Has your doctor recommended medication for your high cholesterol? If so please be aware these medications are not safe, nor have they proved to prevent heart attacks or strokes. There are many safe and natural things you can do to lower your cholesterol.

First of all let me tell you that your body needs and produces cholesterol. It is used to coat, protect and build cell walls. However high levels of cholesterol infused with trans fats is thicker, stickier and can plug arteries.

Reduce Trans Fats

We have to restrict the trans fats because they make the cholesterol more dangerous. These are oils that have been hydrogenated. Read labels and cut as much of this out as possible.

Alkalize

Since the cholesterol is protecting our vessels and bodies from our built up acids and toxins; we must strive to increase our pH. The main ways to increase pH is to eliminate alcohol, coffee, and soft drinks, and add more minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Cut Carbohydrates

Another thing we should reduce is carbohydrates. Low-carb diets, not low fat diets, have proven to lower cholesterol. The sugar is broken down and stored as fat. Cholesterol is one of the first fats produced. It flows through our blood stream till it finds a place to be stored.

Eliminating these things completely is pretty much impossible. Fortunately there are many cholesterol reducing foods we can add to our diet.

Fiber

Fiber appears to be important in treating diabetes, elevated cholesterol, colon polyps, and cancer of the colon. Fiber comes from plants and we should have a goal to eat 25-35 grams of fiber per day.

Soluble fiber binds up cholesterol allowing it to be eliminated with the stool. If enough is removed it can lower the blood cholesterol 10-15%. Soluble fiber is found in oatmeal, oat bran, fruit, psyllium (in most fiber products), barley, and legumes.

Foods with the highest grams of soluble fiber in order are baked beans (in tomato sauce- 8.9gms), all types of beans and lentils, peas, apples, raisins, and prunes. In general eating the skin of the fruit or vegetable adds fiber.

Plant Sterols or Stanols

Plant sterols or stanols come from plants and help block cholesterol absorption. Plant sterols have shown to reduce bad cholesterol by 10%. For that reason plant sterols have now been added to fiber products and foods such as orange juice and of all things margarine. You should drink two 8 ounce glasses of plant sterol fortified orange juice per day to reduce cholesterol.

Curcumin

Curcumin is known to have antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and cholesterol-lowering effects. One test showed that animals fed small amounts of curcumin had a 50% reduction in cholesterol. New studies (done on rats) indicated that curcumin increased resistance to heart failure and inflammation. In one test it even reversed heart enlargement.

Curcumin is an ingredient in the curry spice turmeric. So adding this safe natural spice in your cooking may be beneficial. Think curry rice with meat and vegetables, which is a staple in India. Most people may want to start slowly to taste. Curcumin is also available in capsules.

Walnuts and Almonds

Studies have shown that walnuts and almonds can significantly reduce cholesterol and help the vessels become more elastic and resilient. Twenty percent of your daily calories from these nuts would be beneficial. For most of us that is over a third of cup per day. Try adding them to salads and ice cream, cook and bake with them, and eat by the handful. Just remember they are high in calories.

Soy

Diets rich in soy protein have many heart health benefits, including lowering cholesterol. In animal testing it lowered cholesterol by 30%. 5-6 grams of soy protein daily is recommended. Soy drinks, tofu and supplements are available.

Cinnamon

One study of type 2 diabetics found that cinnamon lowered blood sugar and cholesterol levels. They used the whole powdered spice and found that 1gm or 1/2 tsp daily in two doses lowered cholesterol up to 20% in 40 days and effects lasted another 20 days afterwards.

So sprinkle it on toast, cereals, cook with it etc. A daily bowl of apple and cinnamon oatmeal sounds better than any pill.

Green Tea

Green tea has proven to lower cholesterol. Japanese men who normally drink green tea were tested and found that the more green tea they drank the lower their cholesterol was. Generally those drinking more than 9 cups had much lower cholesterol levels. For best results drink 10 cups a day or supplement.

Please don’t take cholesterol medication until you have tried safe and natural things first. If you are already on cholesterol medication; talk to your doctor before trying natural alternatives. You will need to be careful to avoid low cholesterol. Reducing the bad things and adding these food products are all safe ways to fight high cholesterol



http://www.google.com

If you have high cholesterol and you are thinking of lowering your cholesterol level, don’t worry because you can do it yourself and a lot of other people are also experiencing the same problem. This may be a tough job but it will be worth it in the end. There are several ways and steps to be healthy. If you want to be serious, you must closely follow each step.

Actually, there are two kinds of cholesterol in your body, HDL and LDL. The difference between the two is that HDL is the cholesterol that is bad for you and LDL is the healthy one. An increase in blood cholesterol is very common in most people. Lowering cholesterol takes discipline to follow some of these helpful tips:

1. Eat fish. This is an effective way to easily lower cholesterol. Salmon is a good choice because it is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seed is also a good source of Omega-3.

2. If you love desserts, try to limit them and choose healthier ones. Eating graham crackers, fat-free frozen yogurt, and angel food cake is a nice alternative. Set aside the mouth-watering desserts you have been eyeing.

3. You should eat foods that are rich in fiber. Oatmeal, vegetables, beans, fruits, wheat bread and some cereals are examples of foods that have high fiber.

4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. They are the natural foods that contain no cholesterol at all. You can eat a lot of them without the slightest chance of cholesterol.

5. You must avoid fast foods such as French fries and all the food that is cooked in a deep fryer. These are the foods with the fattiest ingredients. They are dipped into oil and absorb too much oil. Although they are tempting, it is worth the sacrifice. Stay away from burgers too, or reserve them for an occasional special treat.

6. If you like salad, try and find a new salad dressing, which is cholesterol friendly. Most salad dressing is full of cholesterol and Trans fats. Maybe a choice of vinegar with lemon juice or Olive oil will be a good option. Bacon bits, egg yolks and croutons should be avoided.

7. If you really can’t get away from burgers and steak, you can grill them in your backyard and use lean cuts of meat instead. This type of cooking prevents reduces the amount of fat in the meat and barbecuing is fun and enjoyable which makes eating pleasurable.

8. If you want a nice healthy sandwich without the fats, have whole wheat bread with a mix of lean turkey and lots of vegetables. Remember to skip the salami, hot dogs and of course the mayo. This type of food is highly processed with cholesterol and fats.

Now after all the worries, you realize that adjusting your diet isn’t going to be too hard at all right? Lowering cholesterol is not a tough job. It just takes patience and dedication and you will have the your levels under control in no time.

Remember, it is important to consult your physician before making any significant changes in diet or lifestyle. Always follow their advice regarding the control of cholesterol levels.



http://www.google.com

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */

table.MsoNormalTable

{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;

mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;

mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

mso-style-noshow:yes;

mso-style-priority:99;

mso-style-qformat:yes;

mso-style-parent:”";

mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;

mso-para-margin:0in;

mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;

mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

font-size:11.0pt;

font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;

mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;

mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;

mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;

mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;

mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;

mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;

mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Many people that have been diagnosed with high cholesterol are looking for alternative treatments that can lower their cholesterol naturally rather than go the traditional pharmaceutical route. A change in diet and adding an exercise routine are all good ways to take cholesterol treatment into your own hands. There is another alternative you may want to look into as well. It is a cholesterol sterol drink that contains plant sterols and stanols that can be an added tool along with diet and lifestyle changes to help lower cholesterol naturally.

The Effects of Sterols in Lowering Cholesterol



Plant sterols can be found in many foods you eat, but eating enough of them to get the desired amount of plant sterols to lower your cholesterol can be hard. It is said that it would take some one hundred pounds of fruit and nuts in order to get the 2 grams of sterols needed to effectively lower cholesterol daily.

Plant sterols work by inhibiting cholesterol absorption when the cholesterol reaches the small intestine. Consuming two grams of sterols daily can lower bad cholesterol or LDL levels by at least 10%. Finding a cholesterol sterol drink to help you get the proper amount of effective ingredients can be a great way to get beneficial treatment in your fight against high cholesterol.

The Delivery is another Key Factor



Plant sterols were first introduced into fat soluble foods to make solubility better incorporated with PS esters. It was first found in such products as margarine, low fat milk and yogurt. Researchers now believe that taking plant sterols at a particular time is more important than what they are contained in. The optimal time to consume a cholesterol sterol drink is during mealtimes, with food, rather than snacking or drinking it between meals. Drinking a beverage that contains plant sterols along with your meal instead of sipping on water, milk, juice or soda can be an effective way to deliver the desirable effects.

Though you can still reap benefits of taking plant sterols between meals, blind studies showed that there was a 10% reduction of LDL cholesterol when a sterol drink was added at mealtime and just 7.5% reduction when taken between meals either in a liquid or solid form.

Where Can I Find Sterol Drinks?



Any visit to a natural market or health food store will have a supply of plant sterol enriched foods and drinks. When you shop online you will have access to a vast variety of drinks that will be loaded with not only plant sterols but other healthy ingredients that will target lowering your cholesterol naturally. You can find great deals and easily comparison shop when you look to purchase plant sterol drinks on the internet.

One great product is Pulsate Plus. It is a tasty drink that can be sipped along with your healthy meal to help you to lower your cholesterol without any ill effects. Pulsate Plus along with many other natural cholesterol remedies can be found on the internet at prices you can well afford for your good health.



http://www.google.com

Doctor recomended medications do work in lowering the bad (LDL) the side effects can certainly make a person think about healthy alternative solutions without all of the negative side effects, not to mention the high price of medication during these hard times.  Here are just a few of the documented side effects I have found associated with prescription cholesterol medication:

An increase in cancer Elevated liver enzymes (causing liver damage) Yellow skin / yellow eyes Rhabdomyolysis (degenerative muscle tissue condition, this one is very troubling) Impaired kidney function Muscle weakness and pain Dizziness Gas Headache Heartburn or indigestion Nausea or vomiting

I do agree there are many people that must follow doctor orders and recommendations when it comes to high cholesterol. But for people like me that have seen their LDL levels slowly increase over the years, have another option. Try to control the Bad (LDL) cholesterol with foods that naturally lower cholesterol before resorting to prescription medication if possible.

Are you trying to figure out which foods that naturally lower cholesterol levels? I have found a lot of the same foods listed over and over again in my personal quest to naturally lower cholesterol levels for myself.

There are many people that are learning how to live a healthier life by cooking with foods that naturally lower cholesterol.  Many have reduced and even eliminated the need for prescription medication and all of the negative side affects that they cause simply by adjusting cooking and eating habits.

Here are just a few of the foods that naturally lower cholesterol:

Cayenne Pepper a hot, red chili pepper used to spice up foods and for medicinal purposes.  Cayenne is used in cooking spicy dishes as a powder, in its whole form or in a vinegar sauce.

Garlic has been used throughout history for both medicinal and culinary purposes. It has a very pungent, spicy flavor that lightens considerably with cooking

Guggul has Guggal has been a key component in ancient Indian system of medicine, and now is used extinsively in medicine for treatment of heart issues. But Guggal has become so hard to find because of its popularity in two areas in India where its is found.

Niacin Niacin is found in variety of foods including liver, chicken, beef, fish, cereal, peanuts, legumes, and low fat dairy

Plant Sterol Complex contains a similar structure to cholesterol that has been shown to slow cholesterol absorption and found in cereals, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and vegetable oils.

Now you might want to get a good mouthwash after you adapt a diet with foods that naturally lower cholesterol just in case you go overboard on the garlic and cayenne.

There are a lot of good sources available to find foods that naturally lower cholesterol. With a little research and a few habit changes like cutting down on processed foods and yes exercise, it is very feasible to lower the bad (LDL).  Doing this you may be able to reduce or even eliminate prescription cholesterol medication as well as the negative side affects the come along with it.

So go get a cookbook and start living healthy by reducing your bad LDL and eating foods that naturally lower cholesterol!



http://www.google.com

Cholesterol is an important substance we all need for our body to function properly. But in this case to much of something is not a good thing and high levels of cholesterol can be dangerous to your long term health. If you have high cholesterol it is a good idea to lower it to more normal levels and the best way to do this is through diet.

The cholesterol in blood comes from two main sources: the foods we eat and what we manufacture. Cholesterol levels that are too high or too low in the blood can be a very dangerous factor, often leading to a heart attack or a stroke. There are many people who take statin drugs to reduce their cholesterol. However, there are many natural foods that you can eat to help lower cholesterol safely and naturally without the use of dangerous statin drugs.

Cholesterol is an important substance that the body uses to create and maintain cell wall membranes and manufacture many of the hormones we need to keep the body functioning. But high levels of cholesterol in the blood stream can lead to atherosclerosis which is a narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This in turn can lead to high blood pressure, clogged arteries, and blood clots.

Reducing saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet is the foundation of the TLC diet. The strongest nutritional influence on serum LDL cholesterol levels is saturated fats. There is also a dose response relationship between saturated fats and LDL cholesterol levels. For every 1% increase in calories from saturated fats as a percent of total energy, serum LDL cholesterol increases roughly 2%.

One of the reasons your body produces Cholesterol is a self preservation tactic. Your arteries develop cracks and stress factures as a natural occurrence. Your body must patch these cracks and factures or you will bleed to death. The substance of choice for your body to use is Collagen. However, if the raw ingredients needed aren’t present in sufficient quantities to produce this miraculous elixir, cholesterol can also be used instead.

Foods to avoid include fried, battered, crumbed, fatty takeaways, fast foods, sausages, luncheon and processed meats, pastries, pies etc. Others are cream, cakes, biscuits, puddings, ice cream, chocolates, hot chips.

There must always be a balance including fresh vegetables and/or salad whenever you decide to have meat or fish. Chicken is not good for you, if it is fried and if it is to be consumed it is important to remove the skin.

A good breakfast for your sample diet to lower cholesterol should include oatmeal or oat bran and fruits. You can alternate it with cereal and low-fat milk or whole grain products, such as wheat bread. If you use butter or margarine, you may want to replace it with sterol-fortified margarine, instead. For the drinks, you can take sterol-fortified juices, skim milk or water. Vitamin supplement may also be taken in the morning.



http://www.google.com

Guggul is gum resin that can be used to lower cholesterol and boost your liver function, though it has been used for thousands of years in India to treat a number of diseases and conditions. However, its mode of action is completely different to that of most other cholesterol lowering agents.

The active ingredient is known as guggulsterone, which is a plant sterol that increases the amount of body cholesterol into bile acids by the liver. Bile acids are an essential part of our digestion system, working to emulsify the oils and fats we eat and covert them into a form suitable for transferring to the blood and use elsewhere in the body. They also help the body make use of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A and E.

The resin used in this Ayurvedic remedy comes from the stem of a tree called Mukul myrrh that grows throughout India. Ayurvedic medicine is said to have originated from ancient Hindu texts, but is now thought to have evolved over thousands of years. The basis of the medicine is contained in two Sanskrit texts written on palm leaves and form the basis of modern Ayurvedic training. Guggul has been used for millennia in the treatment of skin conditions, rheumatism, arthritis, cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol.

Being an oily fat, cholesterol is not soluble in blood plasma and hence cannot be carried around the body without a carrier. These carriers are known as low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. The LDL carries cholesterol to where it is needed by the body, and is a sticky substance that can also deposit cholesterol in the arteries that are carrying it. This can form a hard coating on the inside of the arteries called plaque, and effectively narrow them and harden them up.

This atherosclerosis, as it is called, is a dangerous condition, and if a blood clot encounters the narrow part of an artery so affected it can be blocked. If in the heart, then this can cause a heart attack, and if in the brain it can give rise to a stroke, both potentially fatal conditions.

HDL, on the other hand, carries excess cholesterol back to the liver for destruction or conversion to bile, and is a free flowing liquid material known as ‘good cholesterol’. Cholesterol is needed by the body and so cannot be eliminated completely. That would be even more dangerous. One of the major functions of cholesterol in the liver is in the production of bile that is used by your digestive process to emulsify fats. Any compound that could also carry out this vital function would mean that liver would have less cholesterol to manufacture.

Your body receives a dietary supply of cholesterol from fatty animal sources such as meat, fats, eggs and dairy products such as cheese and butter. There is no cholesterol in purely vegetable foods. However, that does not mean that vegans have no cholesterol, since as stated earlier, it is an essential substance in the body’s metabolism. In fact, the liver is able to generate all the cholesterol you need, and that which is taken in your diet is superfluous.

The liver can manufacture cholesterol from the trans and saturated fats in your diet, and there are several sources of these. Included among them are popcorn, vegetable shortening such as found in cookies and donuts and other manufactured bakery products made from hydrogenated margarines and oils widely used in the bakery industry. Also from rapeseed and palm oils and coconuts. Saturated fats are also contained in French fries and similar fried foods using certain vegetable oils, and also potato chips. Even vegetarians and vegans can suffer from high cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and taken up by LDL for distribution by the blood. However, a large proportion of that cholesterol is used by the liver to manufacture bile, essential for digestion of fats. This bile is stored in the gall bladder, and released into the upper intestine on the ingestion of fatty food. The bile acids and fats pass down the intestine, where the fats are emulsified into a form suitable for absorption by the body.

The bile acids are then absorbed in the final part of the ileum by proteins that carry them back to the liver where they are recirculated into the bile. Once the level of bile acids in the body reaches a certain level, a chemical known as the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) stops the liver from converting cholesterol into bile. Although only 5% of the bile is excreted from the body and needs replaced, this still accounts for 50% of the body’s usage of cholesterol.

The production of bile from cholesterol operates on a closed loop system, with a feedback that maintains a constant level of bile acids. The feedback is controlled by FXR that detects the current level of bile acids and represses the enzyme (CYP7A1) that stimulates bile manufacture until a minimum level has been reached when the CYP7A1 is re-activated.

By blocking the action of FXR, the guggulsterone in guggul continues the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids by the liver without interruption. The liver has to use more LDL cholesterol for this and so reduces the overall amount of cholesterol in the body, specifically the LDL type.

A double blind study in India showed a total cholesterol reduction of 11.7%, including a 12.7% reduction in LDL and a 12% reduction in blood fat (triglyceride) levels, and other studies have indicated a total cholesterol reduction of up to 27% and triglycerides of up to 30%. The Indians believe guggul to be so effective that is has been approved as a treatment for high cholesterol by the Indian government. The connection with FXR has been confirmed by testing with mice with and without FXR.

Another factor in high cholesterol levels is that an under-active thyroid can interfere with the liver’s ability to process cholesterol. Guggul stimulates then production of thyroid hormones, and so can help to reduce excessive LDL cholesterol in the blood cause through a low level of thyroid hormone production.

Overall, then, this Ayurvedic remedy for many ills can help anyone who needs to reduce the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. Recommended dosages are about 1500 mg twice daily, though if you are also taking statins or are under treatment for cancer you should first consult your doctor, as you should with all natural remedies that are new to you.



http://www.google.com