Cholesterol Information
Learn how to manage your Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol Information
Knowing the facts about cholesterol can reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. But understanding what cholesterol is and how it affects your health are only the beginning. To keep your cholesterol under control: schedule a screening
eat foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and free of trans fat
use quality dietary supplements
maintain a healthy weight
be physically active
follow your healthcare professional's advice Knowing the facts about cholesterol can help you improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease. Cholesterol Information
It may surprise you to know that cholesterol itself isn't bad. In fact, cholesterol is just one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy. Some of the cholesterol we need is produced naturally (and can be affected by your family health history), while some of it comes from the food we eat. There are two types of cholesterol: “good” and “bad.” It’s important to understand the difference, and to know the levels of “good” and “bad” cholesterol in your blood. Too much of one type — or not enough of another — can put you at risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. People are often misled by claims that the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream is directly related to your diet. Although your cholesterol levels can be influenced by diet it is much less relevant than people think. Cholesterol Information
In actual fact only 20% of your total cholesterol comes from your diet, a tiny amount. Your body produces more than 80% of your cholesterol naturally. This means that correcting imbalances and excess amounts of cholesterol needs to be tackled internally much more than externally.So, what are the main causes of high blood cholesterol? * Obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake
* Lack of exercise
* Hormonal imbalances
* Discrepancies in naturally produced body chemicals and their function
* Heredity – genetically high cholesterol may be a problem if you also have other risk factors present. Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is where inherited cholesterol levels are very high. There is also a condition called Familial Combined Hyperlipidaemia (FCH), where triglyceride levels are very high too. Cholesterol Information
Other common causes…Health conditions such as diabetes, kidney and liver diseaseps. An under-active thyroid gland may also add to the problem. Senior health, age may also add to the problem. Hydrogenated oils (unsaturated fats hardened to make them more solid) often found in margarines and cooking oils (especially those used to cook ‘fast foods’) raise cholesterol levels considerably. The hydrogenation process changes fatty acids into trans-fatty acids, and these cause a significant increase in LDLs and a noticeable loss of HDLs. Medicines such as beta-blockers, steroids or thiazides (a type of diuretic) also cause side effects that may include increased cholesterol. Natural Treatments The 6 objectives for Cholesterol Balancing are as follows: 1. Reduce the production of cholesterol in the body. 2. Reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract. 3. Decrease circulating blood fats and dissolve cholesterol particles. 4. Increase the excretion of cholesterol carrying bile acid. 5. Lower the oxidation of the cholesterol. 6. Lessen the intake of foods high in cholesterol.* *It is advisable to take care with point 6. You don’t want to deprive your body of healthy nutrients like organic eggs just because they contain cholesterol. Remember: Only 20% of cholesterol is produced through your diet. Even if you cut your dietary intake by 50% it is only going to have an overall impact of 10%!For most people it is possible to achieve 5 of these 6 objectives by ingesting specific nutrients… Natural ingredients that scientists worldwide agree will help lower cholesterol, but will not produce the negative side effects of statins: For more information on
Cholesterol Imbalance
Cholesterol Natural Treatment
Cholesterol Statistics
Cholesterol Symptoms
Cholesterol Treatment
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