CHINA: Can a Mediterranean Diet Reduce the Effects of Lipodystrophy Syndrome in People Living with HIV? A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

February 11, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

HIV infection and the highly active antiretroviral therapies that fight it both are associated with changes in patients’ lipid profile and fat distribution (lipodystrophy). A pilot study was carried out for a randomized controlled trial to determine whether lipodystrophy in HIV patients can be controlled by adopting a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet or a modified Mediterranean diet. The participants, 48 HIV patients, were randomized into two diet groups. The one-year study involved regular dietetic consultations during which lipid levels, weight, body mass index, and fat distribution were recorded. Of participants, 36 (75 percent) completed the study. In the low-fat group, undesirable body fat changes included decreases in tricep skinfold (from 19.9 mm to 15.4 mm (P=0.03)) and hip circumference (from 93.6 cm to 91.7 cm (P=0.01)), but a significant increase in waist-to-hip ratio (from 0.87 to 0.89 (P=0.003)). Serum cholesterol increased significantly at nine and 12 months (from 4.6 to 5.06 mmol L-1 (P=0.03) and 5.12 mmol L-1 (P=0.01)) in the Mediterranean diet group, with no obvious change in the low-fat diet group. While serum triglyceride levels remained the same in the Mediterranean diet group, they increased from 1.9 to 3.22 mmol L-1 (P=0.07) in the low-fat group. “A Mediterranean diet seems to have an advantage over the low-fat diet in maintaining serum triglyceride levels and avoiding lipodystrophy, but this advantage was offset by a rise in cholesterol level,” the authors concluded. “Several procedural and methodological issues were identified which must be rectified before a similar large-scale trial taking place.” [Article source: http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/164.htm]

View full post on All Stories

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How The Foods You Eat Can Influence Your Cholesterol Levels

August 20, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

As a follow up to a previous article let’s go into detail about how the foods we eat can or cannot influence our blood cholesterol levels. The previous article about what you eat was influenced by watching a television program by which the host has to devour enormous amounts of food in a certain time period and often these foods have an extremely high in calories and fat among other things. You are left to wonder, “That can’t be healthy!” Hopefully that young man is not shaving years off his life for the benefit of our entertainment and TV ratings, but is he?

The scientific community has long debated over how dietary cholesterol (the foods we eat) affects the cholesterol our body naturally produces (also known as serum cholesterol). Numerous studies have concluded that in adult men the serum cholesterol levelis essentiallyindependent of the cholesterol intake over thewhole range ofnatural human diets. It was noted that it is probable that infants,children andwomen are similar. Serum cholesterol is a term that includes the total level of cholesterol that is found in the bloodstream. Measuring the level of total cholesterol includes identifying all types or classes of cholesterol that are found in the system. This helpful measurement makes it possible to determine if the balance between the HDL or good cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol is within acceptable limits. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal products in the diet, such as butter, meats, egg yolks, and dairy products. Blood cholesterol is the fatty substance that occurs naturally in the body and which is necessary for hormone production, cell metabolism, and other vital processes.

There are 2 main types of blood cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) as was previously mentioned. It is generally considered desirable to have high levels of HDL cholesterol and low levels of LDL cholesterol. Another component to add to this puzzle is triglycerides which are the chains of high-energy fatty acids that provide much of the energy needed for cells to function.Your liver produces your body’s cholesterol in fact your body needs cholesterol. However, there is a difference between the cholesterol made by the body and dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol that the liver produces is vital to strengthening the membranes of each and every cell in the body. The liver also processes the saturated fats and sugars we digest.

What does all this mean and what does all of that have to do with what we eat? Well, dietary cholesterol does contribute to your blood cholesterol levels. Excess amounts of foods high in saturated fats will raise blood cholesterol levels in some people, and contribute to the build up of plaque on the walls of the arteries and lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). These fats from the foods you eat make it to your blood stream and by extension to your liver for processing. One of the main jobs of the liver is to make sure all the tissues of the body receive the cholesterol and triglycerides they need to function. Whenever possible (that is, for about 8 hours after a meal), the liver takes up dietary cholesterol and triglycerides from bloodstream. However the relationship between cholesterol and the concentration of blood cholesterol is not linear. For every additional 100mg of cholesterol consumed up to a total intake of 500mg per day, there is a 2-3% increase in the concentration of blood cholesterol. In contrast further increases in cholesterol intake beyond 500mg per day have little additional effect on the blood level. But remember it is the bad cholesterol that will lead to a heart attack or stroke so it is important to maintain a healthy diet. If you have cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) blood cholesterol level, you should limit your dietary cholesterol intake to less than 200 mg a day. Your diet directly affects your heart health, especially when the diet consists of foods high in fat and cholesterol. Your body uses cholesterol for certain functions, but an excess can build up in arteries, restricting or even blocking blood flow to the heart or brain.

Now that young who entertains us by consuming a grilled cheese sandwich with 15 different kinds of cheeses or eating a 10 patty cheese burger with 3 lbs. of fries undoubtedly know what he is doing to his body and more than likely has a plan for offsetting all calories and fat he is ingesting, but don’t do that at home. That would like attempting to drive the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 200 mph three days after you got your driver’s license, it is not advisable. Foods that are high incalories and fat taken in their recommended portions are not necessarily a bad thing, but like all things they should be consumed in moderation. Remember you are what you eat, so maintaining a healthy diet along with exercise can keep your cholesterol levels in check, healthy cholesterol equates to a healthy heart and that means a long and healthy life.

Author: Raynard Thompson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB Assembly

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

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
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Powered by Yahoo! Answers