Cholesterol
October 22nd, 2008 at 05:00pm
Under Cholesterol
Cholesterol, a soft, waxy fat substance that can be found in our blood and cells of our body exist in two forms, the LDL, low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and HDL, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced in the human liver for our normal bodily functions like, to form cell membranes, form hormones, vitamin D and bile acid. Though it is a fact that we need cholesterol in our body for it to function properly, high levels of cholesterol in our blood has a large health risk, mainly from developing heart related diseases and suffering a heart attack. With that said, the main cause for high cholesterol problems is an excess of LDLs, whereas, the HDLs do not even play a part in causing harm to our body.
The question thrown back often would be how to we reduce the LDLs in our body and increase the HDLs? In the market, we often hear of cholesterol lowering supplements such as Statin drugs, but rarely hear of products that boost the production of good cholesterol, HDLs. Fortunately, some natural herbs actually have dual properties, to reduce LDLs, but at the same time increase HDLs!
Policosanol:
Policosanol is a pure extract of sugar cane wax that has been deemed more effective than even man-made prescriptions for lowering cholesterol. Not only that, it also possess the property of raising the HDL cholesterol. Policosanol is also a nutrient that has been scientifically to not cause any side effects that are normally associated with medication for high cholesterol problems.
Green Tea Extract:
Green tea extracts have very similar properties exhibited by Policosanol. However, green tea extracts have been pointed out for many more other cures for other types of health problems and not just for lowering cholesterol. Just like Policosanol, green tea extracts can both lower LDL cholesterol and at the same time raise the HDL cholesterol levels.
Niacin:
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid – is a B vitamin. It lowers the levels of LDL cholesterol and fats in our bodies when taken in large doses, but it also does raise the HDl cholesterol level in our body. Though Niacin can be bought without a doctor’s approval, it is advised that you seek a doctor before buying Niacin, as it has very serious side-effects. Being a man-made drug, it would no doubt cost more also as compared to natural herbs like Policosanol or even green tea extracts .
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October 13th, 2008 at 11:00pm
Under Cholesterol
High cholesterol, often coined with heart disease, 1 of the top killers in our modern society today. With a huge variety of fast food chains scattered across the globe, efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle through a proper diet are becoming harder. Even with this said, other than an unhealthy diet, there are still other causes of high cholesterol that many people may not know about. Scientific research have helped us to identify certain causes of high cholesterol, and hopefully after going through them, you would have sufficient information to understand what causes high cholesterol and take actions to prevent it from occurring in your life.
Our Weight: Extra pounds on your body can be potentially dangerous as it can increase the cholesterol level of your body tremendously. Bringing back the example of America, it is without a doubt that Americans are facing huge problems, literally; as a result of an unhealthy diet of fast food and lack of a lifestyle of exercise. Foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat are often the main culprit, yet the one getting punished is us, as we fall sick with diseases such as heart problems and high cholesterol. Saturated fat can often be found in food such as, fast food, packaged food and prepared food. Furthermore, besides food high in saturated fat, foods that contain high amounts of carbohydrates can also lead to high cholesterol. It is true that carbohydrates give us the energy we need daily, but when the energy is left unused, it is converted into fat.
Genetic Heritage: Being born into a family with a history of cholesterol problems can also be a cause for high cholesterol. In such cases, generation after generation would pass down the genetic dysfunctions which include the inability to eliminate cholesterol from the body or their bodies produce excessive quantities of cholesterol. As a result, it would be especially difficult to keep their cholesterol levels in check; even with the best kind of medication, it still may have a chance of failure to keep the cholesterol levels of these people at a normal level. Despite this, with a right diet, proper exercise lifestyle and medical treatments, it can reduce the chances of having serious complications.
Gender / Age: As we age, it is inevitable that our cholesterol levels would increase. Despite cases where children as young as 10 years old have been diagnosed with heart disease due to high cholesterol, research has shown that as we age, our cholesterol levels would also rise. Researchers have also found out that men are generally more likely to have higher levels of cholesterol, this occurs due to the male body producing larger amounts of cholesterol than the female body. However, it has also been found out that women tend to be more prone to heart disease after menopause.
Stress: In itself, stress does not directly bring about higher levels of cholesterol, yet immense amounts of stress can cause one to have behavioral changes and lifestyle changes. It may result in eating disorders or even causing one to lead an unhealthy lifestyle of not exercising. Such change in lifestyle would inevitably lead to a life plagued by high cholesterol.
As you can see from the points mentioned above, obesity or eating junk food excessively are not the only causes of high cholesterol. Even a healthy person can fall victim to heart disease due to high cholesterol due to genetic heritage. Yet, watching out diet, having regular exercise and leading a carefree life with less stress can actually still help us in keeping our cholesterol levels in check.
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October 12th, 2008 at 05:00pm
Under Cholesterol
People often request for ways to reduce high cholesterol levels and to lead a healthy life, but are unaware that the solution to their problems usually start with themselves. Besides medication that may contain side-effects, there are some natural ways where people can reduce their cholesterol levels. In comparison to prescribed drugs, these natural ways are risk-free, do not have side effects and will almost definitely improve one’s health and life. Something more fatal than prescribed drugs would be to totally ignore one’s cholesterol levels and with time, their worsened condition would lead to a stroke, or even a heart attack.
Here are 4 great ways to improve your life and health while maintaining a healthy cholesterol level with the use of medication.
1. A Healthy Diet: It sounds almost impractical for one to have a healthy lifestyle unless one becomes a vegetarian. In a modern society where fast-food has almost become the staple food for youths and where unhealthy food is available almost everywhere, even if we are watchful over our diet, one still is unable to escape the fate of ingesting more cholesterol than he or she should. However, having a low fat and low cholesterol diet is often the first step to lowering one’s cholesterol level. Consumption of fiber and spices also have beneficial effects on the body to reduce cholesterol levels in the body.
2.Exercise: Getting out of the couch and to start moving is often one of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle! Through exercise, running, cycling, swimming, basketball, one can improve their cardiovascular health and strengthen their heart and circulatory system. Though exercise may not directly reduce one’s cholesterol; but the strengthening of the circulatory system can help reduce stroke or heart attacks chances. Moreover, exercise can help one reduce their weight which also helps reduce the cholesterol levels in a person’s body.
3.Stop Smoking: Smoking builds up the plaque in one’s arteries causes by high cholesterol much faster. As a result, a smoker’s heart has to work much harder to pump blood through those clogged up arteries to provide oxygen for the whole body. This extra work forced onto the heart can actually cause heart failure, or when the arteries are completely blocked, there is a high chance a stroke or heart attack would occur.
4.Learn to relax: High levels of stress can also cause one to have high levels of cholesterol. When a person is constantly placed under stress, even when he is under a low cholesterol diet, the result of lowered cholesterol would be very limited. To achieve a lower cholesterol level, we must first to learn to stay relaxed despite under stressful conditions, only then would the other steps to reduce cholesterol be more effective.
You need not wait very long to observe the results of lowered cholesterol. In a few weeks, you can sense an improvement in your health and have your cholesterol level lowered significantly.
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October 7th, 2008 at 05:00am
Under Cholesterol
Medicine to keep our cholesterol level in check has been widely used up till this day, even with the question of its effectiveness answered, many still wonder, is it really safe? Cholesterol medicine can be spit into two main groups, man-made and natural. While people tend to believe more in keeping their cholesterol levels in check through dieting, exercise which are deemed the safest ways, others still believe in consuming pills to keep their health in check.
Natural herbs such as Policosanol, Guggulipid and green tea extracts all have medicinal properties in the area of keeping our cholesterol levels in check. They are exceptionally effective in lowering our cholesterol levels but are they safe? Fortunately for many, they are and they are being used widely throughout the world. However, it is not always the case where medicine would not cause any side-effects; much on the contrary, man-made cholesterol supplements have serious side-effects.
Niacin, commonly known as a type of B vitamin, is a man-made cholesterol supplement that is very effective in lowering cholesterol levels. However, there is a catch behind it when you use it; you may suffer from one or many of the side-effects that comes with it.
Some of these side-effects include increased effect on high blood pressure medication, indigestion, liver inflammation, diarrhea ad nausea. Another one of the more common side effects associated with niacin is when used in a large dose; it would lead to the widening of blood vessels resulting in skin flushing or hot flashes. Another huge worry for doctors is that patients accidentally mix niacin together with Statin and consume them together, which would bring dire consequences. This is especially so when Statin is another medication used for lowering cholesterol, and uneducated patients may be impatient to consume both medication together not knowing what they are doing is fatal, in an attempt to lower their cholesterol faster.
Other side effects associated with other cholesterol supplements are muscle aches and cramps. When these effects are exhibited, it is important for the person using the drug to know that it is time to stop using it to protect his own life.
No doubt, side-effects are almost synonymous with most medication, but it would be better if they are used under the supervision of a doctor or physician. Otherwise, the best option would be to opt for a less risky way to lower one’s cholesterol, through dieting or even exercising.
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October 5th, 2008 at 11:00pm
Under Cholesterol
High cholesterol usually do not show any symptoms of itself even when a person does have high cholesterol. Rather, high cholesterol levels are often found out through regular medical checkups with our doctors through the blood test. The next best possible way for one to have a hunch that he is having high cholesterol is when health problems such as heart diseases or stroke begin to surface.
Coronary Heart Disease:
Chest pain, or medically known as Angina, is the primary symptom associated with coronary heart disease which a patient may suffer due to high cholesterol. Angina is very much felt by the person suffering from it. It can be described like a pressing on the chest, or a tight squeeze around the chest. It is as if another person is sitting on your chest, causing it to be pressurized. Though the initial and most frequent part of the body that would be affected is the pressure feeling on the chest, these symptoms can actually spread to other parts of the body; the jaw, neck and even your arms. In certain cases, patients feel pressure in some other parts of their body but not their chest.
Besides feeling pain in the chest, people suffering from coronary heart disease may also exhibit signs of shortness of breath, feeling nausea, experience huge amount of sweating and lightheadedness. Chest pains should not be taken lightly as it is most likely to be directly related to coronary heart disease. Victims to coronary heart disease should avoid having a large meal or be too overly excited as they can turn out to become fatal. Rather, when you are experiencing chest pains, you should stop whatever you are doing and have a short rest. If these symptoms are continuous, it would be best to pay your doctor a visit.
Stroke:
High cholesterol often causes arteriosclerosis, where a plague clogs up an artery like a drain and prevents blood from flowing freely through the arteries. In the worst case scenario, the plague in these arteries hardens and opposes blood flow, causing blood to clot at the point where it is being obstructed from flowing. In such a scenario, there is a possibility that the artery will burst, resulting in a stroke.
There is almost no warning to when a stroke is going to occur but it often happens after dizziness is felt, or there is sudden confusion where there is a difficulty in speech and understanding. When a stroke happens, it is highly likely a person would lose function in a part of their body, or even be paralyzed for life.
Heart disease is among the top killers in many countries, especially in the United States, where it is a known fact that it is the top killer for both men and women. Almost 500,000 Americans pass on due to heart diseases and many more suffer heart attacks every year. Scientifically, doctors have agreed on a consensus, the higher a person’s cholesterol level, the higher their level of heart disease.
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October 4th, 2008 at 05:00pm
Under Cholesterol
Cholesterol lowering supplements are often to be associated with terrible side-effects and the result of consuming such supplements are usually thought to be negative instead of being good. However, the use of such supplements with a good, healthy diet and a lifestyle of exercise can actually prevent the nasty side-effects associated with it. On the other hand, they can actually insure your life with good health and extend your life. Even so, we have to make it clear that cholesterol supplements come in 2 different forms, man-made and naturally.
Man-made supplements
One example of man made supplements is Statin drugs. In the medical field, Statin drugs are rather famous for being effective in lowering cholesterol, yet just like any other man-made drugs; usage of Statin drugs would result in side-effects. One of the side-effect associated with Statin drugs usage is muscle ache; when this occurs, it is advised that you inform your doctor as soon as possible. Another more serious problem associated with Statin drugs is that it may cause slight kidney dysfunction thus it is advised that when a person is into a drug therapy involving any kind of Statin drug, he or she should also partake Co-Enzyme Q10 as an additional supplement to replenish for the enzyme that is being used up when using Statin drugs.
Natural supplements
On the contrary, natural supplements that help reduce cholesterol can be easily found in the market and do not have any side effects associated with them. Policosanol, a pure extract of sugar cane wax is deemed one of the most effective cholesterol lowering supplements in the world today. It is able to increase the amount of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol naturally without any side-effects and has been said to outperform the man-made drugs in the market.
Green tea extracts have similar properties associated with Policosanol, so does Beta Sitosterol. Beta Sitosterol, found in soybeans and corn oil is thought to have anti-cancer and immune boosting properties too!
Guggulipid extract, from an ancient herb in India is also one the many natural solutions to high cholesterol problems. Used in India to treat a variety of sicknesses, it has also proved to be exceptionally effective in helping one reduce his or her cholesterol level. Just like Policosanol, Guggulipid extracts have proved to be even better than most man-made prescriptions in the market today.
In conclusion, cholesterol lowering supplements need not necessarily be harmful when consumed, but are effective to a large extent. However we have to choose for ourselves the right type of medication we are to take. Also, it is advised that you first seek advice from your physician before using any particular medicinal product that helps in lowering your cholesterol.
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October 3rd, 2008 at 11:00am
Under Cholesterol
A healthy cholesterol level is always an added advantage to a person’s life as he or she would have no worry over heart diseases and would be able to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. However, in our modern society, it seems increasingly hard for a person to lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Being caught up at work, we have insufficient time for leisure, let alone exercise or having the spare time to cook up a healthy dish for our families. But is having a healthy lifestyle that leads to a healthy cholesterol level really not for us?
Here are some steps to achieve a healthy cholesterol level, but be advised, it is not one-time thing, and rather you have to do it continuously till the day you pass on in life.
A Proper Diet: Instead gobbling down junk food daily during work due to the lack of time for a proper lunch break, an alternative would be to prepare some sandwiches that are high in fiber with the right amount of lettuce and tomatoes, meat and filling. This way, not only do you save the time rushing to the fast-food chain to buy a junk meal, you can eat healthily while working. Watching your intake of carbohydrates would also help greatly, especially if you are not much a sports person as the excess energy that remains unused would eventually turn into fat, which would in turn lead to increased cholesterol levels.
Exercise Regularly: Engaging in sports or exercise regularly is very essential to having a healthy level of cholesterol. Through exercise, we strengthen our heart and cardiovascular system; this would help our blood circulation and reduce the risk of heart attacks. Also, exercise can reverse the effects of that high cholesterol brings and even if you do not have high cholesterol, you would maintain a healthy and fit body with reduced risk of having high cholesterol.
Do Not Smoke: Smoking causes our arteries to be clogged up with plague which is already clogged enough due to high cholesterol. Thus, it would cause more cholesterol to line up along the artery’s walls due as the plague hardens and obstructs the flow of blood in our arteries.
Lead a Carefree Life: Chronic stress is a main cause of high cholesterol levels but can be prevented if we can learn to relax in life. A person under constant stress even with a low cholesterol diet, would no be able to save themselves from a life plagued with problems due to high cholesterol.
Though these steps are not 100 percent going to prevent you from having high cholesterol levels in your life, but it does reduce the risk of having high cholesterol.
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October 1st, 2008 at 05:00am
Under Cholesterol
Just like how high cholesterol does not show itself to exist till we do a blood test, it is almost impossible for us to deduce whether we have a healthy cholesterol level also. However, it is without a doubt that we have a healthy cholesterol level as compared to having one that is off the roof. With the numerous kinds of health risks and problems associated with high cholesterol, many people tend to overlook the benefits of having a healthy cholesterol level.
Some of the benefits of having a healthy cholesterol level are as follows
Being more energized: Without excessive cholesterol clogging our arteries, our heart will find it easier to pump blood through our veins and thus would require lesser energy to do so. With the extra energy, our body can do more physically and we will not feel more tired when doing the same amount of work as compared to someone who has high cholesterol levels. Also, our heart would not over-exert itself and would remain healthy and strong.
Reduced risk of heart diseases: A heart attack results when a person has a blood clot in one of the coronary arteries that provide oxygen to the heart. One of the easiest ways a blood clot is able to form in the arteries is when blood is unable to pass trough the arteries. This usually occurs when the cholesterol lines the walls of the arteries and hardens to an extent where it blocks the artery entirely. Thus, having a healthy cholesterol level would ensure that such an event would not be able to occur.
Reduced risk of stroke: Similar to how a heart attack occurs, a stroke happens when the artery is clogged up and the pressure amounted in the blood clot bursts. A stroke usually leaves its victim with an inability to function in part of his or her body. All these have a much reduced chance of occurring in a healthy cholesterol level person’s life!
All these are just snippets of what a person with healthy level of cholesterol can experience. There are many more, especially those that occur indirectly, for example, while keeping a healthy cholesterol level through exercise, one can keep fit and remain healthy at the same time! However, with all these mentioned, we do must keep in mind, high cholesterol can still be passed down genetically, and it would be unfortunate for a healthy person to have a high cholesterol problem, but there is always a possibility.
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September 29th, 2008 at 05:00am
Under Cholesterol
Low cholesterol diets tend to be under much skepticism over the supposed effects and results they should bring, but is it really true that low cholesterol diets can lower unhealthy levels of cholesterol? The good news is, it is very true that low cholesterol diets can indeed lower our cholesterol levels, but the catch is that, certain kinds of high cholesterol problems, such as those caused through genetic heritage, may not be totally cured. Nonetheless, most of the time, such diets have been proven to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels.
There are different kinds of food that have the properties of reducing cholesterol levels. One of such kind of food is soy protein. After thoroughly analyzing the health properties that soy protein contains, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even claimed that soy protein can help lower the risk of having heart diseases. However, it is recommended that one has to consume about 25 grams per day to be able to experience the benefits that soy protein promises to possess.
Nuts also have cholesterol lowering properties and through numerous studies, it has been proven that a diet that consists of a regular portion of nut intake can increase the benefit of lowering bad cholesterol by more than 100 percent, whilst helping to sustain the amount of good cholesterol in a person’s body!
Beta Glucan, a key element that reduces cholesterol can be found in large quantities in oats and barley. Being rich in beta glucan, oats and barley are also effective in reducing cholesterol levels in our body. The proposed amount of oats and barley to be consumed each day is approximately 3 full cups of such grain.
Fruits and vegetables are also great at reducing cholesterol also, there is a variety of such fruits and vegetables thus we need not subject ourselves to a torturous daily intake of same kinds of fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits such as apples, berries, apricots all contain the nutrients and properties that have the ability to reduce bad cholesterol in our bodies. Vegetables such as carrots and cabbage are also great inclusions into your diet when we seek to reduce our cholesterol levels. However, it has been suggested that we need to at least consume up to five servings of fruits and vegetables for it to have the desired effect you want it to have on your cholesterol levels.
Thus, it is without a doubt that low cholesterol diets have significant impact on us if we do want to reduce our cholesterol levels. However, be informed that it is not sufficient just to have a change in diet, but rather a change in diet has to be backed up by a change in lifestyle, before one can see significant change to their cholesterol levels.
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September 28th, 2008 at 05:00am
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“You are what you eat!” as quoted from Dr Gillian McKeith has often been termed as the mantra for food lovers like you and me. However, is it necessarily true for all cases,or it is only a phrase we quote often to satisfy our own craving for food. Low cholesterol meals such as those with huge servings of oats, barley added with a generous serving of soy protein, fruits and vegetables; are they really the concoction for a healthy cholesterol level?
Instead of drinking coffee each day, why not try 1 or 2 glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice? Especially if the juice contains plant sterols that have cholesterol lowering properties, it can actually promote lowered cholesterol levels in your body. Not only do you get to enjoy the sweetness and the great taste of orange, you enjoy the benefits of lower cholesterol that it brings. However, if you are not an orange lover, other frit juices namely cranberry juice, grapefruit juice or grape juice would do fine. Actually, any other citric fruit would actually bring the benefits of reduced cholesterol in our bodies! However, if you are such a coffee freak, another suggestion would be to use paper filters when brewing your favorite cup of coffee. These filters would ensure that substances that would cause high cholesterol would be not left inside your coffee.
Also, instead of using normal cooking oil, use olive oil generously during cooking or for salad dressings! Olive oil has been proven to contain lesser amounts of saturated fat that is one of the main causes of high cholesterol. Besides using it for cooking purposes, people from Spain, Italy have regularly used olive oil in place of butter to spread on bread. Due to such a custom, is has resulted in these places having the least amount of heart disease cases in the whole of Europe.
Not forgetting seafood, it has been scientifically proven that mackerel, salmon and even sardines and many other kinds of fish contain huge amounts of omega 3 fatty acids. With the consumption of these fishes daily, we fulfill our bodies daily needed intake of omega 3 fatty acids that are also able to lower cholesterol levels to a healthy level.
From the various examples given above, we can see the obvious benefits that a low cholesterol meal can give us, but it is not necessarily true that just by having a healthy diet of low cholesterol products, we would have a healthy cholesterol level. Besides a good diet, we need to have a lifestyle of exercise and avoid vices such as smoking or excessive consumption of liquor. Only when these conditions are met, one can have a lowered chance of having high cholesterol, but they are still not protected fully from the possibility of contracting diseases associated with high cholesterol.
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