Posts Tagged ‘High Cholesterol Levels’

Heart Disease Treatments-These Foods Lower Cholesterol

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

One of the easiest heart disease treatments is work on actively lowering your cholesterol. High cholesterol many times can lead to heart disease. Therefore, it is very important that we pay close attention to what we put in our mouths.

The following article covers a list of foods that will naturally lower your cholesterol levels. The best thing: no medication needed!

A List of Foods That Lower Cholesterol – If You Have High Cholesterol This List is a Must By Rob D. Hawkins

You really don’t have to travel to a far away land filled with danger and intrigue, armed with a treasure map borrowed from the national archives to compile a list of foods that lower cholesterol. Everything you need to put a whipping on high cholesterol levels can be found at your local grocery store or super market. Not quite as sexy, but every bit as effective. But first we should examine what we are trying to avoid, when visiting our local grocery store filled with crazed shoppers armed with very large buggies with at least one bad wheel.

The two fats we will need to avoid are saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fat could easily go by the alias of big and fat! These fats are solid at room temperature. All meat contains some saturated fat with the well marbled variety winning the gold star for artery clogging prowess. Saturated fat can also be found in abundance in butter, cream, and cheese. Needless to say none of these foods will make it on our list of foods that lower cholesterol.

Our next really dangerous villain goes by the name trans fatty acid but his friends simply call him trans fat. These fats are made in the hydrogenation process that solidifies liquid oils for use in preparation of many food products. Trans fatty acid can be found in such family party favorites as cookies, doughnuts, and crackers. As you may have guessed these food will be left of our list of foods that lower cholesterol as well.

You probably wonder how we can compile a list of delicious foods now that all the fun stuff has been eliminated. It may not be as difficult as you think.

*Fish: Not any fish will do! While the aquarium fish may be appealing for your cat they will not do much for your cholesterol. On the other hand cold water fatty fish high in omega 3 oils raise good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease triglycerides (fatty material that circulates in the blood). Salmon, herring, and mackerel are all very good sources.

*Fruits and Vegetables: How many times do I have to tell you to eat your fruits and vegetables? I’m sure you heard it growing up at least a million times, right! Fruits and vegetables only contain tiny amounts of fat, and most it is unsaturated. Avocados, apples, pears, pomegranates, and blueberries all make our list of foods that lower cholesterol.

*Nuts: Studies from both Loma Linda University and Penn State University confirm that certain nuts do indeed lower cholesterol. Omega 3 fats and antioxidants found in nuts lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while working to reverse prior arterial damage caused by saturated fat. Some heart healthy favorites are walnuts and almonds.

*Give me Olive Oil: No, not the rail thin cartoon character but instead the kind that comes in a bottle that you can find on isle 5 in your grocery store. Studies show olive oil lowers bad cholesterol while leaving good cholesterol undisturbed.

Well, there you have it our list of foods that lower cholesterol. Nothing real fancy but the above foods will positively give you an excellent foundation to build your low cholesterol diet around. Additionally, many natural health minded individuals have found that by combining smart diet choices with natural cholesterol reducing remedies they have been able to jump start their cholesterol reducing program. Natural cholesterol reducing remedies are a safe and effective alternative to hard to manage statin drugs and are certainly a natural option worth learning more about.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at http://www.Purchase Remedies.com

These foods will call for a lifestyle change for some. However, the sacrifice is necessary if you want to keep a healthy heart!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che, what I call the Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit this online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

Women’s Heart Problems-7 Steps To Lower Your Cholesterol

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Women’s heart problems is a concern for many women as well as men. Due to the lifestyle and diet of the western culture, heart diease and other health concerns continue to be a problem in our country.

One of the culprits of develolping heart disease is high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fatty and waxy substance that is produced by the liver. Too much of saturated fats in your diet may contribute to high blood cholesterol. Most saturated fats come from animal products such as butter, cheese, chocolate, whole milk, pies, pastries, cakes, hot chips, potatoes and hash browns.

In some individuals, high cholesterol levels can be due to a genetic disorder. Too much cholesterol in your blood will start building up in the artery walls, causing narrowing of the arteries. This increases your risk of developing heart or brain attack(stroke).

Whatever the cause of your high levels of cholesterol is, it is very important that you make efforts to lower your cholesterol levels by changing your lifestyle:

1.Follow a heart healthy dietary pattern.

2.Lose some weight if you are overweight.

3.Be active by doing moderate physical exercises for at least 30 minutes daily.

4.Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

5.Avoid foods prepared with butter, hydrogenated oil, coconut or palm oil.

6.Avoid white meat fats, chicken skin or processed meats and chicken.

7.Have more servings of dried peas, beans, soy products, oats, whole grains and high-fibre cereals.

If your cholesterol level is too high, your doctor may put you on medication for a short time or for life. If that is the case, you should have your cholesterol levels checked every three months until it is controlled and then every six months.

In normal circumstances, cholesterol is very important as it helps our bodies to function properly. Cholesterol and other fats are also called lipids and each of these has a different function:

1.The High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL)often called the “good” cholesterol because it helps to remove cholesterol from the artery walls, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease.

2.The Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL) is often called “bad” cholesterol because it deposits cholesterol into the artery wall, increasing your risk of heart disease or heart attack.

3.The Triglycerides are the most common form of fat in the body. They act as energy storage tanks of the body. High levels of triglycerides cause many diseases in the body, including heart disease and stroke.

To know your lipid profile, visit you doctor and he or she will perform a fasting blood test. An ideal profiles should is:

Total cholesterol(TC) less than 4mmol/L
LDL cholesterol less than 2.5 mmol/L
HDL cholesterol greater than 1mmol/L
TC/HDL ratio less than 4.5
Triglycerides less than 1.7 mmol/L

Therefore, it is important to change your life style to remain healthy and live longer. Develop good eating habits, keep fit and enjoy life.

Women’s heart problems does not have to be your problem! Take the necessary steps and make those lifestyle and diet changes now so you will have a healthy heart!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. Vita Che is the ultimate Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit http://699456.shopvitamark.com

Heart Disease Treatments-The Good and Bad of Cholesterol

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance circulating in the blood. The body needs a certain amount to maintain cell membranes and perform other vital functions, but high levels lead to blocked arteries which can cause a heart attack. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by two types of protein: low density lipoproteins (LDL) which carry three-quarters of the cholesterol, and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Total blood cholesterol is measured, and separate measurements are taken of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol. High LDL and total cholesterol levels increase the risk of a heart attack, as does a low level of HDL (below 0.9 millimoles per litre). Doctors recommend keeping total cholesterol below 5.6 millimoles per litre, ideally around 5.2 millimoles per litre, and your HDL level as high as possible.

High cholesterol levels are often linked to a diet rich in the saturated fat found in animal foods such as beef, butter and whole-fat dairy products and in coconut oil, palm oil and hydrogenated oils used in processed foods. This theory is no longer widely accepted as cholesterol from food is poorly absorbed, and levels of blood cholesterol are affected mainly by the manufacture of cholesterol in the body, but the body’s production of cholesterol is certainly stimulated by high intakes of saturated fat. Excess weight, smoking and lack of exercise also contribute to high cholesterol levels. Genetic predisposition may also be a factor.

Along with dietary changed, Vitamins C and E and some effective herbal compounds can help control your cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of a heart attack. Try taking Vitamins E and C and garlic together. These are safe for long-term use even if you are taking a cholesterol-lowering prescription drug. Vitamin E does not lower your cholesterol directly, but raises levels of HDL cholesterol and prevents the first step in the build-up of coronary plaque. Vitamin C boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin E, and is also thought to increase the level of protective HDL cholesterol. Chromium helps to reduce “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol in those people with diets high in refined foods. Diets lacking in cholesterol-reducing soluble fibre can benefit from the herb psyllium, or from oat bran, which has a similar action. Beta-sitosterol can be taken to reduce the absorption of cholesterol from food and from bile discharged by the liver into the intestine. Artichoke extract may prove to be an effective alternative to cholesterol-lowering medications.

If home remedies do not lower your total cholesterol sufficiently within two or three months, you may need to take prescription drugs. Conventional drugs reduce heart attack risk by up to 25%. Take regular exercise to raise your HDL level, and improve your diet by reducing saturated fats. Substitute oily fish for meat, eat high-fiber foods (grains, vegetables and fruit), and use olive oil and mono-unsaturated spreads in place of butter, and include soya protein (available as tofu and soya milk).

Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve to Have A Healthy Heart” newsletter.

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
SKype: Monique371
mentormonique@gmail.com