich in antioxidants and fibre. They help lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
High Cholesterol Causes
Several drugs and diseases can bring about high cholesterol, but, for most people, a high-fat diet and inherited risk factors may be the main causes. Your doctor will rule out the possibility that you have an underactive thyroid or kidney or liver disease.
Drug treatment is used along with with dietary changes to lower cholesterol levels. some types of medications are available for cholesterol lowering, including statins, bile acid sequestrants, niacin, and fibric acids. Your doctor can help decide which one is best for you.
Treatment of Cholesterol
Statins have proven to be very effective and well-tolerated in most patients and are regarded as the treatment of choice for lowering “bad” cholesterol levels. These comprise aorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor). The frequency of side special effects with these medications is generally very low, but nausea, gas, constipation, and abdominal cramping may occur. Headache, muscle pain, and liver problems have been reported in some cases. Statins work in the liver to disrupt the formation of cholesterol from the circulating blood.
There are a variety of option out there to help you to lower your cholesterol levels, ranging from simple changes to your lifestyle to taking medications. Based on your cholesterol test results, your healthcare provider will choose which treatment is best for you. In some cases, you may need a combination of treatments to help lower your cholesterol.
Home remedies for Cholesterol
The patient suffering from high blood cholesterol should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily as it stimulates the excretory activity of the kidneys. Good Home Remedy to Lower Cholesterol.
Onion juice reduces cholesterol level and works as a tonic. It cleans blood, helps digestive system, cures insomnia and regulate the heart action & helps in lowering cholesterol. This is a good and simple home remedy for cholesterol.
A mudpack practical over the abdomen improves digestion and also improves the functioning of the liver and activates kidneys to promote excretion.
Oat bran 14 is also extremely beneficial in lowering the cholesterol levels and is one of the useful home remedies for cholesterol.
Steam baths are also beneficial but the people suffering from circulatory disorders and hypertension should not use this water treatment.
Cold hipbaths for 10 minutes taken double every day have been proven beneficial. Another Good Home Remedy to Lower Cholesterol.
Cholesterol treatment – Yogasanas like ardhamatsyaendrasana, shalabhansan, padmasana and vajrasana are also valuable in lowering blood cholesterol.
Regular drinking of coriander water also helps in lowering the blood cholesterol as it stimulates the kidneys. This is a useful cholesterol remedy.

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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

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Home Remedies to Control Cholesterol

June 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is one of the body’s fats. Cholesterol levels in the blood rise slightly with age, and women generally have a higher HDL-cholesterol level than men. Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the major vascular systems. When the cholesterol level is measured in a blood sample, the levels of all forms of cholesterol can be calculated. The cholesterol in a person’s blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production.

Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. High cholesterol is the best known of all the many threats to a healthy heart. High cholesterol can cause the formation and accumulation of plaque deposits in the arteries. A person’s lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity and eating a high-fat diet, can contribute to high levels of total cholesterol.

People who smoke and also have high cholesterol are at even greater risk for heart disease. Food cholesterol comes exclusively from animal products: meat, eggs, milk products, butter, etc. Most people wrongly believe that the cholesterol contained in food is responsible for their high cholesterol levels. Lipid disorders are more common in men than women. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can be harmful and lead to a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the arteries. It is currently recommended that your total cholesterol level be less than 200mg/dl. A healthy diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too. Statins block a substance the liver needs to make cholesterol. This depletes cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes the liver cells to remove cholesterol from the blood.

Prevention of High Cholesterol

· Eating a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol may help prevent high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

· Quitting smoking and exercising may raise levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.

· Maintaining a healthy weight – or losing weight, if necessary – can help prevent lipid abnormalities.

· Eliminate the use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.

Home Remedies for High Cholesterol

· Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. Clinical trials have shown that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and destroy plaque.

· Arjuna is a coronary vasodilator. It protects the heart, strengthens circulation, and helps to maintain the tone and health of the heart muscle.

· Ginger reduces cholesterol and thins the blood improving circulation.

· Shudh Shilajit was found to lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum phospholipids in test subjects feed high cholesterol diet.

· Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.

· Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great deal in lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.

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