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.
Cholesterol has a vital function in our body because it produces vitamin D, creates bile salts to help in the digestion of unused fat, and it aids in building call walls. So, if cholesterol does all these wonderful things, why would we need to worry about having too much in our body? The answer is simply because anything in excess is bad for our bodies. If we can learn what is cholesterol, then we can avoid having too much in our system.
The Bad And Good Cholesterol.
An easy way to watch whether we eat good or bad cholesterol is understand which foods produce the cholesterol. Bad cholesterol is found in foods that have animal fats such as meats and dairy. However foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits have no cholesterol.
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.
What Can Cause Us To Get High Cholesterol?
Many of us who go to the doctor are usually worried about having a high cholesterol level. There are several reasons that we acquire a high cholesterol level and the main reason is our age. As we age our cholesterol level goes up and we are thus more able to get high cholesterol.
There are many explanations as to why we get high cholesterol. One explanation is that we inherit high cholesterol from our parents. If this is the case, then you should be tested to determine if you have inherited this from your parents. Another explanation is physical activity. When we exert ourselves with physical activity, this raises the amount of good cholesterol within our body and thus promotes better health.
When we are determining what is cholesterol, and examining the causes and treatments, we often find that there is a direct link to our cholesterol levels and the food we eat on a daily basis. By eating foods rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, fish and beans we can help keep the cholesterol in our body low and thus have a healthier life. By trying to avoid eating foods like meat and dairy that make our cholesterol levels high, we can also have a healthier life.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Diet To Lower Cholesterol: An Explanation On What Is Cholesterol Posted By : Delynda Lardone
Friday, June 6, 2008
What Is Normal Cholesterol " The Good, Bad And The Ugly
This article will discuss what is cholesterol. There is much said about this substance in the press or in advertisements along the lines of must get it lower. However there is more to cholesterol than simply eat this type of food to get it lower. This article will cover the good cholesterol, the bad cholesterol and the ugly consequences should you not heed the warning signs that your level is too high.
Cholesterol serves a purpose in the body. It makes the cell walls more robust, it helps to convert sunlight to vitamin D on the skin. It also helps to produce certain hormones that are vital for regulating the body's metabolism.
In terms of structure, it is a white color with a waxy consistency. Many people think of it as similar to ear wax. Most of the cholesterol that the body needs is created in the liver. The rest, around 20% is taken from the foods that we eat.
So cholesterol is vital to the body's overall health but too much is detrimental to it. The current thoughts on an ideal cholesterol level are that anything over 200mg per deciliter of blood is not good for the body.
What is Bad Cholesterol
The bloodstream is the method in which cholesterol is transported throughout the body (like many other substances vital to the wellbeing and health of the body). However, cholesterol is not soluble in water (or blood) so needs a transport that it can attach itself to in the bloodstream.
This transport is called a lipoprotein. Cholesterol leaves the liver to be used throughout the body on the lipoproteins known as low density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol). It is thought of as bad because it moves cholesterol out into the body where it can have negative affects if there is too much of it.
What is Good Cholesterol.
Good cholesterol is the opposite of bad cholesterol. It acts as a transport that moves cholesterol back to the liver from the rest of the body. This can thus reduce the disease producing consequences of too much cholesterol in the body. Once the cholesterol in returned to the liver it is excreted out of the body. Good cholesterol is known as a high density lipoprotein.
The Ugly Fate Should Warnings Go Unheeded
With too much bad cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream, the excess amount of cholesterol in the system can be transported throughout the body. This often results in cholesterol being deposited in parts of the body where it cannot be used. One common area where this occurs is on the inner walls of the arteries. This is referred to as plaque.
If the build up of plaque continues the person can have a number of health problems. Because the diameter of the arteries is decreased the heart has to work harder to get blood to the body. This can lead to heart disease. As the walls received more plaque the person is said to have a condition known as atherosclerosis.
As plaque continues to build up the person is increasingly open to more life threatening problems. Apart from heart disease, plaque could break of the walls and cause blood clots. Blood clots generally cause strokes.
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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Lower Cholesterol With The Heart Smart Diet
The heart smart diet or the healthy heart diet is one of the healthiest diet programs around because it focuses on keeping the heart healthy instead of losing weight. The program espouses cholesterol intake of less than 300 milligrams per day. It also encourages dieters to lower their sodium intake.
Foods are categorized based on their cholesterol content. Dieters are allowed to have bigger portions of food with low cholesterol while certain foods are avoided or consumed in moderation based on the categories. Under the diet program, the total fat intake of an individual must not exceed 30% of his total calorie consumption. Intake of saturated fatty acids is limited to 10% of calorie intake, the same as with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Sodium intake is limited to 3000 milligrams per day. Other additives like MSG are also avoided.
One of the easiest ways to follow this program is for the dieter to make healthy replacements instead of completely eliminating a food group from his diet. Taking out specific food groups can make a dieter feel deprived. There are plenty of other food switches you can do. You just have to make a conscious effort to choose the healthier alternatives instead of the unhealthy options. Sometimes it may seem difficult because a lot of the foods that are loaded with cholesterol and sodium are tasty foods that people have become so used to having in their lives. But you little by little you'll find certain food replacements that you will also enjoy.
One of the first things a dieter must do is to minimize the consumption of red meat. Replace red meat with fish and poultry in your diet. Tuna is a great source of protein. It also contains Omega-3 acids which are good for your heart. You can have red meat a few times but make sure that it is lean. Take out the fat and if possible grill meats and other foods instead of frying them.
White flour and other processed grains products can be replaced with whole grain products. Instead of eating white loaf, go for whole wheat bread. Switch yogurt for ice cream and go for low-cholesterol dairy products if you can't avoid them. You should also increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables because they contain essential vitamins and minerals. They are also high in fiber which helps sweep cholesterol from the digestive tracts. Instead of eating bacon sandwiches, go for chicken or turkey. Replace chips and buttered popcorn with healthier alternatives like unsalted pretzels and unbuttered popcorn.
The advantage of this diet is it does not involve cutting down too many calories from your diet. It is completely sustainable because it is all about making the right food choices. Meals can also be enjoyable as no food groups are completely eliminated from the diet. Overweight individuals can even benefit with weight loss because the program helps them eliminate much of the unhealthy foods that they are used to consuming. The biggest benefit of course, is that it lowers the risk of getting hypertension, heart diseases and even type-2 diabetes.
How To Naturally Lower Your Cholesterol
The main contributing factor to heart disease is hight cholesterol. There are several factors that possibly contribute to high cholesterol. High cholesterol is quite common with over 26 million Americans affected by this condition.
High cholesterol is responsible for 70% of all heart disease. It is a leading killer of both men and women over the age of 45. High cholesterol is also a leading cause of death worldwide.
Having high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) will form plaque in the arteries. The result of this is atherosclerosis. It has been proven that lifestyle changes can prevent or lower high cholesterol.
Lifestyle changes that include eating a diet low in saturated fat, increased physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight will help to lower high cholesterol. A diet that is high in fiber helps to lower high cholesterol levels.
Foods high in fiber can be found in whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruit. These foods will keep your digestive system regular, satisfy you and provide good nutrition. Fiber helps to block cholesterol from being absorbed into the intestinal tract. As a result, this bad cholesterol is expelled with normal excretion.
It is a good idea to lower your cholesterol naturally. The most common drugs prescribed by doctors are statin drugs. These are effective and work in a short period of time. The bad side is that statin drugs produce some very harmful side effects.
It is well established that statin drugs cause serious liver damage. Patients that use this medication are required to have a routine blood test every two months.
Statin drugs can cause muscle pain, disease and the breakdown of muscles. It also causes weakness and can create difficulties with walking.
It can be responsible for the loss of memory and clarity. It can occasionally create confusion and amnesia. This group of drugs and be responsible for sexual dysfunction and irritability.
Statin drugs are know to cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fever, sleeplessness and headaches.
This group of drugs are also responsible for depleting essential nutrients important for the heart and brain.
Conversely, it is quite possible to lower your cholesterol naturally. The best part is that this can be accomplished without harmful side effects.
Here is what you can do:
1/ Exercise for between 30 minutes and an hour each day. This can be extremely effective. A consistent exercise program will help to increase good cholesterol (HDL). It will help to reduce the harmful cholesterol (LDL). The bottom line is that exercise helps to naturally lower bad cholesterol without the harmful side effects.
2/ Change the way that you eat.
It is important to realize that getting high cholesterol does not occur in a vacuum. The biggest contributing factors are what we eat and our lack of activity. These factors are even greater than heredity. Heredity is a factor only to the point that our parents pass their lifestyles onto us.
It is important to have a diet high in fiber. This type of diet includes whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruit. The fiber from these foods bind with the cholesterol and removes it from our system.
3/ Avoid or reduce foods that are bad sources of fat. This also includes red meat and dairy products.
4/ Natural herbal products.
Herbal supplements can be helpful in lowering high cholesterol. Research has shown that herbal supplements actually help to lower bad cholesterol.
Ancient Chinese medicine incorporates the use of herbs. Traditional Chinese therapy produces very good results for lowering high cholesterol. Thousands of years of Chinese medicine have developed herbal treatments that are natural, safe and effective.
As you can see, there are major differences between conventional western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Unlike conventional medicine, the herbs used by the Chinese are extremely mild. They do not produce harmful side effects. Because they are so mild, they appear to take months to work.
Although visible results may take months, the herbs do begin to work immediately. The herbs do not jar or shock the system. They improve our health in a gradual and steady manner. An added benefit is that the herbs actually improve the function of the liver. This can be experienced within a couple of months. A simple blood test will prove this.
These herbal treatments have been around for centuries. However, if you are taking medication or are under a physicians care, please consult with your doctor first.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Not All Cholesterol Lowering Medications are Created Equal
Home | Health And Wellness | Cholesterol
Not All Cholesterol Lowering Medications are Created EqualBy: Doug Bremner
In January of 2008 some unsettling news has come from the FDA about the risks of the cholesterol lowering medication Vytorin (a combination of Zetia (Ezetimibe) and the statin drug Zocor (simvastatin)). Data from the Enhance trial that was not previously revealed by the manufacturer, Merck/Schering-Plough, showed that the combination drug did not reduce atherosclerotic plaque any better than the generic statin drug, simvastatin, when given alone. In fact, if anything Vytorin seemed to make atherosclerotic plaque worse, although it had a greater effect on lowering cholesterol. Vytorin has also been associated with an alarming increase in risk of liver damage. In addition, the Zetia that is in Vytorin has never been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes. And Vytorin, at $2.84 a pop, as well as Zetia ($2.63) costs a heck-of-a-lot more than simvastatin, which is less than a dollar per pill.
Doctors use cholesterol lowering drugs to get cholesterol down to normal levels. However just because a drug lowers cholesterol levels doesn't mean it will do what patients care about most, that is save your life, or even reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The most commonly prescribed drugs to lower cholesterol, the statins, include Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, Mevacor, and Pravachol. Statins lower LDL cholesterol by blocking an enzyme that churns out LDL cholesterol in the liver, called HMG CoEnzymeA reductase. Thirteen million prescriptions are written for statins every year. Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a drug that blocks absorption of LDL cholesterol by the small intestine, thus lowering LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Zetia acts on cells lining the small intestine to interfere with their uptake of cholesterol. If we followed the recommendations of the experts, cholesterol lowering drugs would be given to every American with an LDL of greater than 130 mg/dL over age 45. Since half of Americans over age 35 have an LDL greater than 130 that would mean that almost half of all Americans or 100 million people should, theoretically, be taking statins. Since a year of statins costs up to $3000, that would cost $300 billion a year. Comparing national guidelines for who should take a statin across different countries, the guidelines which called for the most liberal use of statins (you guessed it, the U.S.) which called for 25% of the population to be on statins, saved no more lives than the guidelines for one of the most restrictive countries, New Zealand, which would treat 13% of the population.
For healthy males without a history of heart disease and without risk factors for heart disease (smoking, hypertension, family history of heart disease, familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity and diabetes), there isn't any evidence that cholesterol lowering drugs are helpful in terms of preventing heart attacks and strokes. For men with risk factors, the majority of the studies show that they may prevent heart attacks but don't decrease your risk of dying. Cholesterol lowering does not prevent heart attacks in women without heart disease or in men without heart disease who are over the age of 70.
And taking a statin won't prevent you from having a heart attack or dying if you have heart disease. It only slightly lowers your risk, by about 0.2% per year. The only study to show that statins reduce risk of death in patients without heart disease showed that although after 15 years men taking Pravachol had fewer deaths (106 versus 135 on placebo), there was a 51% increase in prostate cancer. Other studies have shown a slight increase in the risk of cancer, especially with the use of high dose statins to bring cholesterol down to very low levels. Statins can also cause liver damage, depression, memory problems, and joint pain. They can also cause damage to the muscle tissue which results in muscle pain. In rare cases this can lead to a breakdown of the muscle tissue which results in kidney failure. Zetia can headache, dizziness, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, and more rarely jaundice, gall stones or inflammation of the pancreas.
Bottom line? The drugs you are taking to prevent heart disease may not be as useful as you think, and in some cases may be doing more harm than good. Let the buyer beware.
Article Source: http://www.dietarticles.info
Learn more about alternatives to medications and hidden risks of prescription medications in 'Before You Take That Pill: Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements,' by researcher and physician J. Douglas Bremner, MD.www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Lower Cholesterol Levels Drugs
The blood circulating in the body consists of blood cells and a straw coloured liquid called plasma. Plasma is made up chiefly of proteins and water, and fats (lipids) are carried with these proteins. These are described according to their density. The low density and very low density lipoproteins, which are called LDL and VLDL respectively, are considered to be harmful, whereas, high density lipoproteins, which are called HDL, are useful as they remove LDL and VLDL from the blood. The fats which are carried by these lipoproteins are cholesterol and triglycerides. There are various reasons for a high level of fat in the blood. High fat levels in the blood are quite common in those who are overweight or have familial or genetic tendencies. In such persons, reducing body weight by control and regular physical exercise is sufficient to lower the blood fat level. Certain disease conditions like diabetes, decreased function of the thyroid gland, and some metabolic disorders may also be responsible for an increased blood fat levels. In these conditions control of the underlying disease is needed.
How is Excessive Fat in the Blood Harmful?
Raised cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. An excessively high quantity of cholesterol in the blood is gets deposited on the walls of the blood vessels and make them narrow. This narrowing of the blood vessel is called atherosclerosis. The process of atherosclerosis may start at a young age but its manifestations are usually seen in older patients, by which time it has advanced considerably. Atherosclerosis may lead to a defective blood supply to various vital organs of the body. In the brain it may cause impairment of mental functions, paralysis, and unconsciousness. Another danger is the involvement of the heart. Narrowing of coronary arteries (those supplying blood to the heart muscle) may lead to a defective blood and oxygen supply to the cardiac muscle and cause disorders like angina or myocardial infarction which need treatment immediately.
Preventive Measures
Various measures can be undertaken to minimize the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Life style changes such as giving up or a drastic reduction smoking are needed. The patient should exercise regularly and should not overeat. Saturated fats, such as butter, ghee, animal fat, hydrogenated oils, coconut oil, oxidized oils (left over after frying), should be avoided and replaced by unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, like vegetable oils, corn oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, cottonseed oil, and sunflower oil. Polyunsaturated fats reduce cholesterol by removing it from tissues. The calories from fats should be 30 per cent or less and distribution of various fats should be equal (saturated fats = monounsaturated fats = polyunsaturated fats). Fish oils are rich in a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid called Omega-3 fatty acid. There are reports of reduction of triglycerides and antiatherogenic effects of fish oils. Fresh fruits and green vegetables have high levels of antioxidants which are useful. The dictum to be followed should be 'Never a day without fruit.' Sugar intake should be reduced. Total caloric intake should be lowered so that there is a gradual decrease in weight. It has been observed that the these measures help in reducing plasma fat in most cases. However, when these measures are ineffective, drugs may be employed. It must be remembered that once a heart attack has occurred, the reduction of plasma lipids will decrease the chances of future attacks.
Blood Cholesterol: How Much Reduction is Beneficial? Conventional normal value may be too high for Indian cases because various studies have shown that we are genetically more prone to heart disease (and are likely to have more complications at young age!) and tolerate cholesterol levels poorly. Hence, lower values are recommended. Obviously aggressive reduction of blood cholesterol reduces chances of atherosclerosis.
Ezetimide (Ezetip, Lipezet 10 mg tab)
This drug prevents absorption of cholesterol from small bowel. It reduces LDL-cholesterol levels and further reduces LDL-C by 25% and triglycerides by 14%. It is well tolerated but occasional abdominal pain, diarrhoea, joint pains, headache, dizziness may be there. Its usual dose is 10 mg once a day regardless of meals. It can be combined with statins.
Nicotinic acid (Nialip 500 mg tab)
It is Vitamin B3 (Niacin or nicotinamide) derivative and reduces tryglycerides and VLDL-C (2050%) rapidly and followed by LDL-C (15-25%) subsequently. It is the most effective drug to raise good cholesterol (HDL-C) by 15-30%. It acts on liver and prevents formation of triglycerides. Starting dose is 100 mg thrice a day with meals and gradually increased to 2 g to 6 g per day.
Adverse Effects: It is a poorly tolerated drug. It causes dyspepsia, flushing, itching and sensation of heat (skin blood vessels widen). It also causes diarrhoea, darkening of skin, worsening of diabetes, joint pains in gout and irregular heart beats. It is never given in pregnancy. 'It increases fall in BP due to drugs used for the treatment of high blood pressure.
Other Drugs
Guggulipid (GUGLIP 25 mg tab) is a plant derivative (gum guggul) which lowers lipids modestly. It may cause loose motions.
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Lp(a) Blood Test
When LDL cholesterol combines with a substance known as Apoliprotein (a), the result is a compound known as Lp(a), or "ugly" cholesterol. Lp(a) is called ugly cholesterol because evidence from some research studies shows that in high levels, it can increase a person's risk of heart attack or stroke, even if cholesterol levels are otherwise "desirable." Lp(a) is measured through a blood sample and can be tested as part of a lipoprotein panel.
Genetics determines your levels of Lp(a) and even the size of the Lp(a) molecule itself. Lifestyle changes do not alter levels of Lp(a); instead, levels for most people tend to remain consistent over a lifetime except for women, who will experience a slight rise in levels with menopause. Some physicians request testing of Lp(a) for patients who have a strong family history of premature heart disease or hypercholesterolemia. It can be a valuable test, particularly when other types of cholesterol are at healthy levels, yet concern exists that heart disease is developing. Physicians will typically order this test if a patient has had a heart attack or stroke, yet cholesterol levels fall within a "healthy" category.
Berkeley Heart Lab, Inc., based in Burlingame, California, offers a number of advanced lipid tests-including a test for levels of Lp(a)-that provide quantitative determinations of lipoprotein subclasses. According to Jeffrey Aroy of Berkeley HeartLab, Inc., "the value of the quantitative measurements is that they go beyond simply noting whether levels are 'good' or 'bad.' Instead, these measurements not only provide guidance for therapeutic treatment, but also provide valuable insight into the success of therapy and the need for adjusting treatment approaches on an ongoing basis."
Approximately 50 percent of people who have heart attacks do not have elevated cholesterol levels. These individuals, however, typically have higher levels of CRP, Lp(a), Apo S, or homocysteine. As researchers continue to learn about the exact mechanisms of heart disease, more tests are developed to identify and measure these other risk factors and markers.
Treatment for elevated Lp(a) includes niacin therapy. Some experts believe that antioxidant therapy is also useful. People with high levels of Lp(a) benefit by concentrating their efforts OR lowering LDL levels since at lower levels, it is harder for LDL particles to attach to plaque buildup. Lowering LDL levels ultimately lowers the level of risk.
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November 2003, researchers found that elevated levels of Lp(a) among healthy men age sixty-five years and older are predictive of the risk of stroke and death. Study participants with the highest levels of Lp(a) were more likely to experience a stroke and were 76 percent more likely to die than men with the lowest levels. These researchers support the use of Lp(a) testing as a screening tool to measure the risk of stroke and heart disease in older men.
Source: http://www.dietarticles.info/Article/Lp-a--Blood-Test/16711
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