High blood cholesterol is one of the most prevalent diseases causing heart attacks in the world. In fact, it is the number one cause of death in most countries such as the United States. According to the medical statistics, millions of people experience heart attack in a year, an estimate of 100,000 people in a month, approximately 24,000 people in a week, 3,000 people in a day, 140 people per hour and around 2 people in a second. As you can see the number of people afflicted by heart attack is thousands in a day. And according to research, 49% of these heart attack cases were caused mainly by high blood cholesterol. Do you have to wait for your name to be included in this long list of heart attack victims? You should take an action now to prevent this from occurring and everything starts by investing with the information you need to have about high blood cholesterol.

Here is a highlight of the facts you specifically need to know about high blood cholesterol:

Cholesterol is naturally produced by the liver. Around 1 gram of cholesterol is naturally produced by the liver every day. This amount is more than enough for cholesterol to do its purposes such as vitamin D synthesis, building of cell walls and fat digestion. Taking in cholesterol in your diet is therefore not needed as the liver produces more than enough for you. Taking in cholesterol rich foods such as oily fatty food will just make your cholesterol levels exceed the normal amount.

Not all cholesterol in the body is bad. You must have heard people talk about the good and the bad cholesterol and they are probably referring to the ‘high density lipoprotein’ or HDL and the ‘low density lipoprotein’ or LDL. The HDL is said to be the good cholesterol as it processes the cholesterol in the different parts of the body back to the liver. On the other hand, LDL is to be bad because it transports the cholesterol from the liver to the other parts of the body such as the arteries. Therefore, a high LDL determines if you are having high blood cholesterol.

Cholesterol blocks the passageway to the heart. What makes high blood cholesterol dangerous is the fact that, it accumulates in the blood vessels that transport blood to the heart. Since these blood vessels are blocked or narrowed oxygen cannot be readily transported to the heart so the heart runs out of oxygen. And this is where myocardial ischemia and later on heart attack occurs.

Watch what you eat! The number one cause of high blood cholesterol is too much intake of saturated fats and cholesterol rich food. Examples of this food are the tempting burgers and fries bough in fast food chains. The solution is simple and that is to cut down on these tempting foods and exchange them with healthy diet, fruits and vegetables.

Lifestyle change and medications are the two main treatment options you have for high blood cholesterol. Living a healthy lifestyle includes exercise, having a balanced diet, quitting your vices such as smoking and alcohol drinking and maintaining your ideal body weight. If your high blood cholesterol cannot be controlled by simple lifestyle changes, you might need to accompany them with maintenance medications. You can be prescribed with statin drugs, the bile acid binging resins and the cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Other option that you have is taking natural herbal supplements to avoid high blood cholesterol and maintain acceptable level of cholesterol.

A healthy heart is the key to a healthy life and everything starts in earning the discipline you need to prevent high blood cholesterol.

Lindsay Marino would like to share his knowledge and opinion with others. Find out more about treatments, cures or relief of symptoms, including information about many diseases or health conditions, which might concern you or your loved ones… For more information, this is the site for everyone to look at; http://highbloodcholesterol.healthabsolut.com/

Is cholesterol the “bad guy” in terms of cardiovascular risk factors?

It sure seems that way from what we read in the news. Western Medicine goes to great lengths to encourage us to reduce cholesterol so as to avoid its presumably detrimental effects on the body. With all of their efforts, you’d think that the results should show that we’re improving patients’ health with a reduced incidence of cardiac and vascular events. But this may not be the case.

A recent international study involving more than 30,000 patients produced unexpected results. Despite the use of medicines and other treatments for patients with vascular disease, patients in North America actually had higher rates of strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations and mortality.

The study noted that while many of these patients were taking appropriate medications for their vascular disease, that didn’t necessarily mean that the medications were working. The conclusion reached by one of the authors was that a better way to prevent the occurrence of vascular events would be to simply live a healthier lifestyle.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found naturally in all parts of your body. Everyone’s body needs some cholesterol to work efficiently. But if you have too much of certain types of cholesterol in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque and can cause a narrowing in your arteries, or even blockages.

HDL vs. LDL: What’s the difference?

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. This form of cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks.

HDL (good) cholesterol actually helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, thus it has an effect on promoting heart health. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that HDL, the so-called good form of cholesterol, may also be good for memory improvement.

In my practice, when dealing with patients diagnosed with high cholesterol, I find it very important to identify why cholesterol is elevated in the first place.

Many people do not know that 75 percent of cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our liver. Only 25 percent comes from our diet. So why does our liver produce more cholesterol? Is the body really producing something that is harmful to itself? The answer is actually quite simple.

Cholesterol is produced by our body as a defensive response to oxidative stresses from things like chronic infections, toxicity, stress and anxiety. These are some of the true causes of elevated cholesterol levels.

In order to protect us, our bodies are simply responding to these stressors by producing cholesterol. Thus cholesterol is actually good and essential to our health. Some of cholesterol’s healthy attributes include its anti-oxidant and cell membrane-calming properties, as well as its ability to aid in the production of some hormones and vitamin D.

What about Eastern Medicine’s philosophy on the cardiovascular system?

In previous newsletters I’ve mentioned that the Eastern concept of a healthy cardiovascular system requires a balance in three key energies: spleen energy (endothelium or lining of the blood vessels), liver energy (smooth muscle layer of the blood vessels) and the kidney energy (important for the function of blood vessels and the contractile energy of the heart).

Any activity that encourages these organ energy balances would best support the maintenance of the heart and healthy cholesterol levels. So whether you consider heart disease to be due to oxidative stress, cell membrane dysfunction or Eastern energy imbalance, the body’s response is always to secrete more protective cholesterol – it’s a natural response to cardiovascular disorders.

What do I suggest to my patients concerned with high cholesterol?

A new focus on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels by implementing key lifestyle adjustments that include a healthy diet (with plenty of organic foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, soluble fiber, and natural anti-oxidants), moderate exercise program, weight management program, detoxification, hydration/water, sufficient sleep, smoking cessation, stress reduction and consuming effective dietary supplements. As always, I suggest you work with a primary healthcare provider who is experienced in these fields of expertise before starting any new diet or exercise program.

As far as dietary supplements, there are many helpful sub-stances I recommend to my patients to support good cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels.

For instance, there are many herbs like the ones contained in Cardio Well and Cardio Well Classic that provide effective support to the entire cardiovascular system. There are also many key nutritional supplements including niacin, berberine, omega-3 fish oil, magnesium citrate, chromium, gugulipid, red yeast rice, policosanol and anti-oxidants (Vitamin E and C, glutathione, selenium, CoEnzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, etc.) that support healthier levels of cholesterol, but they should not be substituted for a conscientious attempt achieve a healthier lifestyle.

About Dr. Graeme Shaw, MD

Dr. Graeme Shaw received his medical training at Creighton University of Medicine and is Board Certified in internal medicine. Dr. Shaw has offered medical herbalism formulas in his personal practice for many years and with many satisfied patients. He is a member of the American College for the Advancement in medicine and has been the director of the Natural Immune Supplements Corporation. Dr. Graeme Shaw has been published in a number of international medical journals and pivotal publications. Presently, he operates an Integrated Medical Clinic in Los Altos, California and has had great success in blending his knowledge of Eastern and Western modalities. Dr. Shaw specializes in integrative medicine which incorporates the best parts of alternative nutritional therapies using herbs, vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances and therapies. Click here to discover how herbal supplements may be able to help you too…

(c) Copyright – Dr. Graeme Shaw, M.D. All Rights Reserved Wordwide

Is cholesterol the “bad guy” in terms of cardiovascular risk factors?

It sure seems that way from what we read in the news. Western Medicine goes to great lengths to encourage us to reduce cholesterol so as to avoid its presumably detrimental effects on the body. With all of their efforts, you’d think that the results should show that we’re improving patients’ health with a reduced incidence of cardiac and vascular events. But this may not be the case.

A recent international study involving more than 30,000 patients produced unexpected results. Despite the use of medicines and other treatments for patients with vascular disease, patients in North America actually had higher rates of strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations and mortality.

The study noted that while many of these patients were taking appropriate medications for their vascular disease, that didn’t necessarily mean that the medications were working. The conclusion reached by one of the authors was that a better way to prevent the occurrence of vascular events would be to simply live a healthier lifestyle.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found naturally in all parts of your body. Everyone’s body needs some cholesterol to work efficiently. But if you have too much of certain types of cholesterol in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque and can cause a narrowing in your arteries, or even blockages.

HDL vs. LDL: What’s the difference?

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. This form of cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks.

HDL (good) cholesterol actually helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, thus it has an effect on promoting heart health. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that HDL, the so-called good form of cholesterol, may also be good for memory improvement.

In my practice, when dealing with patients diagnosed with high cholesterol, I find it very important to identify why cholesterol is elevated in the first place.

Many people do not know that 75 percent of cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our liver. Only 25 percent comes from our diet. So why does our liver produce more cholesterol? Is the body really producing something that is harmful to itself? The answer is actually quite simple.

Cholesterol is produced by our body as a defensive response to oxidative stresses from things like chronic infections, toxicity, stress and anxiety. These are some of the true causes of elevated cholesterol levels.

In order to protect us, our bodies are simply responding to these stressors by producing cholesterol. Thus cholesterol is actually good and essential to our health. Some of cholesterol’s healthy attributes include its anti-oxidant and cell membrane-calming properties, as well as its ability to aid in the production of some hormones and vitamin D.

What about Eastern Medicine’s philosophy on the cardiovascular system?

In previous newsletters I’ve mentioned that the Eastern concept of a healthy cardiovascular system requires a balance in three key energies: spleen energy (endothelium or lining of the blood vessels), liver energy (smooth muscle layer of the blood vessels) and the kidney energy (important for the function of blood vessels and the contractile energy of the heart).

Any activity that encourages these organ energy balances would best support the maintenance of the heart and healthy cholesterol levels. So whether you consider heart disease to be due to oxidative stress, cell membrane dysfunction or Eastern energy imbalance, the body’s response is always to secrete more protective cholesterol – it’s a natural response to cardiovascular disorders.

What do I suggest to my patients concerned with high cholesterol?

A new focus on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels by implementing key lifestyle adjustments that include a healthy diet (with plenty of organic foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, soluble fiber, and natural anti-oxidants), moderate exercise program, weight management program, detoxification, hydration/water, sufficient sleep, smoking cessation, stress reduction and consuming effective dietary supplements. As always, I suggest you work with a primary healthcare provider who is experienced in these fields of expertise before starting any new diet or exercise program.

As far as dietary supplements, there are many helpful sub-stances I recommend to my patients to support good cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels.

For instance, there are many herbs like the ones contained in Cardio Well and Cardio Well Classic that provide effective support to the entire cardiovascular system. There are also many key nutritional supplements including niacin, berberine, omega-3 fish oil, magnesium citrate, chromium, gugulipid, red yeast rice, policosanol and anti-oxidants (Vitamin E and C, glutathione, selenium, CoEnzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, etc.) that support healthier levels of cholesterol, but they should not be substituted for a conscientious attempt achieve a healthier lifestyle.

About Dr. Graeme Shaw, MD

Dr. Graeme Shaw received his medical training at Creighton University of Medicine and is Board Certified in internal medicine. Dr. Shaw has offered medical herbalism formulas in his personal practice for many years and with many satisfied patients. He is a member of the American College for the Advancement in medicine and has been the director of the Natural Immune Supplements Corporation. Dr. Graeme Shaw has been published in a number of international medical journals and pivotal publications. Presently, he operates an Integrated Medical Clinic in Los Altos, California and has had great success in blending his knowledge of Eastern and Western modalities. Dr. Shaw specializes in integrative medicine which incorporates the best parts of alternative nutritional therapies using herbs, vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances and therapies. Click here to discover how herbal supplements may be able to help you too…

(c) Copyright – Dr. Graeme Shaw, M.D. All Rights Reserved Wordwide

Is cholesterol the “bad guy” in terms of cardiovascular risk factors?

It sure seems that way from what we read in the news. Western Medicine goes to great lengths to encourage us to reduce cholesterol so as to avoid its presumably detrimental effects on the body. With all of their efforts, you’d think that the results should show that we’re improving patients’ health with a reduced incidence of cardiac and vascular events. But this may not be the case.

A recent international study involving more than 30,000 patients produced unexpected results. Despite the use of medicines and other treatments for patients with vascular disease, patients in North America actually had higher rates of strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations and mortality.

The study noted that while many of these patients were taking appropriate medications for their vascular disease, that didn’t necessarily mean that the medications were working. The conclusion reached by one of the authors was that a better way to prevent the occurrence of vascular events would be to simply live a healthier lifestyle.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found naturally in all parts of your body. Everyone’s body needs some cholesterol to work efficiently. But if you have too much of certain types of cholesterol in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque and can cause a narrowing in your arteries, or even blockages.

HDL vs. LDL: What’s the difference?

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. This form of cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks.

HDL (good) cholesterol actually helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, thus it has an effect on promoting heart health. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that HDL, the so-called good form of cholesterol, may also be good for memory improvement.

In my practice, when dealing with patients diagnosed with high cholesterol, I find it very important to identify why cholesterol is elevated in the first place.

Many people do not know that 75 percent of cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our liver. Only 25 percent comes from our diet. So why does our liver produce more cholesterol? Is the body really producing something that is harmful to itself? The answer is actually quite simple.

Cholesterol is produced by our body as a defensive response to oxidative stresses from things like chronic infections, toxicity, stress and anxiety. These are some of the true causes of elevated cholesterol levels.

In order to protect us, our bodies are simply responding to these stressors by producing cholesterol. Thus cholesterol is actually good and essential to our health. Some of cholesterol’s healthy attributes include its anti-oxidant and cell membrane-calming properties, as well as its ability to aid in the production of some hormones and vitamin D.

What about Eastern Medicine’s philosophy on the cardiovascular system?

In previous newsletters I’ve mentioned that the Eastern concept of a healthy cardiovascular system requires a balance in three key energies: spleen energy (endothelium or lining of the blood vessels), liver energy (smooth muscle layer of the blood vessels) and the kidney energy (important for the function of blood vessels and the contractile energy of the heart).

Any activity that encourages these organ energy balances would best support the maintenance of the heart and healthy cholesterol levels. So whether you consider heart disease to be due to oxidative stress, cell membrane dysfunction or Eastern energy imbalance, the body’s response is always to secrete more protective cholesterol – it’s a natural response to cardiovascular disorders.

What do I suggest to my patients concerned with high cholesterol?

A new focus on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels by implementing key lifestyle adjustments that include a healthy diet (with plenty of organic foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, soluble fiber, and natural anti-oxidants), moderate exercise program, weight management program, detoxification, hydration/water, sufficient sleep, smoking cessation, stress reduction and consuming effective dietary supplements. As always, I suggest you work with a primary healthcare provider who is experienced in these fields of expertise before starting any new diet or exercise program.

As far as dietary supplements, there are many helpful sub-stances I recommend to my patients to support good cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels.

For instance, there are many herbs like the ones contained in Cardio Well and Cardio Well Classic that provide effective support to the entire cardiovascular system. There are also many key nutritional supplements including niacin, berberine, omega-3 fish oil, magnesium citrate, chromium, gugulipid, red yeast rice, policosanol and anti-oxidants (Vitamin E and C, glutathione, selenium, CoEnzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, etc.) that support healthier levels of cholesterol, but they should not be substituted for a conscientious attempt achieve a healthier lifestyle.

About Dr. Graeme Shaw, MD

Dr. Graeme Shaw received his medical training at Creighton University of Medicine and is Board Certified in internal medicine. Dr. Shaw has offered medical herbalism formulas in his personal practice for many years and with many satisfied patients. He is a member of the American College for the Advancement in medicine and has been the director of the Natural Immune Supplements Corporation. Dr. Graeme Shaw has been published in a number of international medical journals and pivotal publications. Presently, he operates an Integrated Medical Clinic in Los Altos, California and has had great success in blending his knowledge of Eastern and Western modalities. Dr. Shaw specializes in integrative medicine which incorporates the best parts of alternative nutritional therapies using herbs, vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances and therapies. Click here to discover how herbal supplements may be able to help you too…

(c) Copyright – Dr. Graeme Shaw, M.D. All Rights Reserved Wordwide

Is cholesterol the “bad guy” in terms of cardiovascular risk factors?

It sure seems that way from what we read in the news. Western Medicine goes to great lengths to encourage us to reduce cholesterol so as to avoid its presumably detrimental effects on the body. With all of their efforts, you’d think that the results should show that we’re improving patients’ health with a reduced incidence of cardiac and vascular events. But this may not be the case.

A recent international study involving more than 30,000 patients produced unexpected results. Despite the use of medicines and other treatments for patients with vascular disease, patients in North America actually had higher rates of strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations and mortality.

The study noted that while many of these patients were taking appropriate medications for their vascular disease, that didn’t necessarily mean that the medications were working. The conclusion reached by one of the authors was that a better way to prevent the occurrence of vascular events would be to simply live a healthier lifestyle.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found naturally in all parts of your body. Everyone’s body needs some cholesterol to work efficiently. But if you have too much of certain types of cholesterol in your blood, it can build up in the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque and can cause a narrowing in your arteries, or even blockages.

HDL vs. LDL: What’s the difference?

LDL (bad) cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries. This form of cholesterol has been linked to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attacks.

HDL (good) cholesterol actually helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries, thus it has an effect on promoting heart health. Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that HDL, the so-called good form of cholesterol, may also be good for memory improvement.

In my practice, when dealing with patients diagnosed with high cholesterol, I find it very important to identify why cholesterol is elevated in the first place.

Many people do not know that 75 percent of cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our liver. Only 25 percent comes from our diet. So why does our liver produce more cholesterol? Is the body really producing something that is harmful to itself? The answer is actually quite simple.

Cholesterol is produced by our body as a defensive response to oxidative stresses from things like chronic infections, toxicity, stress and anxiety. These are some of the true causes of elevated cholesterol levels.

In order to protect us, our bodies are simply responding to these stressors by producing cholesterol. Thus cholesterol is actually good and essential to our health. Some of cholesterol’s healthy attributes include its anti-oxidant and cell membrane-calming properties, as well as its ability to aid in the production of some hormones and vitamin D.

What about Eastern Medicine’s philosophy on the cardiovascular system?

In previous newsletters I’ve mentioned that the Eastern concept of a healthy cardiovascular system requires a balance in three key energies: spleen energy (endothelium or lining of the blood vessels), liver energy (smooth muscle layer of the blood vessels) and the kidney energy (important for the function of blood vessels and the contractile energy of the heart).

Any activity that encourages these organ energy balances would best support the maintenance of the heart and healthy cholesterol levels. So whether you consider heart disease to be due to oxidative stress, cell membrane dysfunction or Eastern energy imbalance, the body’s response is always to secrete more protective cholesterol – it’s a natural response to cardiovascular disorders.

What do I suggest to my patients concerned with high cholesterol?

A new focus on maintaining healthy cholesterol levels by implementing key lifestyle adjustments that include a healthy diet (with plenty of organic foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, soluble fiber, and natural anti-oxidants), moderate exercise program, weight management program, detoxification, hydration/water, sufficient sleep, smoking cessation, stress reduction and consuming effective dietary supplements. As always, I suggest you work with a primary healthcare provider who is experienced in these fields of expertise before starting any new diet or exercise program.

As far as dietary supplements, there are many helpful sub-stances I recommend to my patients to support good cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol levels.

For instance, there are many herbs like the ones contained in Cardio Well and Cardio Well Classic that provide effective support to the entire cardiovascular system. There are also many key nutritional supplements including niacin, berberine, omega-3 fish oil, magnesium citrate, chromium, gugulipid, red yeast rice, policosanol and anti-oxidants (Vitamin E and C, glutathione, selenium, CoEnzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, etc.) that support healthier levels of cholesterol, but they should not be substituted for a conscientious attempt achieve a healthier lifestyle.

About Dr. Graeme Shaw, MD

Dr. Graeme Shaw received his medical training at Creighton University of Medicine and is Board Certified in internal medicine. Dr. Shaw has offered medical herbalism formulas in his personal practice for many years and with many satisfied patients. He is a member of the American College for the Advancement in medicine and has been the director of the Natural Immune Supplements Corporation. Dr. Graeme Shaw has been published in a number of international medical journals and pivotal publications. Presently, he operates an Integrated Medical Clinic in Los Altos, California and has had great success in blending his knowledge of Eastern and Western modalities. Dr. Shaw specializes in integrative medicine which incorporates the best parts of alternative nutritional therapies using herbs, vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances and therapies. Click here to discover how herbal supplements may be able to help you too…

(c) Copyright – Dr. Graeme Shaw, M.D. All Rights Reserved Wordwide

Your body needs some cholesterol because it’s used to form cell membranes, hormones, and helps with multiple needed functions. However, having too much cholesterol in your blood is very bad for you. It can be described as a waxy, soft substance. It can’t break down in the bloodstream, so when there is too much it can cause congestion and blockage in a the arteries. It it the cause of major health risks that factor into coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack.

Cholesterol is found among the fats in the bloodstream, which are also called lipids, and in all of the cells in your body. Neither Lipids or cholesterol can dissolve in the blood, so the body has special carriers called lipoprotiens to move them to and from individual cells. There are several different kinds of lipoprotiens, but the most important to know about are HDL and LDL, which stand for high-density lipoprotien and low density lipoprotien.

LDL cholesterol is the primary cholesterol carrier in the body. When too much circulated through the blood, it slowly causes a buildup on the walls of the arteries. Along with other substances found in the bloodstream, this buildup can become a dense, thick plaque which can interfere with blood pumping smoothly to feed the heart and brain. A clot that forms near the buildup of plaque can create enough of a blockage to cause a heart attack. Similarly, if a clot forms that blocks the blood flow to the brain, a stroke can be the result. That’s why LDL cholesterol is looked at as the “bad” kind of cholesterol. A person with a high amount of LDL cholesterol in the body ( 160 mg/dL or higher ) has a much greater chance of having a stroke or heart attack than a person with a lower level of LDL cholesterol.

Conversely, HDL cholesterol is known as the “good” kind of cholesterol. A high level of HDL cholesterol seems to protect against heart attacks and strokes. The effects of different kinds of cholesterol are a subject of much scientific research, but experts tend to concur that HDL carries cholesterol back to the liver, where it’s processed and passed out of the body. Some scientists think that it’s function may be to remove excess cholesterol from plaques in the arteries, thus slowing and managing their development. Having a low level of HDL cholesterol ( less than 50mg/dL in women, or less than 40mg/dL in men ) can mean a much greater potential to develop the conditions that create heart attacks, strokes, and other serious medical problems.

The body produces some cholesterol naturally, mostly in the liver. We also get cholesterol from the foods we eat, particularly foods that come from animals. Vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains don’t contain cholesterol. Foods like dairy products, fish, meat, poultry and eggs contain various levels of cholesterol. The body generally makes all the cholesterol it needs, so we don’t really need to consume it in our diets. At the same time, other nutrients come from those foods that we do need, so a proper balance should be maintained. Saturated fatty acids and trans fats are the primary culprits in raising LDL cholesterol levels. Developing eating habits that get you the proper nutrients while lowering the intake of trans and saturated fats is a good idea for better health.

Learning more about healthy nutrition is one way to manage the effect of cholesterol on your body. Regular exercise is another way to improve your health and reduce the associated problems caused by too much cholesterol. Regular physical activity tends to increase HDL cholesterol in some people, and can also help the body in many other ways such as helping to control weight and have a higher level of energy. There are also some dietary supplements that are shown to help promote healthy cholesterol levels that are worth looking into. Talking to your health care professionals about your concerns is a good idea, as well as continuing to learn more on your own.

For more information about HDL and LDL cholesterol, please visit http://www.vasacor.com.

Article by Victoria Fox, freelance writer, musician and composer.

Further resources at: http://www.cholesterol-reduction.org/

Although cholesterol is naturally produced, too much can be dangerous, so learning about natural ways to lower it is essential. The body uses cholesterol to help keep cell membranes healthy, keep metabolism at a healthy rate, product hormones, and form important bile acids within the body. However, when it is too high, it can cause negative physical problems.

Understanding LDL and HDL

Before you begin looking at natural methods of lowering cholesterol, you need to understand the two different types – LDL and HDL. HDL stands for high density lipoproteins and LDL stands for low density lipoproteins. HDL is good cholesterol and LDL is bad. Having a healthy level of HDL cholesterol is important, while too much LDL cholesterol can be a danger to the body.

Where Does Cholesterol Come From?

Not only does the body naturally produce cholesterol, but you will find that we take in more of it through various foods that we consume. Many foods that come from animals include cholesterol, such as liver, eggs, chicken, and beef. Where this cholesterol goes in the body and the way it gets metabolized can depend on how much exercise you get, the amount you eat, your genes, and more.

Naturally Reducing Cholesterol Levels

While drugs are available, natural ways to lower it provide better options that help you to balance out your cholesterol levels. Here are several methods that are all natural you can use to lower cholesterol naturally.

1. Exercise

Exercise and activity is one of the best natural ways to lower cholesterol. When you exercise more often, this leads to an increase in the HDL you have in the blood, which increases the removal of LDL from your body. Exercise for 30 minutes a few times a week and you can see a significant reduction in your blood cholesterol levels.

2. Add Soluble Fiber to Your Diet

Another option for taking care of high cholesterol naturally is to add soluble fiber to your diet. Foods that include high amounts of soluble fiber include pears, apples, oats, and natural supplements. The soluble fiber helps to cut down on the absorption of fat by the body and helps to make sure that it is eliminated.

3. Eliminate Stress

Stress and cholesterol have a connection. If you eliminate stress, you can lower cholesterol. More stress leads to higher production of cholesterol, so cut back on stress and you’ll see those levels drop.

While you need cholesterol, high levels of high cholesterol need to be taken care of. If you find out that you have high cholesterol, it is time to take action. Use some of these tips and enjoy the power of natural ways to lower cholesterol.

Are you interested in learning about more natural ways that you can lower your cholesterol without the use of dangerous drugs? It is possible! For more tips and advice, visit http://www.naturalcholesteroltreatment.net for more helpful cholesterol information.

Rajagopalan helps you to understand how this natural remedy can help control cholesterol.

What’s the nation’s No. 1 killer of men and women? Heart disease. It causes a single death every 35 seconds. Here we share with you 10 tips to reduce the cholesterol naturally to fight back against heart disease.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease

In your annual physical, the doctor pokes and prods you and send you off for a blood test to check your cholesterol levels. But what is cholesterol? And what do the those magic numbers say about your health? Cholesterol is a type of lipid or fat. In our bodies, it travels through our blood stream in particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are bad because they can lead to a buildup of plaque in arteries. An accumulated mass of plaque can narrow your arteries and constrain blood flow – much like trying to sip a smoothie through a clogged straw. Eventually, the plaque breaks explodes and a blood clot forms, cutting off the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Hello, welcome heart attack and stroke! High-density lipoproteins (HDL), on the other hand, are beneficial because they snag the LDL congesting your arteries and take it to the liver, where it’s processed and eventually flushed and excreted.

A total blood cholesterol level of 200 and above is cause for concern, according to the American Heart Association. So lowering your cholesterol reduces your risk of contracting heart disease and dying from a heart attack according to many experts.

What you consume can affect the amounts of HDL and LDL flowing through your bloodstream, and we have a cholesterol-lowering eating plan that’s tasty and effective. Here’s our list: Try these 8 super-foods. Aim to eat all eight day after day and pay attention to the two bonus tips.

1. Almond Joy (not the candy bar though) – one ounce of dry-roasted, unsalted almonds Almonds contain two powerful antioxidants – vitamin E and flavonoids – which prevent the oxidation of LDL, a precursor to plaque buildup. Eat almonds with their skins, which pack a hefty dose of flavonoids. Maybe stir a handful into yogurt or spread two tablespoons of almond butter on whole-wheat bread. No Almond flavored syrup in your morning coffee does not count.

2. Oatmeal - 3 grams of beta-glucan, found in a half cup of dry oatmeal or oat bran Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that acts like a sponge to soak up cholesterol. Try this if your not a big oatmeal fan: Add cinnamon or dried cranberries/blueberries to your morning oatmeal for a flavor boost. Oat-bran is a highly concentrated source of beta-glucan and it’s easy to mix into homemade bread, muffin and pancake batter. Don’t forget about Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

3. Garlic – One clove and one Kyolic One Per Day Cardiovascular aged garlic extract supplement Garlic impedes the liver’s ability to make cholesterol. Here’s a couple ways to spice up your garlic. Chop garlic into small pieces to release its flavor. Saut it with steamed spinach, add it to sauces and soups or pure roasted garlic with cooked potatoes and olive oil for a heart-healthy version of everybody’s favorite: Mashed potatoes.

4. Phytosterol-Containing Foods – 2-3 grams of phytosterols a day spread over two meals Phytosterols are a fat found in plant foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. They interfere with cholesterol absorption by blocking it from your intestinal cells. Even a vegetarian diet provides no more than 300-400 mg of plant sterols a day, so supplement this with foods containing added phytosterols – chocolate bars, margarine, cheese, granola bars and cookies, to name a few – but keep an eye on saturated fat and trans-fat content. Check out this Cranberry-Almond Granola. See and you thought cutting down cholesterol would require you to eat foods that taste like carboard.

5. Flaxseeds – 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds Flaxseeds contain lignan and soluble fiber, which block the production of LDL and increase your body’s ability to get rid of cholesterol. Eat ground flaxseeds rather than whole ones, because your body can better absorb its nutrients. We like to sprinkle them into our morning oatmeal or cereal. Recent studies also show that whole flaxseeds are better than flaxseed oil for lowering cholesterol. Use whole flaxseed in Blueberry-Nut Muffins for a yummy combo.

6. Beans – 1/2 cup of legumes (beans, peas or lentils) Beans contain a special soluble fiber that’s fermented in the colon. Healthy bacteria eat the fiber and bean sugars to form short-chain fatty acids, which travel to the liver and inhibit LDL cutmostrol production. Sure you likely never heard of Adzuki beans, which are used in Japan to make sweet red bean paste, but if you can track them down they are high on our recommendations list. Also recommends cannelloni beans (try them in Tuscan soups, an Italian bean-based soup) and kidney beans, perfect in one of our favorites Hawaiian chili. Or Porteguese Bean Soup.

7. Apples – One apple – to keep the doctor away, of course Apples, particularly the skin and outer flesh, are rich in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help prevent plaque buildup. You can chop, slice or dice ‘em, but leave the peel on for maximum health benefits.

8. Soy Protein – 20-25 grams Soy protein contains phytoestrogens – compounds that increase the number and effectiveness of LDL cholesterol receptors, improving the liver’s capability to get rid of cholesterol in your bloodstream. Here’s a couple of our favorites since we are in the coffee and smoothie business: Order a soy latte at your favorite coffeehouse, throw tofu into a fruit smoothie, use soy flour when baking, or mix a handful of roasted soy nuts with dried fruit for an energy-boosting trail mix.

A healthy diet isn’t your only defense against cholesterol. Every one of our recommendations helps to lower cholesterol in a specific way, so by combining them all, you get an extremely powerful LDL-lowering approach.

9. Take Metamucil or Fiber Caplets (Psyllium Husk) – Work up to 12 capsules a day, for a total of 6 grams of psyllium husk Metamucil or Fiber caplets contain psyllium husk, a fiber that prevents cholesterol from entering intestinal cells. This fiber soaks up cholesterol so you excrete it rather than absorb it into your body. It’s probably the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence. Food in the U.S. Is abundant, but we are Fiber starved. Adults should consume 10-25 grams of soluble fiber a day, advises the National Cholesterol Education Program, but most get only 3-4 grams. A good measure is to try to get get roughly half your fiber from a supplement and the rest from fiber rich foods. If you are taking a fiber supplement it’s best to take half with breakfast and half with dinner to avoid overloading your body on fiber, which can cause gas, constipation or diarrhea.

Here our one an only non-food/supplement related cholesterol reducing strategy:

10. Work Up a Sweat – 30 minutes of exercise the more the better Cardiovascular exercise speeds blood flow in your arteries, reducing your chances of inflammation and clogging (two precursors to hardening of your arteries). You don’t have to belong to a gym to get some exercise. Clip on a pedometer while you run errands and aim for 10,000-12,000 steps a day. Walk the dog around the neighborhood rather than around the corner. If it doesn’t reduce your cholesterol it will help you control your weight and give you more energy.

Start incorporating these practices and tips into your lifestyle today, and your cholesterol will be on the down slope in no time. Results and response to these tips will vary and will be dramatically affected by heredity, but implementing these 10 ways to naturally reduce your cholesterol should do the trick for most of you out there.

Kapo Trading Company – Your Hawaiian Products Company
– Hawaiian Food Recipes
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Using a Calculator

For a lot of people, monitoring cholesterol levels by using a cholesterol ratio calculator has now become a part of their regular health routines. This is because of the increased general awareness about the potential dangers of having too much bad cholesterol in the body. Ideally, good cholesterol and bad cholesterol should always be at a moderate balance in order to maintain good overall health.

The easiest way for most people to keep their cholesterol counts in check is to use a cholesterol ratio calculator on a regular basis. If the calculator shows you that your bad cholesterol count is much higher than your good cholesterol levels, this should serve as a warning for you to start taking steps to bring your cholesterol levels to a healthier number in order to avoid future health risks.

You don’t have anything to worry about when using a cholesterol ratio calculator. There is nothing complicated about the entire process – just enter the required values and it will immediately give you your cholesterol count.

Interpreting the Results

If the calculator tells you that you have too much bad cholesterol in your body, you should take steps to lower this number right away. The best way of doing this is to improve your diet.

Most people do not realize that their daily menus consist of foods that are very high in bad cholesterol content. Saturated fats, fried foods and chips are very common in many people’s diets. Unfortunately, these are the foods that contain the highest levels of bad cholesterol so you should avoid eating them if the cholesterol ratio calculator tells you that you already have a cholesterol problem.

Several patients suffering from the consequences of high cholesterol don’t even realize that they are in danger until it is already too late. This is why regular use of the cholesterol ratio calculator is so important as a preventive measure against a lot of serious health problems.

There are also chances of not having enough of the good cholesterol and this is where you need to have that healthy balance. By monitoring your levels and your lifestyle, you are doing the right actions to maintain maximum health and lower all chances of heart disease and high cholesterol.

Cholesterol Lowering Supplements

There are also natural supplements that can help control the levels of both the good and the bad cholesterol levels. The added benefit of these supplements is that being natural there are no negative side effects. Plus they also provide you with more energy and a healthy heart.

Charles Moore provides information and resources on heart health, cholesterol and heart disease. For information on Cholestasys, a natural cholesterol lowering supplement, visit the ‘Health Advisory Center’ and help yourself to maintain a healthy heart.

http://healthadvisorycenter.com

High-Cholesterol Foods That You Should Avoid

People who eat a lot of foods high in cholesterol are placing themselves at a very high risk of suffering from cholesterol-related problems in the future. Unfortunately, this would describe practically everyone today. Most of us are following daily diets that contain high amounts of cholesterol, both the good and the bad variety. In order to maintain a healthy heart and to prevent being at risk of heart attacks, it is important to keep our cholesterol levels within the normal range. The best way to do this is to keep track of the foods that we eat and make sure we stay away from food high in cholesterol as much as possible.

It is true that the body does need some amount of good cholesterol for some of its basic processes, but all this necessary cholesterol can be produced by the body on its own. We don’t need to eat more foods high in cholesterol to help our system out. In fact, what we need to do is help our body get rid of the excess cholesterol by eating healthier foods.

What Are The Foods To Stay Away From?

There are certain foods that are very good in lowering a person’s cholesterol levels, such as avocados, while there are also those that contain very high amounts of bad cholesterol and will worsen the situation. The latter category would include foods that are rich in saturated fats or trans fats. Quite interestingly, not all these harmful foods are very greasy or oily. Some may actually look quite nutritious. However, you shouldn’t let appearances deceive you. The best way to determine whether a particular food item is one of the foods high in cholesterol is to take a look at the nutritional label on the box or packaging. If it contains so much as a smidge of saturated fat or trans fat, then you would be better off leaving it on the grocery shelves.

Other common foods high in cholesterol are egg yolks, pure dairy products, internal meat organs and fatty meats. If you take a close look at all the foods that have high fat and cholesterol content, it is easy to see that most of them come from animals or animal by-products. That is probably the reason why vegetarians have a much lower risk of suffering from cholesterol-related diseases than people who eat a lot of meat on a daily basis. That said, many vegetarians still have very high cholesterol, so don’t assume that vegetarians are safe from this problem.

If you are not considered at high-risk for cholesterol problems, that is, your cholesterol number is still within the healthy range, you may still eat some of these foods high in cholesterol but only in moderation. Prevention is still the best way to avoid cholesterol-related health problems.

Cholesterol Treatment

Your health care professional will advise you if you have high cholesterol. You can also maintain a healthy balance and help with the lowering of cholesterol levels with natural supplements. Having regular checks are also recommended if you feel you are at risk.

Charles Moore provides information and resources on heart health, cholesterol and heart disease. For information on a natural cholesterol lowering supplement, visit the ‘Health Advisory Center’ to help maintain a healthy heart http://healthadvisorycenter.com/