Information and facts on High Cholesterol

 

Elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, impeding blood flow to the brain, kidneys, genitals, extremities, and your heart. High cholesterol levels are one of the primary causes of heart and cardiovascular disease, because cholesterol produces  fatty deposits within the arteries. High cholesterol levels are also implicated in other health problems such as: gallstones, impotence, mental impairment, and high blood pressure. Colon polyps and cancers (especially both breast cancer and prostate cancer) also been linked to high serum cholesterol levels. The cholesterol levels in the body are greatly affected by diet.  The consumption of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat increases the cholesterol levels, while a more vegetarian diet, regular exercise, and the nutrients such as niacin (vitamin B3) and vitamin C can lower cholesterol. 

Understanding more about Cholesterol

Newspapers, magazines, and TV shows these days often mention something about cholesterol and health. People are concerned with lowering their cholesterol levels, and many people would like to know how they can do this. But how is cholesterol produced and utilized by your body? Cholesterol is a crystalline substance that is classified as a steroid. However, because it is soluble in fats rather than water, it is also classified as a lipid. Cholesterol is found naturally your body in the: brain, nerves, liver, blood, and bile. This is why people who wish to lower their cholesterol levels are told to avoid meat and other foods containing animal products. Despite the poor even bad reputation, cholesterol is actually needed for the human body to function. About 80% of your total body cholesterol is manufactured by the liver, the other 20% comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is used by cells to build membranes, used in sex hormones, and for digestion. Cholesterol moves from the liver through the blood stream to other body tissues by a special kind of protein molecule The cells take what they need, and any extra stays in the blood stream until other lipoproteins pick it up for transport back to the liver.

There are 2 major types of lipoproteins: LDL or low-density lipoproteins and HDL or high-density lipoproteins. The LDL are often called “bad cholesterol” and the HDL are called “good cholesterol.” An analysis of the function of each explains why they are called bad and good. Low density lipoproteins are heavily laden with cholesterol, because they are the molecules that transport cholesterol from the liver to all the cells of the body. High density lipoproteins, however carry very little cholesterol, and circulate in the blood stream removing excess cholesterol from both body tissues and blood. After, HDLs travel through the blood stream collecting the excess cholesterol, they return it to the liver, where the cholesterol may then be incorporated into LDLs for transport to the cells. If all is functioning the right way, the whole system stays in balance. However, if there is too much extra cholesterol for the HDLs to collect, or if there is just not enough HDLs to do a good job, then the cholesterol can form a plaque that sticks to artery walls and can cause heart disease and heart attacks.

The National Cholesterol Education Program has set a safe level of total serum cholesterol both LDL and HDL at 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood. A reading above 200 indicates a risk for developing heart disease and levels over 240 are really high risk. The normal HDL level for men is 45 - 50, and for women is 50 - 60. It is suggested that higher levels, such as 70 - 80 may protect against heart disease. An HDL level under 35 is also considered risky. So if you have a cholesterol reading of 200, with HDL at 80 and LDL at 120, you are considered at low risk for heart disease. However, if you have a total cholesterol level well under 200, if your HDL level is under 35, you would still be considered at greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

The general rule is that as your HDL decreases, your chances for heart problems is greater. Because LDLs are bad, it is important to understand the effect of your eating habits on cholesterol levels. Decreasing our eating of animal products lowers our overall cholesterol levels. However, dietary cholesterol is only a part of the story. There are other things that affect cholesterol levels like saturated fats, that have been shown to increase cholesterol levels even more than dietary cholesterol does. So if a product label claims “No Cholesterol”, that product could still have a bad effect on your body's cholesterol level. Sugar and alcohol both raise the level of natural cholesterol. Alcoholism will compound and often be a factor in high cholesterol problems. Stress also causes an overproduction of natural cholesterol. Therefore, preventing heart disease requires a complete approach that includes avoiding too many animal products, saturated fats, sugar, and alcohol, and reducing stress in your life.

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.