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Natural herbal &
homeopathic remedies for controlling Blood Cholesterol &
Triglyceride Levels
Lipid Disorders (High Blood Cholesterol & Triglyceride Levels)
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - LIPID DISORDERS (HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL & TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS)
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The term lipid disorders covers all anomalies in the balance of fatty substances (lipids) that circulate in the blood (including levels of cholesterol, phospholids and triglycerides). An excess of these fats overloads the blood vessels and causes circulatory problems that can lead to serious illness.
Cholesterol is a normal, natural and essential constituent of many body tissues and fluids. It is found in all parts of your body. It plays a vital role in your body. It makes hormones, helps you digest food, and supports workings of all the cells in your body. The liver makes cholesterol (serum cholesterol including LDLs and HDLs); you eat it in your food (dietary cholesterol); and it is also a component of blood. When it occurs in the blood in excessive amounts it tends to be deposited in the walls of the arteries, including those leading to or in the brain and heart, narrowing their diameters and causing both strokes and coronary artery disease.
Cholesterol circulates in blood in several different combinations of fats and proteins; these are called lipoproteins. Most of the cholesterol occurs in the form of low-density lipoproteins; you will often see this abbreviated as LDLs. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol to all the cells in your body, including the arteries that supply blood to your heart. LDL is the ‘bad’ cholesterol; the more you have in the blood, the greater the risk of developing coronary artery disease. LDLs help to form the the fatty deposits that can narrow and clog the arteries. Some of the cholesterol in the blood, however, occurs as high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). High-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol away from the cells in your body. HDL is ‘good’ cholesterol: it protects you against atherosclerosis. The more HDLs you have, the less likely you are of developing coronary disease.
Triglycerides, along with cholesterol, are the major sources of fat circulating in your blood. During digestion, triglycerides from food are broken down and then reconstituted in the cells of the intestine walls, before passing into the bloodstream. Both are needed – cholesterol for building strong cells, triglycerides for energy – but when either remains at high levels for long periods of time, trouble results.
In the case of cholesterol, that trouble is clogged arteries. In the case of triglycerides, however, the trouble is not well-defined. But in practical terms, high triglycerides are often associated with low levels of HDLs and indicate a problem that’s causing you to carry fat particles in the blood that do cause vascular disease. So, they should also be looked at as a danger signal. |
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High blood cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it. It is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because if you have high blood cholesterol, lowering it reduces your chances of getting heart disease or having a heart attack.
Still, some apparent symptoms include
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Dizziness, buzzing in the ears
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Pain in the chest or legs on walking (see also
Angina, Atherosclerosis)
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Fatty patches in the skin under the eyes or elsewhere
When the cholesterol level in your blood is too high, it can build up in the walls of your arteries. This buildup of cholesterol is called plaque. Over time, the plaque can build up so much that it narrows your arteries. This is called
atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. It can slow down or block the flow of blood to your heart.
This can happen to blood vessels anywhere in your body, including the ones that bring blood to your heart. They are called the coronary arteries. If plaque builds up in these arteries, the blood may not be able to bring enough oxygen to the heart muscle. This is called coronary heart disease (CHD).
The build up of plaque can lead to chest pain called
angina. Angina is a common symptom of CHD. It happens when the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.
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Diagnosis
Your doctor will take a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and send it to the laboratory to find out the level of cholesterol in your blood.
The recommended test is called a lipoprotein profile. It will show your
You should not eat or drink anything except water or black coffee for 9 to 12 hours before taking the test.
If you can't have a lipoprotein profile done, a different blood test will tell you your total cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol levels. You do not have to fast before this test.
If this test shows that your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or higher, or that your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL, you will need to have a lipoprotein profile done.
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Normal LDL levels are between 100 and 130 mg/dL. A lipoprotein profile will also show the level of triglycerides in your blood. Normal levels of triglycerides are less than 150 mg/dl. If your triglyceride levels are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more), you may need treatment. |
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Lipid problems can be due to
diabetes,
obesity,
age,
alcohol intake,
tobacco, the
menopause. They can also be brought on by medication (contraceptives and some anti-HIV medicines).
Certain foods have several types of fat that raise your cholesterol level.
Saturated fat increases your LDL cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. Saturated fat is found mostly in foods that come from animal sources such as egg yolks, meat, and milk products, including butter, cream and cheese. These foods also contain cholesterol.
Trans fatty acids, or trans fats, also raise your LDL cholesterol level. These mostly come from vegetable oil that has gone through a process called hydrogenation to make it hard. Examples of foods containing trans fats include many convenience foods such as doughnuts, French fries, cookies, cakes and pastries. |
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Being overweight tends to
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increase your total cholesterol level
You cannot control some things that can affect the level of cholesterol in your blood, including
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Your heredity - High blood cholesterol can run in families. For most people, their cholesterol level is the result of an interaction between their genes and their lifestyles. Be more cautious if there was a heart disease in your father or brother before age 55 or in your mother or sister before age 65
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Your age – As we get older, our cholesterol levels rise, especially men 45 years or older; women 55 years or older
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Your sex - Before
menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, women's LDL (bad) cholesterol levels tend to increase.
Other major risk factors that affect your LDL goal include
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Many people are prescribed synthetic medication to help reduce their high cholesterol. In response to soaring rates of high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, the pharmaceutical companies have produced a class of drugs.
The five major types of conventional cholesterol-lowering medicines are:
Statins have a one dimensional effect of reducing the body's ability to synthesize cholesterol. They do not, however, distinguish between the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and the 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and can also reduce levels of Co-enzyme Q10 and L-carnitine, two very important molecules which are involved in energy production and fat metabolism.
Myalgia and even stomach, lung and liver tumors have also been associated with the use of these drugs. It is very important that people who are taking prescription medication for high cholesterol be regularly monitored by their doctor.
The good news is that high cholesterol can be well controlled by combining a healthy lifestyle with the correct medical treatment. Treatment can include synthetic prescription medication, natural remedies or a combination of both.
Research has demonstrated that a combination of natural remedies, regular exercise and dietary changes can make a significant difference to LDL levels and reduce or even eliminate the need for prescription drugs.
Natural ingredients such as Rooibos, Gugulipid and Red Yeast Rice are well known for their beneficial properties of reducing levels of LDL ('bad') and triglyceride, while increasing the levels of protective HDL cholesterol. With a few life-style changes and a little help from nature, cholesterol levels can be well managed. |
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Cholesto-Rite™
Helps maintain healthy LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and promotes the ability to fight free radicals.
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Eliminate as much saturated fat as possible from your diet. That means switching to leaner cuts of meat and low-fat dairy products, and cutting out processed meats, such as salami, corned beef, devon and sausages, altogether.
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Use of vegetable oils (safflower oil, flax seed oil, olive oil which have polyunsaturated fats) should control the cholesterol level in your body. Remember, “good” fat (like the one found in above oils) is beneficial for your health, so don’t make your diet fat-free but that which contains “good” fat. Avoid palm oil or coconut oil, both of which are very high in saturated fat. These so called tropical oils are found in many processed foods, particularly biscuits and cakes.
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Another type of fat – trans fatty acids – should be avoided altogether. They are produced when plant-based oils are hydrogenated to produce solid spreads such as margarines and they have the same effect on cholesterol levels as saturated fat. Many shop-bought cakes, biscuits, snack foods – and even breads – are loaded with these fats. To find them, look for the word ‘hydrogenated’ on the list of ingredients.
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Get your oats – Porridge is a rich source of soluble fiber, which forms a kind of gel in your intestine to reduce your body’s absorption of the fat you eat. Other especially good sources of soluble fiber include prunes, barley, beans, eggplant and asparagus. Add soluble fiber with psyllium seeds.
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Look out for legumes, especially soya bean products such as soya milk, tofu, tempeh and edamame. Soya foods lower LDLs while increasing HDLs. Nutritious and inexpensive, beans and other legumes contain a water-soluble fiber called pectin that surrounds cholesterol and chaperones it out of the body before it can cause trouble.
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Fresh fruits and vegetables are a must as they contain natural antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C that prevent oxidation of LDL’s, a major reason for atherosclerosis. These don’t have any side effects as is the case with drugs that lower cholesterol level. They also contain potassium which is necessary to keep the electrolyte balance in the body and for nerves to function properly. Another flavonoid that curbs oxidation of LDLs is quercetin which is richly found in apples, onions and black tea. In particular, eat tomatoes, as they contain lycopene, an anti-oxidant carotenoid associated with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease, no doubt due to its ability to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol.
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Omega-3 fatty acids, known to prevent thickening and hardening of artery walls and increase their elasticity, are present in good quantities in oily fish like salmon, tuna, sardine and mackerel. So their consumption may be increased. Flaxseeds (linseeds) are also a great source of omega-3 fats and soluble fiber.
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If you have high cholesterol and it’s a choice between coffee and tea, choose tea. Tannins is tea appear to help control cholesterol. Tea is also rich in cardioprotective anti-oxidants known as catechins and polyphenols, which appear to improve coronary blood vessel function.
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For a different take on
the Cholesterol theory by
Dr. Dwight Lundell
CLICK HERE
This Book Is A Result Of Those
Case Studies Proving Inflammation Is The
REAL
Cause of Heart Disease And Inflammation Is
Easily
Treated!!
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Some most effective home made remedies
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Freshly-squeezed or straight out of the carton,
orange juice can improve your cholesterol balance.
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Get your daily dose of garlic
– Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which is thought to be responsible for the bulb’s cholesterol-lowering effect. Just one clove of garlic daily is usually enough to help regulate cholesterol levels.
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Enjoy nuts as they are packed with healthy unsaturated fats including omega-3s. walnuts and almonds are the best. Also, have a avocado a day. This might lower your cholesterol by as much as 17%.
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Stop smoking and avoid too much of alcohol, although there is evidence that one glass of red wine daily is beneficial. Red wine offers goodies in the form of
powerful anti-oxidants that come from the pigments of grape skin. But drink only in moderation. 1 unit a day fro women and 2 unit a day for men is ideal. Smokers tend to sufferfrom low levels of HDLs.
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Go for a walk, daily – Stride for a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily. Alternatively, go for swimming or jogging before or after work. Studies show that physical activity will decrease your overall risk of heart disease and stroke. Regular exercise obviously will also help control diabetes and blood pressure, both of which are independent risk factors for heart disease.
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Watch your weight – The more overweight you are, the more cholesterol your body produces. So, if our weight is up, this is one more reason to bring it down. But do so in healthy ways.
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Simple relaxation can lower cholesterol, according to certain studies. Heart disease patients on low-cholesterol diets who listen to relaxation tapes twice daily experience significantly greater drops in cholesterol.
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Cholesto-Rite™
Helps maintain healthy LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and promotes the ability to fight free radicals.
|
|
|
For a different take on
the Cholesterol theory by
Dr. Dwight
Lundell
CLICK HERE
This Book Is A Result Of Those
Case Studies Proving Inflammation Is The
REAL
Cause of Heart Disease And Inflammation Is
Easily
Treated!!
|
