Exercise and Cholesterol - Is There Really an Exercise to Lower Cholesterol?

Exercise and cholesterol are closely related, if you want to have a balanced normal cholesterol level, that is.

Before we go deeper into the subject of exercise and its role in controlling cholesterol level in your body, let's make sure that you understand one very important point: exercise doesn't lower your cholesterol levels.

Many people believe that exercise can actually be lowering your LDL (bad cholesterol) count if you do it periodically or hard enough. This is not true at all.

The truth is, proper exercise induce your body to produce more HDL (good cholesterol), thus raising its concentration in your blood. This in turn will improve your LDL to HDL ratio to reach a healthy level.

Just for the record, the maximum LDL to HDL ratio should be 4.4:1. Periodic exercise done in the right way will help you keep your ratio lower than this threshold.

If you don't know what your ratio is, do a simple calculation by dividing your LDL number with your HDL number. If the result is a number bigger than 4.4, then there are two possibilities:

If your LDL reading is higher that 100 mg/dL, then you need to change your diet by eating more natural fibres such as vegetables, fruits, whole wheat bread, etc. You also need to stop consumption of saturated fat and trans fat foods (meats, poultry, fat, dairy products, canned food).

You also have to exercise to bring up your HDL measurement, so you can lower LDL and increase HDL at the same time.

If your LDL reading is lower than 100 mg/dL, then you need to exercise more and eat more fish to raise your HDL.

You may not need to reduce intake of saturated fat and trans fat foods as mentioned above, but you have to closely monitor your cholesterol levels with a test every 6 months or so in a certified clinic or hospital.

That being said, now let's get into the details of what kind of exercise should be done to increase your HDL.

Any kind of exercise will do, but the most recommended ones are aerobic kind of sports (running, walking, aerobic dance, etc). These kinds of exercise will not only increase HDL, but also have good cardiovascular effect, because when you do them, the arteries and muscles of your heart become strained because they are working overtime.

If you do exercise regularly, your body will then adapt to this regular strain by building new blood vessels and strengthen the heart muscles. Essentially, by exercising you're making your heart younger and healthier, thus reducing your chance of heart disease.

There are certain guidelines you have to follow in doing your exercise to gain optimal benefit from it:

The exercise you do must bring your heart rate to your target heart rate, and keep it there for about 20 minutes.

Your target heart rate is (220 - your age) x 0.7. So, if your 40, your target heart rate is (220 - 40) x 0.7 = 126 heart beats per minute. If a specific kind of exercise can not increase your heart rate to reach the target heart rate, then maybe the intensity is too low for you. In such case, you might want to switch to a heavier exercise.

The exercise you do must be at leat 30 minutes long per session.

You should be able to the exercise at least once every week. Daily exercise is recommended, but weekly schedule is a minimum to have impact on your cholesterol level.

Do not take any drugs to improve your performance in the exercise. Stay away from steroids or other medicine of the like. They can only bring harm to your body. Remember, You're exercising for your health, not for the world title.

As a closing note, let me tell you my story of how I battled high cholesterol... and win!

In 2008, I reduced my cholesterol from 376 mg/dL to 121 mg/dL in only 2 short months. This is better than ideal!

The truth: what kind of vegetables, fruits, vitamins and supplements I took was the most important key in my success. Eat the wrong kind of them, and you won't be reducing your cholesterol levels at all.

To find out exactly what kind of diets will produce my kind of result, check out the guidelines on this website: good-cholesterol-foods.net Good Cholesterol Foods. On this site you will also find a free booklet on cholesterol management and a cholesterol chart to help tracking your cholesterol level progress.

Do not wait.. you can start reducing your cholesterol level today with the same treatment I took. Act Now! Visit the website mentioned above and find out how you can copy my method to reduce your total cholesterol by as much as 255 points naturally. You'll find valuable information in that website.

Lowering LDL Cholesterol With Plant Sterols and Stanols

Plant sterols have cellular functions in plants similar to cholesterol in humans. More than 40 plant sterols have been identified, but sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol are the most

abundant.

Stanols are 'saturated' sterols. The major plant stanols are sitostanol and campestanol; they are much less abundant in nature than sterols.

Foods with plant stanols or sterols added, for example some margarines, can lower blood cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.

Most people consume 200-300 mg of plant sterols and stanols through eating vegetables and fruits as part of their normal daily diet. Studies prove that it takes at least 1.8 - 2 grams a day to obtain the cholesterol lowering effect. This fact is based on more than 40 years of research.

The average consumption of spreads (margarine and butter) in the United States is between 10-15 g per person per day. If you increase this level to 25 g per day of margarine enriched with plant stanols and/or sterols, the 2 gram amount suggested above is obtained.

By just replacing butter with ordinary polyunsaturated margarine a person can lower blood LDL 'bad' cholesterol concentrations by about 12 mg/dL. But the expected reduction from margarines enriched with plant stanols and/or sterols is about twice as high - as much as 27 mg/dL. This represents a reduction of one quarter in the risk of heart disease.

Margarines containing either plant stanols or sterols are marketed in many countries: 'Benecol' and 'Take Control' are two brands here in the United States. Also yogurt, cream cheese spreads, and cereal bars have been introduced in some countries. And enriched cereals and fruit juice are being test-marketed in the United States.

To determine if the product is enriched, look at the label on the product under the 'Ingredients' section (listed following 'Nutrition Facts').

Studies are ongoing, but so far the consumption of these enriched foods has not produced any adverse effects. It has been suggested that these nutrients may interfere with the absorption of the oil-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K). If this is true most of the vitamin deficiency could be made up by eating a few more fruits and vegetables.

As an extra bonus - it has been shown that patients treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs obtain additional significant LDL reduction when these plant nutrients are added to their diets, enabling many of those not at their LDL goals to achieve those goals. But it's best to consult with your doctor before you attempt this.

The consumption of foods enriched with sterols and/or stanols should complement a healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with unhardened oils as the fat source.

About the Author:
Tim Lazaro is a nutrition scholar and competitive, masters runner who writes on issues related to heart health, natural-food diets, and aerobic exercise. By employing the diets and life-style changes that he writes about, he has lowered his total cholesterol and lost weight. If you want to learn more about lowering your cholesterol, download his Free guide here: waystoloweryourcholesterol.com/SPS/FiveSecrets.html Five Secrets to Lowering Cholesterol

How I Lowered My Cholesterol Level By 56 Points

About a year ago, my wife encouraged me to get my cholesterol level checked. She had recently had her cholesterol checked and the results were normal. I went ahead and scheduled a test and fasted for twelve hours prior to the blood work being done.

The test itself was uneventful. The nurse checked my blood pressure, asked a few questions, and withdrew some blood. I was told to expect results within a few days. If I didn't hear from the doctor's office with a few days, I was to call back.

Turns out the results came back within a couple of days. I didn't need to call the office as they decided to call me. Instead of telling me what the results were, I was told to come in as soon as possible to review the results with the doctor.

By the time I hung up the phone I am assuming the worst. How bad could the results be if they are not willing to discuss the results over the phone? Needless to say, I returned to the doctor's office that same day.

The results were not good. My total cholesterol was 244, the LDL level was 161, and my HDL was 38. For reference, the recommended results at the time of my test were less than 200 for total cholesterol, less than 100 for LDL and greater than 40 for HDL. It was explained to me that the LDL level, the "bad" cholesterol, needed to drop. On the other hand, the "good" cholesterol, HDL, needed to increase. One of the ways that HDL increases is through exercise. LDL can decrease by a change in diet.

To be honest, I was shocked with the results. I thought my results would be in line with my wife's since we have the same diet. No, that was definitely not the case.

I also found out that your genes, your family, has a lot to do with your cholesterol levels. It didn't take me long to figure out what side of my family was to blame for my higher than expected cholesterol results. I found out from my father that when he first had his cholesterol checked just a few short years ago that his total cholesterol was well over 300! He immediately started taking medicine to reduce his total cholesterol.

So what did I do to drop my total cholesterol by 56 points in 8 months?

Three things I did to help reduce my cholesterol level are:

1) Exercise more - I added about 20 minutes of walking each day to my work schedule. I have a desk job and don't get a lot of physical activity during the working hours. I make an effort every day to walk at least 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon at work. This is in addition to the moderate running I do a few times a week.

2) Oatmeal - Do you know how easy it is at work to trot down to the vending machine and buy a candy bar when you are hungry? As a matter of fact, it is too easy. I now have a container of oatmeal, along with a box of raisins for flavoring, at work. When hunger pangs hit, I go to the area kitchen, microwave a half cup of water, add some oatmeal and raisins, and enjoy.

3) No more cheese - I personally think this has had the biggest impact on my cholesterol reduction, a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet. Since I am not a doctor, I can't be certain. I immediately stopped eating slices of cheese. For whatever reason, I love cheese. Regularly, I would eat a slice of cheese or a couple slices of cheese. I knew that couldn't be too good for me. This doesn't mean I don't have any cheese in my diet. I'll eat a burrito with cheese or a pizza with cheese, but I no longer eat slices of cheese.

That's about all I did, I didn't go on a restrictive diet or start taking medicine to reduce my cholesterol. I made a few lifestyle changes that I have faithfully implemented. It's been more than 365 days since I have been "cheese" free.

Like I said, my total cholesterol dropped by 56 points, from 244 to 188 in eight months. Also, my LDL cholesterol dropped from 161 to 124, still high but better than it was. The only disappointment was that my HDL remained the same at 38.

I hope that my story has inspired you to be aware of your cholesterol level and if needed, take action. While specific recommendations related to reducing cholesterol are best left to professional health care personal, I'm hoping that you will take care of yourself.

Don Williams shares information about a low-cholesterol-diet.com low cholesterol diet and what it can do for your health.

Reduced Carbohydrate Diet Plan

If you're in the market for a reduced carbohydrate diet plan. Then let me tell you this." Buyer beware". Many low carb diet plans litter the weight loss market. All are not equal. I have personally tried two different reduced carbohydrate diets. The first product I tried was The Atkins plan which went well at first. I lost 26 lbs in roughly 3 months on the program. I should give you a little background before you go and sign up. I was training for a 10 km run and running about 12 km every other day. So the pounds came off very quickly.

When I first started The Atkins reduced carbohydrate diet plan. I felt a little weak do to the reduction of carbohydrates. This lasted about two weeks and then the symptoms started to fade. It took about six months on the program before I hit the dreaded weight loss brick wall. It became a struggle to adhere to a program that eliminated many fruits, vegetables and breads. I started to doubt that I could maintain my new eating habits for the rest of my life. But I forged on.

It wasn't until a routine visit to the doctor that I got the news that my good cholesterol had taken a big nose dive in less than a year. I can't say either way if my new eating habits contributed to my latest change in my overall health, but it was quite a coincidence.

I dropped The Atkins reduced carbohydrate diet plan and tried doing a combination of ideas to raise my HDL to an acceptable level. My weight quickly went back to the original weight plus a few pounds for good measure. I knew that I needed to get my weight and my HDL in line so I researched the weight loss market. I found a diet plan that described what I was looking for when I found the Atkins Diet.

I signed up and I have never looked back. I shed 20 lbs in 5 1/2 weeks, my good cholesterol is very slowly creeping up and heading in the right direction. This reduced carbohydrate diet plan allows me so much flexibility in my food choices. I don't have to starve myself like a low fat diet. I can eat meats, dairy, everything on Atkins and more. Fruit intake is encouraged unlike the Atkins diet. The great thing about this diet plan is the focus on balance. The carbohydrates that I did drop under this plan were only the refined carbohydrates.Processed foods are off limits. It's back to the basics with this diet plan, or should I say lifestyle plan.

Breads are allowed if they are in the purest forms, like sprouted breads.Most vegetables and fruits. Starchy foods and pasta should be kept for special dinners. This program works by manipulating your metabolism and restricting the bad carbohydrates and promotes eating the good fats. The program is a refreshing and nutritious alternative to low fat and reduced carbohydrate diet plans.

Exercise is important in any effort to lose weight. I found with this program 30 minutes 6 days a week of walking briskly was enough to rapidly shed the weight.

It's working for me, I am sure it will work for you.

In good health

Charles N Lambert

If your looking for a weight loss program that will show fast results and a lifestyle you could easily adhere to as a lifestyle then click on the following link to view my choice. dietsforquickweight-loss.org/reduced-carbohydrate-diet-plan dietsforquickweight-loss.org/reduced-carbohydrate-diet-plan

How to Lower Cholesterol Levels With Better Nutrition

Lowering cholesterol levels can be accomplished in a couple of different ways. You can first start exercising more often as this allows the body to maintain higher levels of HDL cholesterol which act to decrease LDL cholesterol levels which are exactly what you don't want. You can also improve your cholesterol levels by taking steps to improve your diet as this is the number one cause of bad cholesterol counts. As a rule of thumb foods which are high in convenience, such as fast food and processed meals and snacks, are typically the primary cause of elevated cholesterol levels.

Lowering Cholesterol Count With Your Diet

You diet is the primary driver for all of your health. Coming in a close second is your level of exercise. If you can take the time to change your diet for the better you will have to rely less on your exercise levels to remain healthy.

Making changes to a diet in an attempt to lower cholesterol levels first requires the increase in consumption of foods which contain low cholesterol and fat. This is as simple as it gets. These types of foods are not inherently and for you but the do become bad for you if you eat them in excess.

Second you have to begin eating more fruits and vegetables to ensure you are getting plenty of fiber. Fiber has long been understood to both aid the digestive system but also to help prevent syndrome x conditions such as insulin resistance and arterial disease. When you change your diet to focus more on these food items then you are far more likely to start seeing improvement in your cholesterol count.

Lastly the biggest focus you need to make in changing your diet for better nutrition is to include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are usually found in fish and seafood but may be found in certain greens and grains. If need be consider supplementing because omega-3s provide plenty of good HDL cholesterol which works to lower bad LDL cholesterol from your system.

With a little work improving your cholesterol count with better nutrition is not hard. A little change here and there go a long way and the better health you have will be something you can enjoy for a full and long life time. It's more than worth it to make the change.

For more information on this subject see these related articles on how to ehow.com/how_5323690_lower-cholesterol-levels-better-nutrition.html lower LDL cholesterol and maintain infobarrel.com/Maintain_Healthy_Cholesterol_Levels healthy cholesterol levels.

Plant Sterols and Cholesterol - What's the News?

Research has found that intake of low-fat foods fortified with plant sterols can help support low cholesterol levels for better health. Know more about the recent news on plant sterols and cholesterol.

Scientific studies in the past decade have revealed the tie that binds plant sterols and cholesterols. Plant sterols and stanols have been found to be effective for cholesterol lowering. Experts and dieticians recommend intake of stanol and sterol containing foods to lower LDL cholesterols and reduce the risk of developing heart problems.

But what are these? These and stanols are compounds naturally found in small amounts in many vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds and nuts. The proven cholesterol-lowering property of these and stanols are so well known that manufacturers have already started adding them into many commercially available foods today. Now, sterols and stanols are available in spreads, margarine, cereals, orange juice, granola bars, and even cookies.

How Plant Sterols Help for Cholesterol

The molecular make-up of stanols and sterols are similar to that of cholesterol. When plant sterols reach your digestive track, they are known to prevent the absorption of real cholesterol into the blood stream. In other words, these compounds seem to have the ability to trick the body that they are cholesterol. Thus, the real "bad" cholesterols, which can build up and clog the arteries are not absorbed and are quickly removed from the body.

What makes it ideal is that they are not readily absorbable in the intestines. This means that they compete with cholesterol absorption without creating any impact on digestion and the blood stream.

Scientific Evidence on the Cholesterol-lowering Effect of Stanols

Published research findings in medical journals have revealed consistent results. A study in 1995 published in the New England Journal of Medicine has indicated that daily intake of margarine enriched with stanols might have the potential to help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 14%. More recent studies conducted at the University of California Davis found that sterol-enriched orange juice could possibly help to lower LDL levels by almost 15%. These are not health claims at all, simply reporting on studies that have indicated promising potential benefits.

Additional Info on Sterols

Note though that taking too much it is also not recommended. Intake of at least two grams of sterols and stanols seem to be sufficient for those who have high levels of cholesterol. Intake of gram levels is generally not recommended to those who have no cholesterol level problems.

Normally, adequate amounts of it are available in a well-balanced diet. In fact, most experts agree that dietary intake of sterols via food is a healthier choice than taking them as supplements. There are many speculations on the possible side effects of plant sterols. There are studies, which suggest that even if plant sterols and stanols are not readily absorbed in the intestines, some amounts can still enter the bloodstream and might actually accumulate in the aortic valves, potentially causing a condition called stenosis.

The direct positive relationship between plant sterols and cholesterol has been strongly suggested. However, as of the moment, it may be best to take in plant sterols through natural and fortified foods than taking them as stand-alone supplements. For the best cholesterol-lowering program, make sure to work with your doctor's advice to adopt a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, and follow a good exercise program.

Also talk to your doctor about how fish oil may benefit your heart health diet plan. Many doctors take fish oil themselves and recommend it to their patients. Find out why by talking to your doctor and reading more about the benefits of pure fish oil.

Susan Goodwin writes about fish oil health benefits at pureconcentratedfishoil.com pureconcentratedfishoil.com where you can get a free report about fish oil and heart health. Be sure to choose a pureconcentratedfishoil.com pure concentrated fish oil supplement that will provide you and your heart all the health benefits possible.

Are Low Carb Weight Loss Plans the Best Way to Go?

Low carbohydrate happinesslifetime.com weight loss plans may seem like they're a fairly new fad in the world of diets, but the truth is that these diets have been around for quite a while now and have just made a come back of sorts in recent years. They say that everything old is new again and this is also true when it comes to dieting, so it seems.

The Atkins Diet and Others

The Atkins Diet is by far the best known low carb happinesslifetime.com weight loss plans around. Although it's become the diet du jour in recent years, it was actually created in the sixties. The diet has inspired hundreds of other happinesslifetime.com weight loss plans that range from those that limit all carbohydrates to those that limit them to a small percentage of what you eat each day, like the well-known Zone Diet and South Beach Diet.

It's easy to see what makes diets such as these so popular when they advocate eating until you are full as opposed to starving yourself or counting calories. Add to that the fact that diets like Atkins allow you things like bacon and eggs for breakfast and all the meat you can eat and it's a no brainer! And, with many having favourable weight loss results thanks to low carb diets, it's no wonder that low diet plans are the way a lot of dieters for. But is this the best way to go? That depends who you ask.

Most doctors will advise against any drastic diet where you cut things out of your diet completely and instead recommend an everything-in-moderation approach to weight loss. A low carb weight loss plan like Atkins, involves cutting fruit out of your diet entirely which makes some people nervous since not only do fruits help keep you regular but they also provide many necessary vitamins which help to keep your immune system in check. And, a diet rich in fruits has been shown to decrease your risk of certain cancers and other diseases. As well, eating as much meat and fat as this type of diet allows raises concerns about cholesterol issues.

If you're having trouble understanding just how low carb weight loss works, it's a combination of things. First off, even being able to eat as much of the "allowed food" as you want; cutting out every form of carbohydrate you're used to eating always results in eating less, which of course, contributes to weight loss. Low carb happinesslifetime.com weight loss plans also work by reducing the amount of insulin your body produces, since carbs are broken down into sugars in your blood. This results in your body using your stored fat and protein as your main energy source so that you lose weight.

So do low carb plans work? Yes, you will likely lose some weight using a low carb diet and sometimes the loss is drastic at the start. Maintaining the weight loss is another story though. And, as mentioned previously; there are health concerns related to these types of diet that you need to consider before deciding if a low carb diet is for you.

Find out more on this topic and others by visiting

blackboxguitar.com/wp/recipe-health A Recipe for Health

Heart Problems: Modern Bane

Our ancestors seldom had diseases like heart attacks or other heart diseases. Historical facts state that inspite of the absence of the modern day comforts; they led a healthy life and had a lifespan of more than a hundred years. They did not hospitals and adequate patient care too, yet they managed to remain healthy. What was their secret?

Studies suggest that our ancestors believed in walking and exercising while performing their daily chores. They had to walk miles to fetch basic necessity like water and food. This exercise prevented fat from depositing on their bodies and kept their circulation intact. Their staple diet was fresh fruits and vegetables. There were no gourmet foods at that time. Their food did not require any cooking or baking. It was natural and fresh.

These fruits and vegetables gave them a healthy heart and helped them to combat all health problems. Moreover, they had lower stress levels as compared to today's individual. Their stress used to be taken care of by exercise and good diet.

Today, we live in a modern world where every kind of comfort is available to us. Modern day technology delivers all that we need to our doorstep. Exercising has become a big effort for us. Even if we have to walk up the next block, we use our car. All this has led to problems like heart diseases and increased levels of cholesterol. To combat these we take statins drugs like lipitor and lescol which bring host of other serious side effects with them.

Instead of spending all that money in medications, invest in a pair of running shoes and fresh fruits and vegetables. Invest in a gym and exercise regularly. They will help you to combat your heart problems better than lipitor and lescol. Remember, a healthy body houses a healthy heart.

Brayan is an associate editor to the website lipitorcare.com lipitorcare.com . The website offers complete information on forms of cholesterol, cholesterol drugs, heart disease etc. We also provide vital information about the numerous Lipitor. Your feed back comment and suggestions will be highly appreciated at

Niacin Cholesterol

I thought that you would be interested in this information. I have been taking slo-niacin for several months now and it seems to work pretty well. You might find the rest of this article interesting and informative.

A daily Niacin cholesterol regimen has proven to be effective in not only helping low lower LDL cholesterol levels (the bad cholesterol) but also in helping to equalize the presence of HDL cholesterol, or the good cholesterol in our systems. Here is some information about how niacin can be beneficial to the maintenance of good cholesterol levels, while also helping us to keep the bad cholesterol levels within reason.

The cholesterol niacin approach involves beginning with relatively low amounts of niacin in the system, usually administered around bedtime. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the dosage is increased. For persons who are especially susceptible to the flushing effect that niacin sometimes has, taking an aspirin a few minutes later may help with the situation. As the amount of niacin in the bloodstream begins to build, the level of good cholesterol will begin to rise and level off at a healthy amount. At the same time, the rise of bad cholesterol will cease and in many cases begin to decrease. This is in contrast to some drugs that have been on the market, such as gemfirbozil. While it is true that gemfirbozil does raise good cholesterol, it does not seem to do anything to equalize or reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the system. In fact, some studies indicate that gemfirbozil will raise bad cholesterol levels slightly, even as it raise good cholesterol to acceptable levels.

Niacin therapy for cholesterol can also be helpful for persons with diabetes. Unlike some manufactured drugs that fight cholesterol, niacin does not have adversely interact with insulin, nor will it create health issues for persons who are able to control their diabetes with diet. In fact, niacin can actually help the diabetes patient absorb the vitamin and nutrient content of the foods they eat, which in turn make the process of controlling the diabetes a little easier.

For persons that do not have diabetes, but wish to reverse the high cholesterol that comes with sedentary living and a poor diet, the cholesterol fighting niacin therapy can help. Daily intake of the niacin will help to slow down the buildup of bad cholesterol and with the support of exercise and an improved daily diet, begin to lower bad cholesterol levels in just a matter of a couple of months.

If you suffer with high levels of bad cholesterol this may be just what you need. The good thing about it besides that it does seem to work beneficially is that it is a natural alternative to mainline cholesterol fighting drugs. Discuss the use of niacin with your doctor. A niacin cholesterol regimen may be just what you need to turn the corner in your fight for better health.

Jim Ott is a retired RN and Hospital Administrator and has had problems with his cholesterol for years. His website is bestcholesterolsite.tapwaterforgas.com bestcholesterolsite.tapwaterforgas.com

Low Fat Diets Are Unhealthy and Don't Work!

Are you still caught up in the low-fat mantra of the past couple decades? Do you think you can't eat much fat if you are trying to lose weight? These ideas are still so prevalent in our media and in the low-fat products you see everywhere that it's no wonder you may still believe this. In fact, even many doctors still believe this.

However, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, in 1999-2000, an estimated 64 percent of adults in the United States were either obese or overweight. That's almost two thirds of the adult population, and one third of our children are now overweight as well. In the past 30 years, the number of overweight children has doubled. In just the past decade, the number of obese people in the U.S. has gone up two and one half times.

Obesity Increasing, But Percentage Fat in Diets Decreasing

Fifty years ago, only a small percentage of the population had problems with their weight. Now it's an epidemic! All this has happened while we cut back from 40 to around 32 percent fat as a percentage of our diet. Hmm, perhaps a low fat diet is not what we need in order to lose weight!

Low Fat Diets Unhealthy

Low-fat diets not only don't work, but they're low in vitamins A & D, they're not healthy, not natural, and they tend to promote weight gain! Research confirms this statement. The famous Framingham Study that started in 1948 is still going on, and it shows that the more saturated fat, the more calories, and the more cholesterol a person ate, the lower their serum cholesterol! The results also show that the more fat they ate, the less they weighed! In addition, fats including saturated fats are essential for good health. Fat soluble vitamins A & D are found in large quantities only in saturated fat-containing foods like egg yolks, butter, cream, whole milk and liver. Minerals also need fats and the fat soluble vitamin A in order to be properly absorbed and utilized by the body. Calcium needs the fat soluble vitamin D in order to be used properly by the body. So, we are eating less fat as a nation, and getting far less of the fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin D, but are gaining weight.

Less Fat, More MSG

Perhaps another reason for the low fat diets not working is that since fat gives foods much of their flavor, when manufacturers cut out the fat, they add sugar, MSG and other chemicals to the food to enhance the taste. These can all have adverse effects on both our weight and our health. Many researchers believe that it is instead the addition of copious amounts of sugar to our diets that is causing our weight gain. In addition, MSG has weight gaining properties. MSG is fed to laboratory animals in order to fatten them up for experiments in which they need obese rats, so it is no surprise that when we eat a lot of MSG, we gain weight. Watch out, MSG does not have to be labeled as MSG in order to be in your food. In fact, it is used in lots, perhaps even most, of our packaged and restaurant foods today, especially in fast foods.

So in conclusion, eating a low fat diet will not help you to lose weight, in fact, it may well add to your weight gain, so start seeking out healthy types of fats to eat in your diet. Don't forget to include some of the saturated fats that contain vitamins A and D, as long as you look for meat and dairy products from pastured animals that are out in the pasture eating their natural diets. One resource for pastured animal products is eatwild.com eatwild.com

Copyright 2008, Karen Pijuan. This article may be copied in its entirety if all links remain intact, including those in the resource or about the author box.

Karen Pijuan is the owner of several health-related websites and has written numerous articles about nutrition, vitamins, healthy living, whole food supplements, natural body care and cleaning products, natural weight loss and more. Find out more about what to look for in a truly healthy vitamin, as well as resources for where to find the whole food vitamins she recommends at [healthy-vitamins-rx.com] Truly healthy organic and natural products such as air and water filters, food-based beyond organic vitamins, organic coconut oil and more can be found at ecoviva.com ecoviva.com

Low Cholesterol Diet Is In

People pay no attention to important matters such as health and cardiovascular diseases. This type of disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States and other countries. Even though millions were already spent just to educate people about this disease, the number just doesn't seem to go down. Continuous increase in death arises every year.

If you are suffering from high blood pressure then you are well on your way to having cardiovascular problems. The cause of having increased blood pressure is improper diet. You are taking in high levels of cholesterol, which you shouldn't be. People ever hardly consume homemade food anymore. They are used to processed foods that contain dangerous chemicals that are bad for the body.

Avoid being swayed by advertisements because they promote non-therapeutic ways of lowering cholesterol for patients who have high blood pressure. They even tell you how simple it is to lower cholesterol and improve your overall health. As a result, patients rely on the advertisement's prescription medications and drugs. People should realize that there are pro-active methods on dealing with these problems.

Instead of relying on drugs, it is a good thing that we deal with this problem in a safer and natural approach. There are alternatives that we can do to control cholesterol that would require us not to sacrifice that much. A change in diet is one thing. There are foods out there that can lower cholesterol levels in the body. Foods rich in vitamins and nutrients are helpful because they lower the bad cholesterol also known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and they increase the good cholesterol or HDL (high-density lipoprotein) in our body. Drugs are always considered the final option for doctors, as much as possible, it is best to stay or choose the natural way.

Doctors do not recommend taking prescribed medications right away because it has some bad effects and a tablet would cost so much. It is always more reliable to stick to eating healthy foods and exercising everyday to have that low cholesterol level in the body. Why wait for your cholesterol level to rise when you can keep them down, right?

People with hypertension just have to avoid foods rich in cholesterol. You can consult a dietitian to set you up with a daily food plan that would help you control the food you eat.

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Busting Out the Myths of Low Carbohydrate Diets

Low carbohydrate diets are among the most popular happinesslifetime.com diet programs people use to lose weight. By greatly limiting the amount of carbohydrates that you consume on a daily basis, this causes your body to burn up body fat as its secondary source of energy to be able to function normally. As a result, the amount of stored fat in your body is depleted, allowing you to attain your weight loss goals.

Just like with any kind of diet, low carb diets have had its share of myths and misconceptions. Below are some of the common myths and misconceptions about this particular diet.

Myth: The amount of carbohydrates consumed in a low carb diet is restricted to only 20-60 grams.

Fact: While it is true that the amount of carbohydrates is greatly reduced in a low carbohydrate diet, just how much carbohydrates to be consumed by a person using this diet plan greatly depends on the physical fitness and overall health. For this reason, it is important to first consult with your doctor on how much carbohydrates you should consume on a daily basis while using a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss.

Myth: Since vegetables and fruits contain carbohydrates, these must be cut off from a low carb diet.

Fact: In reality, low carb diet plans highly recommend consumption of vegetables-particularly leafy green vegetables-and fruits. Although it is true that certain root crop vegetables contain starch, which is a type of complex carbohydrates, the amount is not that significant to cause this to be completely eliminated from a low carbohydrate program.

Myth: Low carb happinesslifetime.com diet programs cause coronary heart disease.

Fact: The truth is the complete opposite. Numerous research studies have shown that low carbohydrate happinesslifetime.com diet programs have significantly lowered blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglycerides-primary causes of coronary heart disease-in the body.

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What Is Cholesterol?

Surely, you've heard of cholesterol, regardless of how much you actually know about it. In fact, many people have even heard the terms "good" and "bad" cholesterol, given their rising prevalence in the news and recent studies.

But, the question for many remains: What is cholesterol? And how does it affect our bodies?

Well, cholesterol is made by the liver. Just about every animal that is eaten for food produces cholesterol in this manner. After it's produced in your own body, or absorbed from the food you eat, it's then carried through the bloodstream by particles known as lipoproteins.

It's interesting to note that your body accounts for 75 percent of your overall cholesterol levels, while your diet only contributes to the remaining 25 percent.

Anyway, these lipoproteins are made up of fat and protein. However, which they contain more of determines if they are "bad" or "good." If they contain a higher proportion of fat, they can stick to your blood vessel walls as they speed through your veins and arteries.

Over time, this accumulates and forms hardened plaque, thus reducing the flow of blood to your heart -- and hence the "bad" label. The scientific term for bad cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL.

On the other hand, lipoproteins that contain a higher proportion of protein serve a different and much healthier function. Their main task is to carry cholesterol away from your heart and out of the body. The higher your levels of these "good" lipoproteins, or high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the lower your risk of dying from a heart attack.

In other words, you want to raise your HDL and lower your LDL. Unfortunately, there are no significant symptoms of high cholesterol, so the only way to know where you stand is to see your doctor.

And, don't think just because you aren't overweight, you aren't at risk. Even seemingly healthy and fit individuals can succumb to high cholesterol.

So, remember: While the vast majority of cholesterol comes from your own body, you are in control of the other 25 percent. Even with a family history of high cholesterol, you have the power to even the odds by making the right nutritional decisions and getting regular exercise.

Hopefully, that clears some things up for you and will encourage you to get your cholesterol levels checked at your next checkup. It's never too early to find out where you stand, so you can start planning for the future.

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