Posts Tagged ‘Ldl Cholesterol’

High cholesterol

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

One of the most frequently asked questions is- what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance that resides in our bloodstream. Some amount of cholesterol is required in the blood to retain good quality of health. High Density Lipoprotein and Low Density Lipoprotein are the two types of cholesterol that our body possesses. The acceptable level of cholesterol and triglyceride levels is mmol/ l. Total cholesterol level should be no more than 5. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level should be more than 1. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) must not be more than 3.

Suffering from high cholesterol levels is one of the most common traits in today’s generation. High cholesterols levels are so dangerous that they have the potency to induce many other fatal diseases. One of the consequences of unnatural cholesterol levels is rise in the tendency of heart attack. Since improper diet is not the only reason behind high cholesterol levels it becomes quite complex to deal with it. One should always contact a doctor to get the basics of his or her illness-whether the rise in cholesterol level is because of inappropriate diet or due to his or her genes or as a result of some other disease.

The two types of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol have different effects on the body. While HDL cholesterol is considered to be good for our body, LDL cholesterol has harmful effects. HDL cholesterol is referred to as good cholesterol. It collects some of the residual cholesterol from the arteries and brings it to the liver where it is processed and in the course of time expelled from the body. LDL cholesterol is referred to as the bad cholesterol. It travels from the liver to different parts of the body. They stick to the walls of arteries and make them narrow slowly. This process is quite harmful because narrow arteries restrict the natural flow of blood and leads to heart attack and stroke.

One of the main causes behind high LDL cholesterol is the intake of high saturated fats found in fast food. The other reasons may be hereditary problem or some disease of liver, kidney, diabetes or active thyroid. It is best to consult a doctor and have him trace the reason behind your illness. Then you can safely undergo the proper course of remedy. So carry out the blood test first and check if your cholesterol level of either HDL or LDL is abnormal.

If your HDL cholesterol level is very low, it might have serious consequences. You must immediately take steps to increase the level. Undertake a regular exercise routine. Try to reduce your weight and maintain it by going through weight loss diets. Quit smoking as it has adverse effects on your health. In addition to this if your case is very serious, be ready to take medicines according to your doctor’s advice.

To check high level LDL cholesterol there are two ways. The first one is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet and going for frequent exercise to burn the extra calories.

Ron Beckett is author of this article on Reduce cholesterol. Find more information about lower cholesterol here.

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

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Ways to Prevent High Cholesterol Levels

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Ways to Prevent High
Cholesterol Levels
 
One of the most common health
topics in the US is Cholesterol control and do you know that over 100 million
Americans have cholesterol levels that are higher than the normal cholesterol
level? Though most of us are keen in reducing cholesterol, not all of us know
that cholesterol is produced by our own body and it is essential for our body.
There is difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. If we would
like to prevent high cholesterol levels we need to first understand clearly
about cholesterol and the type of cholesterol that we need to control or reduce.

 
Cholesterol which does not
dissolve in our blood is transported using carriers called lipoproteins. There
are high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). The LDL
cholesterol is considered to be bad; when the concentration of the LDL
cholesterol is high it starts forming thick, hard plaques on the inner walls of
the arteries that carry blood to the heart and brain. This leads to other health
complications including heart attack.
 
HDL cholesterol is good for the
body and they protect us from heart attack and if the concentration of HDL
cholesterol is low then it can increase the risk of heart disease.
So when we want to reduce cholesterol level in our
blood we need to look at ways that will help us reduce the bad cholesterol
levels. We always tend to think or we have been taught wrongly that by changing
our food habits we can totally reduce cholesterol levels. This is only partially
true because the main source of cholesterol is our own body. The American Heart
Association teaches that about 75% of blood cholesterol is from our liver and
the other cells of our body and only 25% of blood cholesterol is from that food
that we consume.
It is obvious that we need additional assistance
to reduce cholesterol level in our body besides a healthy diet. Cholesterol
lowering supplements play a great role in helping us reduce bad cholesterol. The
best way to deal with cholesterol is prevention and
Hypercet Cholesterol Formula
is one of the best cholesterol lowering supplements that has very basic
ingredients Calcium, Magnesium, Beta 1, 3d glucans, and Chromium. Hypercet
Cholesterol Formula acts effectively in keeping the cholesterol levels that are
already in normal range under control. This cholesterol supplement does not only
help you in reducing cholesterol but it also helps you to maintain optimum
health.
Some of us tend to produce more bad cholesterol in
our body and genetics can be one of the reasons for this. So you must take
cholesterol lowering supplements that really work to keep your bad cholesterol
levels under control.
When you want to buy your cholesterol lowering
supplements, it is important that you get them from a reliable store so that you
can be sure of the quality of the cholesterol supplement that you are buying and
that it is not a fake product. Visit

www.cholesterol-protection.com to buy original cholesterol lowering
supplements.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

Paul Grover is author of this article on cholesterol lowering supplements. Find more information about cholesterol supplements here.

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10 Easy Tips to Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol This Month

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

So you have high cholesterol and need to lower it? That is no surprise considering how many people have high cholesterol these days. To help lower your cholesterol, here are 10 tips you can get started with today.

As with anything health related, diet and exercise are the two crucial components. What you eat is critical to lowering your cholesterol levels, so that is what is included here.

One thing you should know is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol. Simply think of HDL as “healthy” and LDL as “lousy.” HDL can actually help carry cholesterol out of your blood vessels while LDL allows it to deposit inside your artery walls.

The good news is that you can change your cholesterol for the better. Here is how to do just that:

1. Have a nice sandwich on whole wheat bread or a pita with some lean turkey and lots of fresh veggies. Skip the hot dogs, bologna, and salami, and hold the Mayo. All of those are highly processed and filled with fat and cholesterol.

2. Fish, like salmon, is good. Look for wild red salmon varieties, which are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids (good fat.) Also, flax seed is a good source of Omega-3s.

3. Avoid Trans fats! Not only do they raise the lousy LDL cholesterol, they can also lower your HDL levels! Stay away from foods like margarine, shortening, and processed foods containing partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

4. Go ahead, go nuts! Look for walnuts mainly but also try almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pecans. Nuts are high in fat, but it’s the good kind. (Also, use natural peanut butter instead of the normal kind which contains unhealthy Trans fats.)

5. Limit desserts and try to eat only the healthier ones like angel food cake, graham crackers, Jell-O, and fat-free frozen yogurt.

6. Eat foods that are high in fiber. Examples include whole wheat bread, oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some cereals. (Look for the boxes that say “may help lower cholesterol.”)

7. Use the grill. If you’re going to have steak or burgers, grill them at home and use lean meat. This practice avoids the grease, is fun, and the meat tastes great.

8. Find a new salad dressing. Most of them are full of Trans fats and cholesterol. Olive oil is good, and maybe add vinegar or lemon juice. Also, skip the bacon bits, croutons, and egg yolks.

9. Go overboard on fruits and vegetables. They contain no cholesterol and they have lots of nutrients like antioxidants.

Here are some examples: green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, oranges, mangos, papaya, pineapple, tomato, garlic, onions, spinach, water chestnuts, bananas, apricots, blueberries, and kiwi.

10. Avoid fast food like french fries and anything else from the deep fryer. Those foods will raise your cholesterol like crazy, so stay away from the burger joints if you can.

11. Bonus tip: Use spices like pepper and oregano to add flavor to your dishes. They are a healthy alternative to other toppings like Mayo.

That was easy, wasn’t it? Just make some of these changes and get plenty of exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, or playing basketball. You will have lower cholesterol in no time!

Article Source: ADB Article Directory

More information on cholesterol is available at www.healthandfinesse.com

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