Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Lowering Cholesterol with Natural Nutrients

Lowering cholesterol without the negative side effects of cholesterol drugs is quite possible now thanks to a new generation of nutritional supplements that couple traditional nutrients with the latest research to reach new levels of effectiveness.

There are several nutrients with both solid scientific documentation of effectiveness, and traditional "anecdotal" evidence built up over hundreds of years of use in the worlds oldest healing tradition.

One of these nutrients is policosanol, a natural nutrient extracted from sugar cane, rice bran and bee's wax. This nutrient has solid research documentation and is proven to lower cholesterol even more effectively than statin drugs, without negative side effects, and it does not increase blood sugar levels.

Since cholesterol is neccessary for many important body functions, when lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol it's critical to maintain a balance between LDL and HDL cholesterol, which is considered to be the "good" cholesterol.

In clinical studies policosanol has been proven to maintain the balance between LDL and HDL, significantly decreasing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Policosanol vs, the statin drug Lovastatin (Mevacor)

In a study comparing Policosanol with the statin drug Lovastatin (Mevacor) over the course of 12 weeks, Policosanol was found to be superior at lowering LDL cholesterol while raising HDL.

The results of the study show that policosanol reduced total blood cholesterol by 14.2% compared to Lovastatin's 14.0% reduction.

Policosanol also reduced LDL (bad) Cholesterol by 20.4% next to Lovastatin's 16.8% reduction, and raised HDL (good) by 7.5% where Lovastatin showed no change.

Finally, the overall ratio of LDL to HDL reduction was 23.7% for Policosanol and 14.8% for Lovastatin.

As you can see from these results, policosanol is one of the safest and most effective ways to lower cholesterol without the dangers and uncomfortable side effects of cholesterol drugs.

But remember that these results apply only to the genuine policosanol extracted from sugar cane wax which is produced in Cuba.

When considering a supplement containing policosanal you should be aware that there are many products on the the market that are using an incomplete form of policosanol called octacosanol. Octacosanol will not give the results outlined in the clinical trials mentioned.

Also, some products have come on the U.S. market claiming to be effective at lowering cholesterol, but often these products use policosanal manufactured from beeswax. Like octacosanol, this form of policosanal is not supported by research as being effective at reducing cholesterol.

Some more health issues that policosanal helps with are thrombosis, angina pectoris, stroke, high blood presssure and atherosclerosis.

It has also been shown in studies to be very safe. In one such study rats were given a daily dose 2,000 times in excess of the recommended levels with no negative effects.

Another herb used for thousands of years in the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda is Guggul (also called Guggulipid). This herb has been proven in recent clinical trials to outperform the statin drugs, with no negative side effects.

Guggulipid is the extract of the gum resin of the Commiphora mukul tree, which is native to India. Guggulipid is used for lowering high cholesterol, arthritis, atherosclerosis, acne, skin diseases, and weight loss.

As well as lowering cholesterol, other evidence suggests guggul extracts might have anti-inflammatory activity and may also lower lipoprotein and C-reactive protein, which are important risk markers for heart disease.

Policosanol and Guggilipid are key to lowering cholesterol naturally. If you have high cholesterol you'll want to make sure that the nutritional supplement you choose includes them.

About The Author

Max Wardlow is an independent health researcher and the webmaster of advanced-vitamin-formulas.com, featuring all natural vitamins and the best multivitamin formulas for many common health issues, including lowering cholesterol.

Friday, December 8, 2006

5 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol Level

You can lower cholesterol without drugs by following some basic steps that will not only change your cholesterol readings, but also improve your health today and in the future. So often we use a prescription drug and hope it will magically cure whatever ails us. The truth is prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol do work. The problem is both the short term and long-term side effects.

Even more dangerous than the side effects of prescription drugs to lower cholesterol is not getting cholesterol under control. Over time, high cholesterol can lead to numerous conditions of the heart and arteries, not the least of which are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke or heart attack.

Here are 5 steps you can take today to lower your cholesterol without prescription drugs.

Eat right. May sound simple, but diet has such a significant impact on lowering cholesterol that it should be the number one factor you look at in determining if your high cholesterol is hereditary or a matter of dietary choices. A low fat and low cholesterol diet is the first step toward lowering cholesterol.

Exercise. Improving cardiovascular health is a step toward reversing the effects of high cholesterol. Exercise itself doesn’t directly lower cholesterol, but will strengthen the heart and entire circulatory system.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, the plaque build up in the arteries due to high cholesterol is accelerated. When plaque blocks the flow of blood to the heart, the muscle has to work harder to get oxygen. This can lead to a heart attack. If the arteries get completely blocked with plaque from high cholesterol then a stroke can occur.

Relax. Chronic stress can affect cholesterol levels. If you are constantly stressed and eating a low cholesterol diet, you may not see any improvement in cholesterol readings until you learn to relieve stress.

Talk to your doctor. Not all doctors are quick to prescribe medications. In fact, the more enlightened doctors will help you form a diet and exercise plan that is suitable for your current overall health and abilities as a first step toward lowering cholesterol. It is always important to ask your doctor if your decision to follow a specific diet or exercise plan is right for you. In addition, do not stop taking medications before consulting with your doctor. You can lower your cholesterol with diet and exercise, and under the care of your doctor, see about removing drugs from the process.

It does not take long to see significant improvements in your cholesterol. Lower cholesterol can be yours in just a matter of weeks. If you would like to understand more about cholesterol, the prescriptions most often used to treat it, and what you can do to lower cholesterol naturally and without prescription drugs, visit one of the Internet's leading resources on cholesterol: http://www.60daystolowercholesterol.com.

Copyright © 2005, Frank Mangano

About The Author

Frank Mangano is an author, researcher and health advocate who dedicates his life to finding solutions for people interested in reducing their risk of health problems by improving their overall quality of life naturally, without the use prescription medication. Learn more by visiting his website: http://www.60daystolowercholesterol.com

Natural Cholesterol Control Supplements

The body needs cholesterol for digesting dietary fats, making hormones, building cell walls, and other important processes. The bloodstream carries cholesterol in particles called lipoproteins that are like blood-borne cargo trucks delivering cholesterol to various body tissues to be used, stored or excreted. But too much of this circulating cholesterol can injure arteries, especially the coronary ones that supply the heart. This leads to accumulation of cholesterol-laden "plaque" in vessel linings, a condition called atherosclerosis.

When blood flow to the heart is impeded, the heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen, causing chest pain (angina). If a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery affected by atherosclerosis, a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or death can occur.

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. More than 90 million American adults, or about 50 percent, have elevated blood cholesterol levels, one of the key risk factors for heart disease, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Cholesterol Education Program.

Cholesterol lowering supplements containing Policosanol or Red Yeast Rice are known to assist in lowering cholesterol levels.

Policosanol

Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. It is a mixture of eight higher primary aliphatic alcohols isolated and purified from sugar cane wax. One of the newest and more successful substances that benefits those suffering from high cholesterol is Policosanol, which is a safe and natural extract from sugar cane wax. It works by helping the liver control production and breakdown of cholesterol. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range.

Red Yeast Rice

Red Yeast Rice is the product of yeast ( Monascus purpureus ) grown on rice, and is served as a dietary staple in some Asian countries. It contains several compounds collectively known as Monacolins, substances known to inhibit cholesterol synthesis. Red Yeast Rice is proposed to be a mild aid for gastric problems (indigestion, diarrhea), blood circulation and spleen and stomach health.

About The Author

Chester Ku-Lea is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of www.AstroNutrition.com - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements.

chester@astronutrition.com

Take Low Cholesterol Diets to Reduce Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the cardinal part of the outer membranes of human body cells and it circulates in the blood of humans. Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources – diet, and the liver, where it is produced internally.

High cholesterol in the blood is considered to be unhealthy. The cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease. It gets collected on the walls of arteries and interferes with the flow of blood. This buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels may constrict the passages considerably and inhibit the flow of blood to and from the heart.

Recent researches have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes, called lipoproteins are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL), are responsible for heart disease.

Cholesterol in your diet:

A high cholesterol diet is considered an unwholesome diet. Diets which are rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products, are a rich source of cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver, are extremely rich in cholesterol. A diet high in cholesterol is fatal for the heart.

Healthy diets are considered effective to lower cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet contains extremely low or no cholesterol at all. Diets of plant origin are the best low cholesterol diets.

Fat is the major source of energy for the body, but excessive fat in the diet is dangerous. The excess fat raises blood cholesterol levels. It’s bad for the circulatory system and causes heart attack or stroke. The amount of fat and cholesterol in a diet should just be according to the daily calories required by the body. Thus a perfectly balanced diet is considered a healthy diet.

A perfect low cholesterol diet has the following features:

• It’s low in fat (especially saturated fat).
• It contains low cholesterol.
• It contains low sodium contents.
• It’s rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates.
• It’s usually a low calorie diet.

Besides taking low cholesterol diets, sugar and alcohol consumption should also be reduced, as they contribute to high cholesterol levels.

Avoid eating at fast food restaurants, because fast foods are usually high in fats and sodium.

Regular exercise can also reduce cholesterol levels.

Recent studies have revealed that certain deep-sea fish -- mackerel, salmon, herring, albacore tuna, and lake trout -- contain an oil called Omega-3 fatty acid that may help to lower blood cholesterol.

About The Author

Paul MacIver writes articles on various health related topics. For further information on reducing cholesterol visit http://reduce-cholesterol-now.info or to read about low cholesterol diets go to http://cholesterol-diet-help.info. You are welcome to reprint this article only if this resource box is included, and links are intact.

Cholesterol – What Is It and Are You At Risk?

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the essential part of the outer membranes of human body cells, and it circulates in the blood.

Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources. About three-quarters of the body’s total cholesterol is produced within the body, while only one-quarter comes from cholesterol in food.

Higher concentrations of cholesterol are present in body tissues which have more densely packed membranes – i.e. the liver, spinal cord, brain, atheroma, adrenal glands and reproductive organs.

The liver is the most important site of cholesterol biosynthesis. It is secreted from the liver in the form of an acidic secretion known as ‘bile’.

Diets rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products are a rich source of dietary cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are extremely rich in cholesterol content, but foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.

High cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions. Recent studies have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes called lipoproteins, are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels.

Cholesterol gets attached to these lipoproteins. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream for excretion, while the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries it back into the system for use by various body cells.

LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol, because elevated levels of it are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL deposits cholesterol on the artery walls which leads to the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis.

The levels of both HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol may also determine risk for heart disease; however current medical opinion is that the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol is much more important than the level of cholesterol.

Methods to control your cholesterol levels:

Lower your consumption of foods containing saturated fats - fried fast foods, butter, cream, cheese, and fat on meat - to help reduce cholesterol. Add more plant foods to your diet – vegetable oils, nuts, legumes, breads, cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. A low cholesterol diet, combined with regular exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol levels.

Medications can also help lower cholesterol levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, ‘Statins’, such as lovastatin (Mevacor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are the most effective and widely used medications to lower LDL cholesterol. Other medications include nicotinic acid (niacin), fibrates such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), resins such as cholestyramine (Questran), and ezetimibe, Zetia. These medications should be taken after consulting the experts.

About The Author

Paul MacIver writes articles on cholesterol and various health related topics. For further information on cholesterol visit http://reduce-high-cholesterol.info or http://howto-lower-cholesterol.info to read about lowering your cholesterol naturally. You are welcome to reprint this article only if this resource box is included, and links are intact.

How Cholesterol Affects You

We have heard many times from dieticians and doctors that lowering cholesterol is extremely important. Cholesterol is a substance that is waxy and fatty like. This is produced by the liver. The interesting fact is that cholesterol has a purpose and is central to your overall body function and health. Every cell in the body has cholesterol forming in it; at appropriate levels it plays a life support role in many functions of the body.

When at the correct levels it actually repairs cells and is involved in the production of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Cholesterol also produces bile acids which aid in the digestion of fat. The problem arises when there is too much cholesterol in the body.

When there is too much cholesterol in the body it can lead to clogged arteries. The consequence of this is heart disease and stroke. How does this affect you? Bottom line cholesterol clogged arteries lead to heart attacks and stroke.

So what foods lead to high cholesterol? The common foods are dairy products such as eggs, and along with that is meat. The foods that do not contain cholesterol are fruits vegetables and grains. With this kind of a diet you can maintain good health resulting in low cholesterol. Cholesterol needs to be managed.

Like anything else, introduce balance in your diet. Learn about foods. Find out what you like and develop a menu from this. Do this in consultation with a dietician or physician. Visit your physician regularly. Remember you cannot turn the clock back. Live and learn to be healthy otherwise the consequences could be deadly.

About The Author

Paul Hegarty is the owner of learningfromdvds.com. A guide to educational DVDs with price comparisons, reviews, and free E-books. Read this month’s e-book on "How To Spot A fraudulent Email". Grab your free copy today.

Learn about living a healthy life in the comfort of your own home with Health DVDs at http://www.learningfromdvds.com. Learn all about health insurance at http://www.all-about-health-coverage.com.

How Cholesterol Triglyceride Cause Artery Plaque Buildup

You need to know about cholesterol triglyceride because it is this cholesterol that will cause give you a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Triglycerides are part of the cholesterol picture that is not talked about very much and are extremely dangerous for your health. And, they come from the fat that you eat every day.

Cholesterol triglyceride is a lipid, which is a type of fat. This fat is used by every body cell in its membrane structure and in your brain. When cholesterol triglyceride combines with protein a new chemical is created called “lipoproteins”, which flows through your blood.

As lipoproteins circulate in your arteries, they tend to deposit their fat on your artery walls. This process is always occurring, but the problem is when you have high cholesterol triglyceride you create high lipoproteins. The result is you deposit more fat on your artery walls than normal.

Clinical studies show that people with high cholesterol triglyceride are more prone to heart disease. So why don’t you hear about triglyceride instead of just HDL and LDL cholesterol. The reason is that there aren’t any drugs that can lower cholesterol triglyceride, so doctors don’t often discuss this part of the cholesterol picture.

So to reduce your susceptibility for heart disease, you need to reduce your cholesterol triglyceride. How do you know if yours is high? You need a blood test and need to talk with a doctor about your results.

Here is a list of some of the damage high cholesterol triglyerides can do:

At 200 ml/dl your risk for coronary artery disease doubles

At 200 ml/dl and HDL less than 40 mg/dl your risk for coronary artery disease is four times greater.

At 200 ml/dl women have a higher risk of artery disease than men

If you have diabetes, you are more prone to higher triglyceride levels

High triglyceride levels make you prone to kidney and pancreas diseases

Now, to have lower triglyceride levels, you can change some of your diet habits. I always recommend you change them gradually as you learn about good eating habits..

Here are two ways to control triglyerides:

Exercise regularly – the way you exercise makes a difference on your cholesterol triglyceride level. Instead of a straight 30 minutes brisk exercise do three 10 minutes brisk exercises during the day. By adding some resistive exercise, you gain more benefits for your heart and bones.

Diet - Eat a balanced diet that's low in sugar, simple carbohydrates, and processed foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables to get the fiber. Fiber will help you keep your cholesterol triglyerides low. Fiber will trap excess cholesterol as it is released into the colon through your gallbladder and moved out in your stools. The less fiber there is in the colon the more cholesterol is reabsorbed back into the body through your colon walls.

There you have it, concentrate your efforts on keeping your cholesterol triglyerides low by eating less processed fats, less processed foods, exercising throughout the day, and eating more fiber.

About The Author
Rudy Silva, natural nutritionist, provides free tips and information. To discover more about lowering cholesterol triglycerides and cholesterol diet go to: http://www.cholesterol-diet.for--you.com.