Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2015

Home Remedies To Control Cholesterol

10:40:00 AM
Cholesterol is one of the body's fats. Cholesterol levels in the blood rise slightly with age, and women generally have a higher HDL-cholesterol level than men. Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the major vascular systems. When the cholesterol level is measured in a blood sample, the levels of all forms of cholesterol can be calculated. The cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. High cholesterol is the best known of all the many threats to a healthy heart. High cholesterol can cause the formation and accumulation of plaque deposits in the arteries. A person's lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity and eating a high-fat diet, can contribute to high levels of total cholesterol.

People who smoke and also have high cholesterol are at even greater risk for heart disease. Food cholesterol comes exclusively from animal products: meat, eggs, milk products, butter, etc. Most people wrongly believe that the cholesterol contained in food is responsible for their high cholesterol levels. Lipid disorders are more common in men than women. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can be harmful and lead to a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the arteries. It is currently recommended that your total cholesterol level be less than 200mg/dl. A healthy diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too. Statins block a substance the liver needs to make cholesterol. This depletes cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes the liver cells to remove cholesterol from the blood.

Prevention of High Cholesterol

• Eating a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol may help prevent high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

• Quitting smoking and exercising may raise levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.

• Maintaining a healthy weight - or losing weight, if necessary - can help prevent lipid abnormalities.

• Eliminate the use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.

Home Remedies for High Cholesterol

• Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. Clinical trials have shown that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and destroy plaque.

• Arjuna is a coronary vasodilator. It protects the heart, strengthens circulation, and helps to maintain the tone and health of the heart muscle.

• Ginger reduces cholesterol and thins the blood improving circulation.

• Shudh Shilajit was found to lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum phospholipids in test subjects feed high cholesterol diet.

• Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.

• Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great deal in lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.By:

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol - 5 Natural Treatment Tips To Lower Cholesterol Quickly

8:56:00 AM
How long does it take to lower cholesterol? That is a question that seems to plague almost anyone who suffers from high cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, lowering your cholesterol level can never be fast enough; whether you're seeking a natural way to lower cholesterol or via some other alternative treatment. According to an article by CNN in November 2006, "more than 70 million Americans live everyday with some form of heart disease." And the number is expected to rise steadily over the next 10 years.
Heart disease is America's number one killer and probably, the number one killer in the industrialized world. The myth being perpetuated that cholesterol is never high before the age 40 is exactly that - a myth. Don't believe a word of it.
The facts necessitate a quick guide to lowering your cholesterol quickly - preferably opting for a natural and alternative treatment for high cholesterol.
But first ... for some good news. Cholesterol ... contrary to popular belief ... is not the cause of heart disease. The inflammation of arteries does that. Heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. That's right. There's a lot of misinformation being passed around that cholesterol is bad - that cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. That's so far from the truth. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to stay healthy. Your body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids to digest fat. And the truth of the matter is - your body requires only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs.
So why should you worry about lowering your cholesterol levels and maintaining it preferably at less than 200mg./dl.? Because failure in doing so can lead to the inflammation of your arteries ... and that is when cardiovascular events like heart attacks will occur. It's only when you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream (referred to as hypercholesterolemia) that problems start to arise. And this is where you need to pay attention. Because a high cholesterol level ... let's say ... north of 250, can and will lead to problems such as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis clogs arteries including your coronary arteries (arteries that feed the heart) and if left unchecked overtime, will lead to heart disease like angina and heart attack.
This is why you need to lower your cholesterol level and why it's so important to keep those levels in check. Statins such as Zocor and Lipitor may be powerful, cholesterol-lowering drugs and helps to some extent, but ... whether you believe it or not ... these can cause more damage (liver toxicity is a common side effect) than good to your body in the long run. You don't need these ill-effects creeping into your life just as you're about to kick back and enjoy your retirement.
Don't get me wrong ... I'm all for taking prescriptions drugs under doctor's orders if no other alternatives are made available. I'm sure you'll agree with that.
But I'm about to show you 5 tips you can go about lowering your unhealthy cholesterol levels without drugs right now - and fast!
Here's how to lower your cholesterol the natural way:
Consume more "healthy" fats
You must have heard of monounsaturated fats. Usually found in some types of nuts like almonds and walnuts, olive oils, canola oils and avocados. These "healthy" fats lower "bad" cholesterol (LDLs - Low-Density Lipoproteins) but at the same time, help maintain the "good" cholesterol (HDLs - High-Density Lipoproteins).
Your doctor can vouch for the fact that consuming monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat can lower your cholesterol levels quite drastically. You would have probably come across health advice about lowering cholesterol such as, "Replace whole milk with skim milk," "Cut down on that refined sugar," or "Dump butter for margarine." Most of that information is true except for dumping butter for margarine. Margarine increases the bad cholesterol and even worse, lowers the good cholesterol - almost tripling the risk of a coronary heart disease.
Don't believe the TV ads and stay away from margarine. Dr. Allan Spreen calls margarine, "plastic butter." And he has a point. Why? Because being hydrogenated, margarine is in fact one molecule away from actually being plastic - no kidding! To put it mildly, you're actually about one molecule away from eating Tupperware. You're more than welcome to carry out a simple test to prove this. All you have to do is leave a container of butter and a container of margarine out for a while and watch. It will only be a matter of time when you see flies hovering your container of butter - avoiding the margarine altogether. If it's not good enough for flies, you know you're in trouble!
Lower your intake of "bad" fat
Lowering cholesterol without drugs begins with this very important step - simply limit your consumption of saturated fat. Saturated fat is said to stimulate your liver to produce LDLs - or bad cholesterol that would simply clog up your arteries. According to Dr William Castelli, co-author of Good Fat, Bad Fat, he recommended that a smart diet to help lower cholesterol would take into consideration the amount of "bad" fat consumed per day - ideally being 20 grams a day. And that's just for those who are healthy.
A good idea would be to simply check your food labels when grocery shopping to get a sense of how much fat grams will be going into your body at any given day. Make this a habit because a simple precautionary measure like this can mean a lot to your long-term health.
Also, take note of trans-fatty acids. The name probably already gives it away - it is another bad fat. Trans-fatty acids are chemically processed and will not only raise your total cholesterol levels but can also lower your HDLs. These acids are usually found in deep-fried fast foods, biscuits, shortenings and packaged pastries. They're not usually indicated on food labels so be extra prudent about your food choices.
Get a blood test
You will want to get a blood test if you find yourself gaining weight, losing hair, feeling depressed, feeling more tired than usual, more sensitive to cold than usual and sudden stiffening of your joints. These could be symptoms of an underactive thyroid - medically termed as hypothyroidism. Diagnosing this condition with a blood test could nip the problem in the bud and save you from a rising cholesterol level.
While you're at it, ask your doctor to check your homocysteine level as well. Recent studies are pointing towards homocysteine as a better predictor of cardiovascular events. And there is a connection between hypothyroidism, homocysteine and heart disease. If you have an underactive thyroid, this prevents the absorption of B vitamins - causing homocysteine levels to shoot up. The result is a 300 percent risk of a heart attack.
A good homocysteine level is under 8. Anything above that and your doctor should be able to prescribe you some supplements. These supplements would usually center around vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folate.
Can I have my eggs back?
Yes, you definitely can. According to the British Nutrition Foundation's Nutrition Bulletin, dietary cholesterol in eggs "has no clinically significant impact" on heart disease. In fact, eggs are such a rich source of nutrients that avoiding them could cause more damage than good to your health.
I mentioned homocysteine. Well, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, choline may be effective in managing homocysteine. And where is choline found? You guessed it. Eggs. In fact the best source of choline is egg yolks. But if you're someone with elevated cholesterol or heart disease, you should check with your doctor about the number of eggs you can consume per week. Such cases are usually limited to two eggs per week.
Stop smoking and get moving!
Those are two obvious actions to take to keep your body in good working order. If you're overweight, you can be sure that your HDL readings will be low. Shed the weight and watch your HDLs rise. It's quite difficult to raise HDLs by dieting alone. You will need the combination of regular exercising and watching what you eat. Exercising helps in lowering your triglycerides (a blood fat linked to heart disease) as well. If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol levels, pay attention to triglycerides. Because apart from clogging up your coronary arteries, high triglycerides can lead to kidney disease and pancreatitis.
There is not much to be said about smoking that has not been said already. It's just bad. Smoking depresses HDLs considerably. It is a cause of heart and blood-vessel disease and basically causes irreversible damage to your overall health. There are no two ways about it. Smoking kills.
Here is a rough checklist to monitor your cholesterol levels and as always, consult with your doctor.
LDLs
Keep it less than 130mg./dl. Anything above 160mg./dl. is high.
HDLS
The higher the better. 35mg./dl. or less increases the risk of heart-disease.
Triglycerides
Keep it less than 150mg./dl. Anything above 200mg./dl. is high.
Total cholesterol
This is the combined measure of all blood cholesterols. Keep this less than 200mg./dl. Anything above 240mg./dl. is high.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

11 Things You Can Do To Lower Your Cholesterol Today

6:21:00 AM
Unhealthy diet is the main culprit in having very high cholesterol counts. Most Americans have very unhealthy diets due to the increasing number of fast food chains available. Not only are the burgers oily the fries that you order comes in packs so huge, making dieting a huge problem and most of the time out of the question.
Unhealthy eating can put a risk on your health. One major and very popular problem connected with cholesterol is heart attacks. Cholesterol kills. It will slowly consume you without you knowing it. Be smart and know what to do. Better yet prevent any bad attacks by being healthy and eating wise.
You might not be aware of your cholesterol levels so it is best to go to your friendly doctor and have yourself checked. You just might be astounded as to how much cholesterol you have consumed and kept. Unhealthy diet is a serious matter be serious and take care of your health. Learn the proper way to take care of your self and your body. After all you have but only one life.
Here are a few ideas on how to maintain that cholesterol levels way down:
1. Try oatmeal - it has loads of fiber that aids in sweeping all those toxins out of your body. If you find oatmeal to boring add slices of banana or other fruits that you fancy.
2. Exercise - break a sweat and get that butt moving. Not only will you gain weight from just sitting you might just end up having a very slow metabolism. You need to have a fast metabolism for faster breakdown of food. The only way to move it up is to move!
3. Fruits work wonders - yes fruits are natural foods. Very healthy grab one of those instead of munching that cholesterol rich French fries.
4. Get leaner cuts - when you are eating out or just going to your favorite restaurant ask for the leaner parts.
5. Whole wheat for whole health - whole wheat bread are way better for you than those white bread containing white flour.
6. Stop eating fast foods - all their meals are loaded with everything including fat and cholesterol resulting to you eventually being unhealthy and unhappy.
7. Olive oil is a miracle!- instead of using regular cooking oil get the more healthy oil. Olive oil is known and accepted in popular diet plans.
8. Drink H2O - water is important in our body. Load it up.
9. Read up - you need to research for better food alternatives that are near or at least palatable and enticing.
10. Get a motivator - have your partner or family help by keeping foods healthy. Tell them that their motivation is important to you. It will not only help you lower your count it will also make them healthier as well.
11. Learn to look at nutritional facts - they are facts after all. You just might be shocked with that ice cream you ate.
Lowering your cholesterol levels is very hard. It needs patience and perseverance (and a strong will power). You really need to work for it; your cholesterol count won't go down overnight you know. Just remember the diet you will follow T-L-C. This means low saturated and low cholesterol.
Do not be afraid of the doctor or dietician. They are there to help you and not sentence you to death through hunger. You health is there concern. Gain knowledge from them and live healthy. Are you not fully aware of the proper foods to eat or seem to have wondered what you can actually eat? Well that's one of their jobs. Get a load of your back and ask for their help.
A lot of Americans are living very unhealthy ways, be different and make a difference. Change your eating habits and change your lifestyle. Try involving your family and friends too. Soon it will be infectious and more and more will learn to eat the better way. Be that instrument of change.
All this are for you. You deserve to be healthy. You deserve to be happy and live the healthy life each and every American ought to have. Grab that life and get that cholesterol down. You are alive and well. Think positive and move!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

How to Maintain Cholesterol Level

8:41:00 AM
Cholesterol is a fatty deposit and that occurs naturally in all parts of body. This is necessary element for body to work properly. As minerals are good for health, this particular fat is also beneficial for good health. Cholesterol is found in the blood circulation of body.
The cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources one is dietary intake and another is liver production. Dietary cholesterol is found in meat, fish, dairy products and poultry products. Organ meats, such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol. After a meal, cholesterol is absorbed by the intestines into the blood circulation and is then packaged inside a protein coat. This cholesterol-protein coat complex is called a chylomicron.
Affect of physical activity on cholesterol
Whenever we do any physical activity, this increases HDL cholesterol level in some people. This HDL indicates the lower risk of heart disease. Physical activity can also help control weight, diabetes and high blood pressure. Aerobic physical activity raises your heart and breathing rates. Regular moderate intensity physical activity such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming also condition your heart and lungs.
How to maintain cholesterol level
If you want to keep your cholesterol level under control you should schedule a screening. Fatty foods are source of cholesterol so; you should eat foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fat. You should also maintain healthy fat. Try to do more physical activities. You should follow advice of your health care professional's advice.
Herbal remedies to maintain cholesterol level
Guggal has been shown to lower blood-fat levels while raising levels of HDL, this is the reason that it is called good cholesterol. This is also useful in atherosclerosis, psoriasis and cardiac ischemia. It has been shown that Guggul can lower blood cholesterol by 14-27% and it can also lower triglycerides by 22-30%. Coriander seeds act as good herbal remedy for cholesterol. Take 1 glass of water, add 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds and boil it. Let the infusion cool for some time and then strain it. Drink this mixture thrice in a day.
Onion juice is helpful in reducing the level of cholesterol. It also works as a tonic. It cleans blood, helps digestive system, cures insomnia and regulates the heart action & helps in lowering cholesterol. This is a good and simple home remedy for cholesterol.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Natural Herbs for Lowering Cholesterol

9:21:00 AM
Cholesterol is a wax-like material which is made by liver and relates it to proteins known as lipoproteins that dissolves it in blood to get circulated to various parts of the body as it very essential component in the formation of cell membranes, certain hormones and one of the most important mineral i.e. vitamin D.
Raised amount of cholesterol in the blood stream is a dangerous trend that can happen in your body. High cholesterol levels in blood have been indicated to heart related ailments. Cholesterol has the tendency to get deposited in the arterial walls while its course of flow in the body. The deposits are known as plaque, narrow the arterial cavity and thus interrupt the blood flow. The process of narrowing of the arteries is technically known as arthrosclerosis and is very often seen in arteries that supplies blood to heart. As heart is a vital organ and if it is deprived of nutrients and nourishments may lead to the disruption of its functioning. This disruption of its function may be fatal. But it is our fortune that cholesterol deposition is a reversible process, if proper care is taken.
Types of cholesterol:
(a) High density lipoproteins (HDL)
(b) Low density lipoproteins (LDL)
These are antagonistic in function and work in opposite direction. LDL carries the cholesterol from heart and supplies it to whole body. When the LDL level in the blood rises then it starts depositing in the arterial wall and this is the reason it is known as bad cholesterol. As compared to HDL it is being carried from blood to liver and helps in dissolving cholesterol deposited in the arteries, hence it is referred to as good cholesterol.
As per the normal values total cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dl. HDL cholesterol level should be greater than 40 mg/dl. LDL cholesterol level should be less than 100 mg/dl.
We are being blessed by certain herbs that have the tendency to reduce the raised cholesterol levels in the body and also maintain it to normal levels. These are:
Arjuna
A blessing of Ayurvedic system of medicine, arjuna is the best herbal cardio protective agent existing on the lap of mother nature. It is has been used by ancient ayurvedic healers ever since ayurvedic system came in existence. Due to its wonderful properties it has been successfully used as heart muscle tonic and cardio-protector agent. It has the properties of that helps in lowering the LDL levels and increase the HDL levels in the body. It prevents deposition of cholesterol in the arteries and also helps in regulating the cholesterol flow towards liver from heart so as to prevent any kind of damage done by cholesterol. Arjuna also contains Co- Enzymes Q 10 which is responsible for providing energy to heart muscles and strengthens them. The bark of arjuna is rich in saponins and flavonoids, gallic acids, certain phytosterols and glycosides like arjunetosides I, arjunetosides II, arjunetosides III and arjunetosides IV along with arjunine and arjunetin which are the most important heart toners.
Guggulu
Since ages guggul has been the companion of mankind saving him from many diseases. Botanically known as Commiphora mukul, it is a wonderful herb that is responsible for treating so many ailments that man suffers. The powerful action of guggulu helps in lowering down the levels of triglycerides and cholesterols there by managing the proper ratio of High density lipoproteins to low density lipoproteins. In a study it was proved that guggulu helps in lowering the cholesterol levels by 15 to 28 % and triglycerides level by 20 to 30 %. Guggulu has also proven its worth in reducing the body fats level and there by maintaining it to normal levels. It has also found its application as an herbal antibiotic there by fighting the antigens entering in our body to protect us from unknown ailments.
Garlic
Garlic is the part of every Indian kitchen. It is widely used because of its wide range of benefits. Garlic or allium sativum is wonderful remedy in lowering the cholesterol levels in the blood. But raising the HDL levels in the body. It acts as natural antibiotic fighting against the infection occurring in the body. It helps in lowering the raised blood pressure. It also prevents the formation of clots in arteries. It is very effective in treating the digestive disturbances and is helpful in proper sections of enzymes needed for proper digestion. It is also helpful in improving the proper blood circulation in the body.
By

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

13 Natural Cholesterol Remedies That Work

8:35:00 AM
Natural Cholesterol Remedies do help. The two main cholesterols are HDL ( high Density Lipoprotein) & LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein). They are commonly referred to as the good (HDL) and the Bad (LDL). This is really a bit of a misnomer because both are essential to our survival.
It turns out that about 80% of the cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our body. The reality is we can only control about 20% by what we ingest, with the foods we eat. Because of this, the corporate world has jumped on the bandwagon with a plethora of processed foods featuring claims of low cholesterol or NO cholesterol at all.
Here's what you need to think about, if 80% of the cholesterols in our bodies come from our own livers. What causes a cholesterol problem? Most often it is an imbalance. With you having either too little GOOD cholesterol, or having too much BAD cholesterol, or a combination of the two. Anyone of these states, is not the way it should be and needs to be corrected.
When our cholesterol levels do get out of balance, the tendency today-often-is the introduction of drugs--and the drug of choice is the Statin.
Statins are what I like to call maintenance drugs. That is drugs that are designed--not to cure a specific problem and then be discontinued, but rather a drug that you will need to take for the rest of your life, to control or manage an ailment. These types of drugs are a big win for the drug companies! But hardly--what anyone would consider a natural remedy!
Are there alternatives to the drugs? Yes, there are natural cholesterol remedies you can integrate into your regime to reduce and possibly eliminate your need for prescription medications. Now--I would never suggest you discontinue any medication, without first consulting a medical professional.
Here is a list of foods believed to be natural cholesterol remedies:
  • Almonds are a terrific way to reduce cholesterol. They also contain high levels of vitamin E.
  • Brussels Sprouts Are high in fiber and lower cholesterol by binding with bile acids the liver has produced for digesting fat.
  • Eating Avocados has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 17% after just the first week. They have a compound called beta-sitosterol, which seems to have a huge impact on balancing cholesterol levels.
  • Blueberries OK researchers fed mice blueberries and found the blueberry diet reduced cholesterol levels equal to that of statin drugs, but unlike the drugs, there was no harmful side effects. You can't patent blueberries--although the drug companies may try!
  • Lentils are a great natural cholesterol remedy because they are very high in fiber which will absolutely lower cholesterol.
  • Artichokes The leaves of the artichoke have been shown to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
  • Celery contains pthalides (pronounced thalides) and pthalides have demonstrated the ability to help increase bile acid secretion, which subsequently reduces cholesterol. So those cheese-whiz filled celery stalks your mom serves at thanksgiving aren't so bad after all!
  • It's the fiber. Zucchini reduces cholesterol because it contains fiber.
  • Cherries The University of Michigan has shown cherries help reduce cholesterol and they have also been shown to help reduce inflammation and body fat.
  • Apples An apple a day... It is amazing how this little rhyme from childhood is actually true. Turns out folks who consume a couple of apples a day, can reduce cholesterol by up to 16 %. A lot of people think the pectin found in apples causes this awesome effect.
  • Olive Oil For centuries olive oil has been part of the "Mediterranean Diet", arguably considered the healthiest diet. The natural antioxidants in Olive oil help control cholesterol and help prevent other risk factors for heart disease, such as hyper-tension.
  • Red Wine "Resveratrol" (a controversial element of red wine) is claimed to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol, when consumed in moderation (one 8 oz glass per day). As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on this stuff!
  • Dark Chocolate Yum! Chocolate-Dark chocolate, seems to reduce LDL (Bad cholesterol) by as much as 10 percent. Recommended amount? 100 grams per day, but remember it has to be Dark Chocolate not milk chocolate!
The impact on cholesterol levels varies by the food eaten. Some foods work better than others at lowering cholesterol. But remember you can only control about 20% of the cholesterol in your body with the foods you eat. Sometimes the foods you need to eat have to be eaten in quantities that are un-realistic for many people. Sometimes in your busy schedule getting those fresh foods can be impossible. That's when the right kind of Cholesterol Balancing Supplements can really help.
By

Monday, October 28, 2013

Top 7 Tips To Relieve Angina

10:05:00 AM
A common symptom of heart disease, angina occurs when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood because the vessels that feed it called the coronary arteries are blocked. In other words, your heart is not getting the oxygen it needs. Commonly, you will feel a squeezing sensation in the center of your chest, perhaps radiating to your shoulder, up to your neck, and down to your arm. Angina pain might recede once you rest. But most likely, it will return. Your coronary arteries are blocked, and you run a greater risk of having a heart attack. This risk is no less if you happen to be female. Women need to take angina symptoms seriously, especially after menopause. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve angina pain.
1. Try To Stay Tranquil
Try to manage stress as best you can, perhaps by learning a relaxation technique such as meditation. And find s bit of serenity whenever and wherever you can. Be kind to yourself and never underestimate the power of a loving spouse and faith in something bigger than yourself. Happiness that comes from within is healing.
2. Reduce Your Pressure
High blood pressure is a primary culprit in heart disease. If you have angina, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure to reduce the likelihood that it will lead to future problems.
3. Take Your Medicine
If you have experienced angina in the past, your doctor has most likely advised you to take nitroglycerin the instant you have an attack. But this drug can also be taken before angina occurs. Take your nitroglycerin before doing anything that tends to produce the symptoms. If you know that your angina bothers you when you mow the lawn, for example, take your nitrolycerin before you head outside. Take no more than three nitroglycerin tablets. If you continue to experience pain after 15 to 30 minutes, despite having taken nitrolycerin, call for an ambulance or have someone take you to the emergency room.
4. Get Your Blood Moving
Regular exercise can help reduce stress, control your weight, reduce your blood pressure, and increase your level of good HDL cholesterol. Taking a brisk walk for ½ hour a day, four times a week is all it takes. Consult your doctor before beginning a walking regimen or other fitness routine.
5. Take A Daily Dose Of Aspirin
If you have angina, take one baby aspirin a day or half a regular aspirin every other day. Aspirin has been shown to be of clear-cut value in preventing heart attacks. It makes the platelets circulating in the blood less likely to clump together and form a clot.
6. Rest
If you experience an angina attack, sit or lie down immediately.
7. Send Your Cholesterol South
The best way to help lower cholesterol naturally is to avoid high-fat, high-cholesterol foods. When you eat is as important as what you eat. Eat your main meal of the day at lunch and have a light meal in the evening. Your body can't digest fat as efficiently at night as it can during the day.
Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts."

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol - 5 Natural Treatment Tips To Lower Cholesterol Quickly

12:09:00 PM
How long does it take to lower cholesterol? That is a question that seems to plague almost anyone who suffers from high cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, lowering your cholesterol level can never be fast enough; whether you're seeking a natural way to lower cholesterol or via some other alternative treatment. According to an article by CNN in November 2006, "more than 70 million Americans live everyday with some form of heart disease." And the number is expected to rise steadily over the next 10 years.
Heart disease is America's number one killer and probably, the number one killer in the industrialized world. The myth being perpetuated that cholesterol is never high before the age 40 is exactly that - a myth. Don't believe a word of it.
The facts necessitate a quick guide to lowering your cholesterol quickly - preferably opting for a natural and alternative treatment for high cholesterol.
But first ... for some good news. Cholesterol ... contrary to popular belief ... is not the cause of heart disease. The inflammation of arteries does that. Heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. That's right. There's a lot of misinformation being passed around that cholesterol is bad - that cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. That's so far from the truth. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to stay healthy. Your body uses cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D and bile acids to digest fat. And the truth of the matter is - your body requires only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs.
So why should you worry about lowering your cholesterol levels and maintaining it preferably at less than 200mg./dl.? Because failure in doing so can lead to the inflammation of your arteries ... and that is when cardiovascular events like heart attacks will occur. It's only when you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream (referred to as hypercholesterolemia) that problems start to arise. And this is where you need to pay attention. Because a high cholesterol level ... let's say ... north of 250, can and will lead to problems such as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis clogs arteries including your coronary arteries (arteries that feed the heart) and if left unchecked overtime, will lead to heart disease like angina and heart attack.
This is why you need to lower your cholesterol level and why it's so important to keep those levels in check. Statins such as Zocor and Lipitor may be powerful, cholesterol-lowering drugs and helps to some extent, but ... whether you believe it or not ... these can cause more damage (liver toxicity is a common side effect) than good to your body in the long run. You don't need these ill-effects creeping into your life just as you're about to kick back and enjoy your retirement.
Don't get me wrong ... I'm all for taking prescriptions drugs under doctor's orders if no other alternatives are made available. I'm sure you'll agree with that.
But I'm about to show you 5 tips you can go about lowering your unhealthy cholesterol levels without drugs right now - and fast!
Here's how to lower your cholesterol the natural way:
Consume more "healthy" fats
You must have heard of monounsaturated fats. Usually found in some types of nuts like almonds and walnuts, olive oils, canola oils and avocados. These "healthy" fats lower "bad" cholesterol (LDLs - Low-Density Lipoproteins) but at the same time, help maintain the "good" cholesterol (HDLs - High-Density Lipoproteins).
Your doctor can vouch for the fact that consuming monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat can lower your cholesterol levels quite drastically. You would have probably come across health advice about lowering cholesterol such as, "Replace whole milk with skim milk," "Cut down on that refined sugar," or "Dump butter for margarine." Most of that information is true except for dumping butter for margarine. Margarine increases the bad cholesterol and even worse, lowers the good cholesterol - almost tripling the risk of a coronary heart disease.
Don't believe the TV ads and stay away from margarine. Dr. Allan Spreen calls margarine, "plastic butter." And he has a point. Why? Because being hydrogenated, margarine is in fact one molecule away from actually being plastic - no kidding! To put it mildly, you're actually about one molecule away from eating Tupperware. You're more than welcome to carry out a simple test to prove this. All you have to do is leave a container of butter and a container of margarine out for a while and watch. It will only be a matter of time when you see flies hovering your container of butter - avoiding the margarine altogether. If it's not good enough for flies, you know you're in trouble!
Lower your intake of "bad" fat
Lowering cholesterol without drugs begins with this very important step - simply limit your consumption of saturated fat. Saturated fat is said to stimulate your liver to produce LDLs - or bad cholesterol that would simply clog up your arteries. According to Dr William Castelli, co-author of Good Fat, Bad Fat, he recommended that a smart diet to help lower cholesterol would take into consideration the amount of "bad" fat consumed per day - ideally being 20 grams a day. And that's just for those who are healthy.
A good idea would be to simply check your food labels when grocery shopping to get a sense of how much fat grams will be going into your body at any given day. Make this a habit because a simple precautionary measure like this can mean a lot to your long-term health.
Also, take note of trans-fatty acids. The name probably already gives it away - it is another bad fat. Trans-fatty acids are chemically processed and will not only raise your total cholesterol levels but can also lower your HDLs. These acids are usually found in deep-fried fast foods, biscuits, shortenings and packaged pastries. They're not usually indicated on food labels so be extra prudent about your food choices.
Get a blood test
You will want to get a blood test if you find yourself gaining weight, losing hair, feeling depressed, feeling more tired than usual, more sensitive to cold than usual and sudden stiffening of your joints. These could be symptoms of an underactive thyroid - medically termed as hypothyroidism. Diagnosing this condition with a blood test could nip the problem in the bud and save you from a rising cholesterol level.
While you're at it, ask your doctor to check your homocysteine level as well. Recent studies are pointing towards homocysteine as a better predictor of cardiovascular events. And there is a connection between hypothyroidism, homocysteine and heart disease. If you have an underactive thyroid, this prevents the absorption of B vitamins - causing homocysteine levels to shoot up. The result is a 300 percent risk of a heart attack.
A good homocysteine level is under 8. Anything above that and your doctor should be able to prescribe you some supplements. These supplements would usually center around vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folate.
Can I have my eggs back?
Yes, you definitely can. According to the British Nutrition Foundation's Nutrition Bulletin, dietary cholesterol in eggs "has no clinically significant impact" on heart disease. In fact, eggs are such a rich source of nutrients that avoiding them could cause more damage than good to your health.
I mentioned homocysteine. Well, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, choline may be effective in managing homocysteine. And where is choline found? You guessed it. Eggs. In fact the best source of choline is egg yolks. But if you're someone with elevated cholesterol or heart disease, you should check with your doctor about the number of eggs you can consume per week. Such cases are usually limited to two eggs per week.
Stop smoking and get moving!
Those are two obvious actions to take to keep your body in good working order. If you're overweight, you can be sure that your HDL readings will be low. Shed the weight and watch your HDLs rise. It's quite difficult to raise HDLs by dieting alone. You will need the combination of regular exercising and watching what you eat. Exercising helps in lowering your triglycerides (a blood fat linked to heart disease) as well. If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol levels, pay attention to triglycerides. Because apart from clogging up your coronary arteries, high triglycerides can lead to kidney disease and pancreatitis.
There is not much to be said about smoking that has not been said already. It's just bad. Smoking depresses HDLs considerably. It is a cause of heart and blood-vessel disease and basically causes irreversible damage to your overall health. There are no two ways about it. Smoking kills.
Here is a rough checklist to monitor your cholesterol levels and as always, consult with your doctor.
LDLs
Keep it less than 130mg./dl. Anything above 160mg./dl. is high.
HDLS
The higher the better. 35mg./dl. or less increases the risk of heart-disease.
Triglycerides
Keep it less than 150mg./dl. Anything above 200mg./dl. is high.
Total cholesterol
This is the combined measure of all blood cholesterols. Keep this less than 200mg./dl. Anything above 240mg./dl. is high.
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