Cholesterol - All You Need to Know!

When you go to the doctor and he tells you your cholesterol level, you typically are told your TOTAL blood cholesterol level. Ever wondered how cholesterol gets into your blood? The body's liver makes most of the cholesterol it needs - yes, NEEDS. Some cholesterol is absorbed from the food you eat.

Why does the body NEED cholesterol?

The body needs cholesterol to make several important hormones including estrogen and testosterone. In addition, cholesterol is part of the protective covering that surrounds nerves and other cell membranes.

Why is having a high blood cholesterol level bad?

Elevated cholesterol levels are associated with heart disease. For a better assessment of your risk of heart disease, it is important to know not only your total cholesterol but also your HDL. The total cholesterol consists of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein). LDL is the bad guy. HDL is the good guy. Why? LDL cholesterol sticks to your the walls of your blood vessels and can cause blockage. VLDL is the precursor to LDL cholesterol. HDL goes around in the blood stream, collects bad cholesterol, and carries it back to the liver where it is broken down.

What is considered a healthy level in the blood?

It is desirable to keep total cholesterol levels below 200mg/dl. Values above 240 mg/dl are considered significantly elevated. If you know your LDL value, it is desirable to have this type of cholesterol below 130 mg/dl. Values for LDL above 160 are considered significantly elevated. Because HDL is the good guy, you want this level high. Values below 35 mg/dl are a HIGH risk indicator for heart disease. It is more desirable to have HDL levels close to 50 mg/dl or higher.

The Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio is a good indicator of risk. To calculate this important ratio, divide your Total cholesterol value by your HDL value. The HIGHER the ratio, the GREATER the risk of heart disease. For example: Total = 240 mg/dl HDL = 30 mg/dl Ratio = 240/30 = 8.0

*This is a high risk ratio.

--IDEAL RATIO FOR MEN IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 4.0.

--IDEAL RATIO FOR WOMEN IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 3.5.

What is cholesterol?

It is a waxy, fat-like substance.

What foods contain cholesterol?

Foods of animal origin are the ONLY foods that contain cholesterol. Foods of plant origin, even those naturally containing fat, DO NOT contain cholesterol.

Cholesterol in food:

There are a number of factors that affect your blood cholesterol level. One factor, is a diet high in dietary cholesterol. Moderation is advised to keep cholesterol levels in check. The American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend that you consume 300 mg of cholesterol or less per day.

As stated above, foods of animal origin are the ONLY foods that contain cholesterol. Foods of plant origin, even those naturally containing fat, DO NOT contain cholesterol. Are certain foods of animal origin higher in cholesterol than others? Yes.

Not many people enjoy eating organ meats, such as liver. If you are someone who does, you should know that organ meats are high in cholesterol, 270 mg per 3-ounce serving of liver. While liver is nutritious, if you are at risk for heart disease then you need to limit your intake.

Egg yolks have gotten a bad rap in the past. Why? It is because egg yolks are high in cholesterol, 215 mg per yolk. The yolk is definitely nutritious, its purpose is to provide nutrients for a chick embryo to develop. Unfortunately, it contains too much cholesterol to eat it as you please. You should limit the number of yolks you eat to 3 or less per week. What about the whites? Eat as many whites as you like. The white part of an egg contains no cholesterol and is a rich, complete source of protein.

To limit the number of egg yolks, you can substitute 2 egg whites for one whole egg when baking. For example, a recipe calls for 2 eggs. You could either use 1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites OR 4 egg whites. By doing this simple substitution, you will decrease the cholesterol content. Another option is to use an egg substitute, check label for egg equivalent.

As for meats, look for leaner cuts of meat, fish, and poultry. Cut away excess fat before cooking. Choose low-fat dairy products. By following these steps, you will not be able to eliminate all the cholesterol but you are taking important steps towards healthy eating.

Read food labels for foods low in cholesterol or foods that are cholesterol free. How do you know if a product is low in cholesterol? Here are the food label requirements (government regulated):

Label claim -- Per Serving:

(1) Cholesterol Free - Less than 2 mg cholesterol and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fat

(2) Low Cholesterol - Less than or equal to 20 mg cholesterol and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fat

(3) Reduced OR Less Cholesterol - At least 25% less cholesterol than the original and Less than or equal to 2 g of saturated fat

The above shows requirements for saturated fat. This is because blood cholesterol levels are significantly affected by dietary saturated fat intake. Cholesterol and saturated fat usually are found in the same foods, thus sometimes get confused. In animal products, both the lean portion (flesh or muscle) and the fatty tissue contain cholesterol. This is why some low-fat foods (animal) can be relatively high in cholesterol. Foods such as shellfish and organ meats are high in cholesterol yet low in saturated fat.

Quiz question:

Nuts are high in fat, 80-89% of calories coming from fat. Do they contain cholesterol?

A: No. Nuts are from plant origin therefore they contain NO cholesterol.

Do not assume that dishes that contain vegetables or grains are cholesterol free. Vegetables and grains start off cholesterol free BUT most recipes include egg yolk, milk, meat, or butter. The cholesterol content depends on the recipe ingredients as a whole.

Effects of Saturated Fat:

If you have heart disease or have a family history of heart disease, it is likely your doctor has asked you to follow a diet low in fat and cholesterol. The fat to watch is saturated fat. Saturated fat INCREASES the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol in your blood. This is why it is so important to pay attention to the amount of saturated fat that is in your diet.

You do not have to avoid all fats. Unsaturated fats actually lower LDL cholesterol levels. "Unsaturated fats" includes polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fat is considered better than polyunsaturated fat. Why? In addition to lowering the "bad" LDL cholesterol, polyunsaturated fat lowers the "good" HDL cholesterol. As discussed above, HDL is beneficial because it collects LDL and brings it back to the liver where the LDL is broken down. Monounsaturated fat leaves the beneficial HDL cholesterol intact.

*Sources of Polyunsaturated Fat: Corn Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Safflower Oil, Soybean Oil

*Sources of Monounsaturated Fat: Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Peanut Oil

The main sources of saturated fat are from foods from animal origin and some from plants. Animal foods that are high in saturated fat include beef, veal, lamb, pork, butter, cream, milk (whole and 2%), cheese, and other dairy products made from whole milk. Plant foods that are high include coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter. Check food labels to see which type of oil or fat was used in production.

The American Heart Association's dietary guidelines recommend (1) Total Fat intake should be Less Than 30 Percent of daily calories, and (2) Saturated fat intake should be Less Than 10 Percent of calories.

Cooking Tips from the American Heart Association --

To reduce saturated fat in meat:

(1) Use a rack to drain off the fat when broiling, roasting, or baking. Instead of basting with drippings, keep meat moist with wine, fruit juices or an acceptable oil-based marinade.

(2) Cook a day ahead of time. Stews, boiled meat, soup stock or other dishes in which fat cooks into the liquid can be refrigerated. Then the hardened fat can be removed from the top.

(3) Make gravies after the fat has hardened and can be removed from the liquid.

(4) Broil rather than pan-fry meats such as hamburger, lamb chops, pork chops, and steak.

(5) When a recipe calls for browning the meat first, try browning it under the broiler instead of in a pan.

(6) Avoid adding butter or margarine to vegetables when cooking. Instead use herbs and spices for flavor

Cholesterol-Lowering Medications:

If you have high cholesterol and you make the necessary changes in your diet and activity level, your cholesterol level should begin to go down after three to six months. If not your doctor may recommend cholesterol-lowering medication. If you are prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication, remember that this is only the part of the plan. For maximum benefit and effectiveness, you must continue eating foods low in fat and cholesterol and continue exercising.

Other lifestyle changes you should make to avoid heart disease include losing weight if you are overweight, stop smoking if you smoke, control high blood pressure, and manage stress in your life. Traditionally, physicians have used medication to control blood cholesterol.

Here is a fact for you to think about before you decide to take cholesterol-lowering medication:

75% of all heart disease can be prevented by lifestyle changes including dietary changes and increased activity.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs are known as "antihyperlipidemic agents". There are five major groups: (1) Fibric acid derivatives - Atromid-S (clofibrate) and Lopid (gemdibrozil), which work by preventing the liver from making or releasing cholesterol into the bloodstream, (2) Bile acid sequestrants - Questran (cholestryamine) and Colestid (cholestipol), which bind to bile acids and prevent their absorption, (3) Nicotinic acid - Nicolar (nicotinic acid), which decreases the secretion of VLDL thus the formation of "bad" LDL cholesterol, (4) Probucol - Lorelco (probucol), which enhances the clearance of cholesterol including LDL and HDL cholesterol, and (5) HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors - Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravastatin, and Zocor (simvastatin), which work to help lower LDL cholesterol.

Now that you know which drugs are available and their general method of action in the body, you can hopefully make an educated decision along with your doctor on whether or not cholesterol-lowering drugs are necessary. Again, it cannot be stressed enough, a proper diet and exercise regimen can help you in your fight against high cholesterol. Good luck!

Written by: Laura S. Garrett, RD
Registered Dietitian & ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Keep Laura's advice at your fingertips, wherever you and your cell phone go with "Text ur R.D." -- Learn more at:
NutrActive.com NutrActive.com

Reducing Your Cholesterol Levels

Reducing your cholesterol should be a very serious decision if you really want to get good results after a while. By committing to a low-cholesterol lifestyle, you have committed to exercising regularly, losing some weight, and of course a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet. But when you start planning your new cholesterol diet your kitchen is most probably still full of the not-so-healthy foods you love. You really have to make some changes in your kitchen - and it is not about your counters, walls or appliances. Following some of the dieticians' recommendations, you might just end up with a perfect healthy and tasty happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet. Still, let us see some of these recommendations:

Get rid of as much as the unhealthy food as you can from your kitchen

Start substituting heart-healthy food with those unhealthy foods you just thrown out

Start learning how to cook in a low fat, happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet, but also how to store these foods properly

Throw out the bad fats

The easiest way to make sure you stick to a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet is to simply get rid of all those unhealthy foods that you keep in your house. Most of the times this is the perfect solution. The bottom line is: grab a trash bag and open every cabinet, the fridge and the pantry and start throwing away. The most obvious villains are of course processed foods.

Look for them in your cabinets since these contain trans fatty acids. What are trans fatty acids? Well, these trans fats acids have been linked to a raise in the LDL (or "Bad") cholesterol levels, which raise is often associated with heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Trans fats acids have also been linked to decreased levels of "good cholesterol" (also known as HDL or high density lipoprotein cholesterol).

The FDA has ruled in January 2006 a rule through which all nutritional labels must list their trans fat content. Toss any type of products you have in your cabinets or freezer that do not contain any type of labels, or contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated ingredients. These types of chemical compounds are contained in vegetable shortening margarine, commercial baked goods and non-dairy creamer. It has been recommended by the American Heart Association that no average man or woman gets more than 1 percent of their calories from trans fats.

Jean Helmet is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. Her latest website - cholesterol-product-we-use.com Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - cholesterol-product-we-use.com Cholest-Natural

Be sure to check out our cholesterol-product-we-use.com cholesterol product of choice, it is the natural supplement we use and recommend to friends and family, and have done for over 3 years.

Free Weight Loss Diet Plans For A Healthier You

Losing the extra pounds may mean that you have to eat less, but the thing is, the process of losing weight can actually take a lot of money. The money that you are supposed to save from decreasing your food intake will go into paying for those gym classes and maybe buying those weight loss drugs that are very popular in the market right now. That is why those with limited budgets opt to find free weight loss diet plans so that they can get rid of the excess weight without paying loads of cash.

Freebies are everywhere! There are lots of free weight loss diet plans available online that claim to be effective and will make you lose the pounds in no time. Since there are so many of them, make sure that you make good in your research and choose the best free weight loss diet plans that will work best with your body.

You have to remember that in order for any diet plan to work, you need lots of willpower and dedication. Aside from investing considerable amount of time and energy for it, mental and emotional motivation is necessary to make the diet plan work.

Here is a basic example from those free weight loss diet plans, which you can follow to work towards the type of body that you want.

1. Exercise, exercise, exercise! Sure, there are lots of those diet drugs that promise to perform miracles on your flabby figure. But you really cannot be certain that those pills are safe for your health. Exercise is still the best way to lose weight. All those best free weight loss diet plans will tell you that. Not only will it shed off the unwanted pounds, it will also make you feel stronger and invigorated.

Exercise not only makes the body look good, it can also do wonders for your mind and well-being because of the rush of endorphins resulting from physical activity. You can exercise at home or go to the gym if you can afford it.

A trainer will evaluate your fitness level and will advise you on the amount of exercise that you should be getting, specifically the number of repetitions and the amount of time that you have to spend on a particular exercise session.

Now, if you don't have time for the gym, you can just increase the amount of physical activity in your daily routine. For instance, you can walk up the stairs instead of riding the elevator, or ride a bike instead of riding your car to the nearby cafe. 2. Aim to be healthy, and not just fixated on getting thin. The best free weight loss diet plans will tell you that thin does not necessarily mean healthy. Most people, especially women, get fixated on just being thin, when they should aim to be healthy and not just slim. Being thin is nothing if you get sick quickly, or if you get tired easily.

The best body is not only slim, but also full of energy, with a strong immune system. You can accomplish this by eating the right foods. Depriving yourself entirely of food will not give you a healthy body; in fact, it is dangerous to your health. 3. Juice up! Fruits are loaded with vitamins and enzymes that will give you not only a sexier, slimmer body but also glowing, clear skin. Instead of drinking soda or chocolate milk, opt for a glass of freshly squeezed juice instead sans the sugar. This will help you avoid the horrific amount of calories that come with soda and chocolate.

Juices can make your skin look young and supple, and can also increase your energy levels. It can be the perfect substitute for your afternoon coffee. The best free weight loss diet plans will tell you to load up on fruits and veggies, and you will be on the right track if you drink juice more often.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The-Good-Diet.com. She provides more information on topics such as the-good-diet.com/free-weight-loss-diet-plans.html free weight loss diet plans, the-good-diet.com/south-beach-diet-phase-1-recipes.html South Beach diet Phase 1 recipes and the-good-diet.com/diet-to-control-high-cholesterol.html diet to control high cholesterol that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

Cholesterol at a Glance

It is extremely important for each and every single individual to learn the basics regarding cholesterol levels. Everyone stands the chance of developing high cholesterol. Here, we will take a glance at cholesterol and how it can affect you.

Cholesterol is created naturally in the body by the liver. However, there are many different types of foods that we can acquire cholesterol from as well. These foods include things like eggs, various types of diary products, and even different types of meat.

Many individuals are under the impression that cholesterol is a bad thing. This is not true. While there is a "good" cholesterol type, and a "bad" cholesterol type, this substance is needed for the proper functioning of the body.

The "bad" type of cholesterol is often referred to as "LDL". This stands for low-density lipoprotein. While this is an essential component to the body, excess levels of it can result in serious health complications, such as heart disease. Extremely low levels of LDL cholesterol have been found to result in different types of cancers.

The "good" type of cholesterol is often referred to as "HDL". This stands for high-density lipoprotein. It has been determined that this type of cholesterol is beneficial in protecting an individual against heart problems, and other health risks. This is due to the fact that it helps to eliminate the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the body and pushes LDL through the arteries.

Cholesterol is an essential in the process of producing hormones within the body. In addition to this, cholesterol also helps to create a steady supply of vitamin D in the body and increases the amount of acids that help to break down bile. This is important to the body as it helps to process and digest fat that the body is exposed to.

If an individual has too much cholesterol that is considered "bad" in the body, many different things occur. The first thing that happens is that the body starts to accumulate a buildup of plaque in the arteries. As time progresses, this results in what many refer to as the "hardening" of the arteries, or "atherosclerosis".

When the arteries experience this type of complication, the passageways may become narrowed. This narrowing of the passageways may become so severe that the artery becomes obstructed. This will decrease the mobility of the blood in the body. As a result, the heart and other important organs of the body will fail to receive the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients.

When the body does not receive the necessary oxygen, nutrients, and other substances in the body, then that can result in the failure of the functionality of these essential body components. Many who have experienced this issue have experienced a heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical complications.

In addition to LDL and HDL cholesterol, there are two other types of cholesterol. The next type is called "VLDL". This is also called "very low density lipoproteins". This type is quite high when it comes to the amount of fats that are contained in it, but extremely low when it comes to protein.

The fourth type of cholesterol is called "triglycerides". Specifically, this particular item is actually a "fat". When an individual experiences VLDL, triglycerides are carried through the blood. This can pose a number of health risks for an individual.

There are many different factors that can affect the cholesterol levels of an individual. The first factor is an individual's weight level. People who are overweight, or considered to be "obese" normally have high cholesterol levels. It is important to maintain a weight that is appropriate to the body mass index in order to avoid this complication.

The next thing that can affect a person's cholesterol levels is their family medical history. It has been established that high cholesterol can actually run in the family. If an individual has a genetic predisposition of high cholesterol levels, it is likely that they will experience it as well.

If an individual is gaining in years, the possibility of acquiring high cholesterol is a possibility. It has been determined that as an individual ages, the possibility of experiencing high cholesterol is high. If a female experiences menopause, their chances of developing high cholesterol are also elevated.

People who have low levels of physical activity are prone to developing high cholesterol levels. It has been established that the average person should engage in approximately three to four hours of exercise on a weekly basic in order to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol in the body.

The next factor that can greatly increase the amount of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the body is an individual's diet. Diet has one of the largest impacts on cholesterol levels. People who consume a healthy diet of various types of fatty fish, a variety of nuts, and soy-based products are less likely to have high cholesterol complications.

There are a number of medical conditions that can result in high levels of cholesterol. For example, many people who experience the devastating condition of diabetes may experience high levels of LDL cholesterol. It is important for these individuals to appropriately manage their sugar levels to decrease this possibility.

Many individuals pay no attention to their cholesterol levels. This can be a very unfortunate experience for many. For every five people in the world, there is at least one person who experiences high amounts of LDL cholesterol, and low amounts of HDL cholesterol. This issue should be taken very seriously.

Individual's who suffer from the effects of high cholesterol levels can develop cardiovascular disease. People who suffer from this medical complication can experience a serious heart attack, and/or a stroke. While many may live to speak of their experience with a heart attack and/or stroke, there are many who do not. Cholesterol can actually turn fatal for many people around the world!

If you are concerned about your health, you should make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you have high cholesterol. If you find that you do, you should work closely with the treatment guidelines that your doctor outlines for you.

V.K. Rajagopalan is a full time Web Publisher. As a Platinum Publisher, he is credited with publishing many high quality, niche based articles at EzineArticles. He owns several Authority Sites in different niches.

He is from New Delhi, India and has been in this line of business activity since end of 2005.

Learn more about a heartandyourhealth.com Cholesterol Remedy that is very helpful in maintaining the healthy Cholesterol levels in the body.

In his blog, provenhealthremedies.com Proven Health Remedies, you will find several articles related to Alternative Remedies apart from posts on other health related tips and information.

Top 5 Dieting Myths

Some of the more popular dieting myths have done more to make people lose their weight loss battles because they are just plain wrong. Knowing fact from fiction will give us a big leg up in our attempts to lose weight and keep it off permanently. Here are the top 5 weight loss myths:

1. One of the most common beliefs is that fattening foods will lead to very quick weight gain but in actual fact, weight gain is a slow process. This belief may stem from the fact that many people report putting on a few pounds after a big meal but this is erroneous and the weight gain may be mostly water which will disappear soon enough. A small piece of cake won't make you fat overnight, so rest easy, eat a balanced diet and exercise.

2. Another very common belief is that low-fat or fat-free foods help you lose weight faster. This can be a deadly mistake because low-fat or fat-free is not the same thing as low-calorie or calorie-free. Unfortunately, the so-called low-fat foods usually make up for their taste and body by adding extra thickeners and sugar which can end up making them as calorie-rich as the standard foods, even though they may technically have a lower fat content. And it is the calories that count, so we should always check the labels for calorie count and not fat alone. Besides, our bodies need fat for energy and tissue repair so some of our calories should come from fat.

3. One of the most damaging beliefs and also one of the most widespread is the one that says 'cholesterol is bad for you'. The truth is that our bodies need cholesterol which helps us build cells and hormones and which is produced by our livers. However, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol and we need to distinguish between the two. The bad cholesterol levels in our blood are raised by the saturated fats in foods like meat, butter and cheese whereas the good cholesterol which helps us clean our arteries comes from unsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.

4. It is commonly believed that if you give up smoking, you will gain weight and this is untrue as there is no technical reason to gain weight by removing nicotine from our system. It may be true that the removal of nicotine slows down our metabolism a little but that does not cause noticeable weight gain. Besides, it is far healthier to be an overweight non-smoker than a smoker who is afraid of gaining weight. This belief probably came from the fact that some people replace their nicotine craving with food but this is more a question of discipline where chewing healthy gum or snacking on vegetables can do the trick as well.

5. A real biggie is the belief that you need to be a meat-eater to build muscle. One look at the world's strongest vegetarian, the elephant, should show you how wrong this is! What matters is protein intake because this is what builds muscle and many vegetarian foods contain more protein per ounce than any meat, a few examples being pulses, grains and nuts.

Jayan writes about yoga, weight loss and nutrition. If you like this article, please visit laptopbag17.com Laptop Bag 17 and laptopbag17.com/Laptop-Bags-17.html Laptop Bags 17.

How Can Cholesterol Work in Your Favor?

While most experts tend to focus on the bad effects of too much fat, cholesterol is an important building block that the body needs. It contributes to the process of building cell membranes and improving their ability to function. It also helps with creation of several vitamins and hormones.

This substance also plays an essential role in the digestion process for lipids (fats). Because blood cannot dissolve it, it is either deposited or moved. For the latter to occur, it needs a vehicle. Lipoproteins come to the rescue. If the lipoprotein is an HDL (high density), it can carry products out of the arteries and into the liver where they can be processed and discarded. These high-density lipoproteins are truly heroic. They can also help break down the fatty deposits called plaques that cling to artery walls. If there are fewer plaques, there is less risk of arterial disease and lower likelihood of heart disease. If the lipoprotein is low in density, it can actually contribute to the build-up of plaques. Only HDL cholesterol is helpful.

Most people know that cholesterol is found in animal products. These include meat and dairy items like milk and cheese. However the body can make its own; usually as much as it needs. As discussed above, the body can also eliminate extra cholesterol but not always and not completely if large amounts are consumed. To avoid excess, diets should be rich in plant products, alternative proteins, lean meats, dairy products that are non fat or low fat, and foods that have little or no saturated fat or trans fat.

Habits can affect cholesterol too. It has been shown that a moderate amount of alcohol may help increase HDL. If a person already has one or two drinks per day, but not more, it could help maintain a healthy heart.

In addition, staying active can help increase HDL. Just walking, running or sprinting can also help reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Sometimes, good habits are not enough. Family history can also affect blood levels of fats and the propensity toward forming plaques. In this case, doctors have drugs that can assist the body counteract the deleterious effects of foods. Soon, they may also have options to help build HDL.

In any case, working to keep a healthy heart and clear arteries is one of the best choices a person can make. Many of us have room to improve our choices and limit cholesterol. Our lives and health are worth it.

Although it is true that there are actually both good and bad types of cholesterol, if you have high cholesterol levels overall, then you are in danger of many different health problems. Eating cholesterolarticles.com/high-cholesterol-food.html high cholesterol food could affect your cholesterolarticles.com/cholesterol-reading.html cholesterol reading which should have HDL levels above 60. Check out all the free, helpful articles on our website.

Resterol - A Great Supplement To Help Lower Your Cholesterol

Resterol is a supplement used to help out in balancing your cholesterol levels. It was created and designed after extensive research to help maintain your cholesterol levels, and has been used successfully by millions of people around the world. This alternative therapy has been known to work for virtually everyone who has tried it, and has a success rate of 100%

Resterol is used in conjunction with existing treatment programs and operates independently of these prescribed medicines. This antural supplement is extermely rich in nutrients which are scientifically blended to create the greatest effect on your cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol are types of fatty substances in the blood that help with various physiological processes, as long as the levels of your cholesterol is at the right level. The presence of excess amounts of cholesterol can lead to various diseases, such as arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders. Cholesterols do not dissolve in the blood and move from one part of the body to another via the blood stream. They do this through active transport thanks to your lipoproteins. There are two types of cholesterol, one made naturally by the body and another that is absorbed by the body from food that is eaten.

The benefits of Resterol are:

o It replenishes and helps in balancing the cholesterol level of the blood.

o Resterol when consumed works to balance the cholesterol levels of the body. It reduces the Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and increases the quantity of the High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). LDL cholesterol is extremely harmful for the body while HDL is good for the body of an individual.

o It provides the body with various botanicals and nutrients which help in safeguarding the health of the body.

o Resterol works best when combined with a balanced diet and produces truly amazing results. Regular exercising also complements the medicine.

o The ingredients of Resterol are largely herbal and derived from various natural products.

The ingredients in Resterol are:

o Vitamin E which is needed in the body in substantial quantities.

o Pantethine is also a major component of Resterol. The quantity of pantethine is equivalent to that of 7 cups of sunflower seeds.

o Garlic bulb and the roots of the turmeric plant are also used as ingredients.

o Inositol and the commiphora mukul herb's resin are also utilized.

Resterol has been found to be one of the most effective supplements on the market when it come to help lower cholesterol levels, and ecause of this it has become one of the most popular as well. You should note though that Resterol will only become effective when used in conjunction with a helthy eating habit and regular exercise.

Matthew Bauer is an avid researcher of various cholesterol drugs including Resterol [treathighcholesterol.com/resterol] on the market and runs a successful website dedicated to finding the best ways to control cholesterol levels. For great tips on lowering your cholesterol, as well as independent reviews of medications, and discounts on various products, see Matthew's site at treathighcholesterol.com treathighcholesterol.com

Candidiasis - Yeast Infections And Diet

Candidiasis is an infection caused by an excess of a normally occurring yeast-like fungus, Candida albicans, that tends to mostly affect the mouth (thrush), skin (rash, itching, fungal infections, etc.) and vagina (vaginitis, yeast infection, discharge). It is often caused by poor diet, antibiotics, infection and or age, infirmity. Candidiasis is often misdiagnosed as it is linked to many additional symptoms, diseases, that can also be caused by poor diet:

Toenail or fingernail fungus, constipation, diarrhea, colitis, rectal itching, abdominal pain, heartburn, bad breath, congestion, cough, sore throat, clogged sinuses, white spots on tongue, inside the mouth, cheeks, extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, numbness, tingling in the extremities, arthritis, kidney and bladder infections, prostatitis, severe itching, headaches, impotence, memory, memory loss, mood swings, night sweats, PMS, depression and or hyperactivity, making is a somewhat confusing disease, which is why it is most often misdiagnosed.

Candidiasis, like most fungal infections requires a host, medium in which to grow. Most fungi and bacteria prefer dampness, which is why symptoms tend to worsen in damp or moldy places, after eating foods containing sugar and or yeast. Thrush, diaper, groin rash, fungus, yeast infection, gooey discharge are watery, damp in nature, which is why they tend to attack women, children, those that eat low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate, especially raw and or live in a cold climate.

Women tend to run cold, colder than men. Women menstruate, lose blood three to seven day ever month after menarche (first) for the next thirty plus years until menopause, cessation of the menses. Blood loss via any hemorrhage of this magnitude or greater weakens, cools, the body, leading to the formation of excess dampness.

The body is like the planet earth. It reacts to change in temperature, energy, sunshine. Colder temperatures (less energy) tend to slow, cool and condense. In nature, cold temperatures cool gas into rain into snow into ice. In the body, cooler temperatures (internal or external) increase the formation of fluids, water, mucous, phlegm, cysts, discharges, etc; which in turn, increases the formation of bacteria, fungi, Candida albicans, thrush, nail or toenail fungus, yeast infections, etc. Cold condenses and slows, stagnates the movement of all fluids, leading to bacterial and fungal infection.

The body's temperature, energy is controlled primarily by diet and environment. Diet, food provides nutrients that body uses to build up and break down. Protein and fat build and fuel all structures and function. Water, sugar, minerals, etc. reduce, cleanse. cool and moisten.

Low protein and low fat diets, foods (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, nuts and seeds) in the extreme, do not provide enough energy, substance to keep the body properly fueled, energized in a four season or colder climate. These foods are more or less twigs (burn quickly, provide very little energy, heat), in comparison to meat, eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, cheese, etc, which are logs, that burn long and strong. The body tends to cool on low protein, low fat.

The body further cools on a high carbohydrate (grain, pasta, bread, salads, raw vegetables, fruits, especially tropical, juices, etc.) diet. Fruits and vegetables, in excess, and or eaten at the beginning of the meal, tend to dilute, weaken and cool digestion, acid, enzymes and bile, which in turn, cools, weakens and dilutes the body.

Digestion is like an engine in a car. It gives off a lot of heat, that is used to heat the rest if the car, including its occupants. The body is no different. The digestive system, organs, especially the stomach, pancreas and small intestines, heat the body, above and below. Heat from digestion, rises up into the lungs, which it heats and dries. Weak, cold digestion fails to heat the lungs and overtime causes not only a temperature drop but also condensation in the form of excess fluids, water, mucous (thick), phlegm (thicker), etc.

Excess mucous in the lungs (includes throat, nose and sinuses) can cause coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, asthma, clogged sinuses, sinusitis and or sleep apnea.

Dairy products, especially milk, yogurt and ice cream, in excess, also cool the body, digestion. Milk is best drunk alone, as it does not digest well with other foods, especially cereal, which is why spices (cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, etc.) are recommended, to increase digestion.

Cold drinks, including ice water, sodas, smoothies, shakes and tropical fruits are also very cooling.

The combination of low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate (raw, tropical, etc.) in excess, tends to decrease energy, heat while increasing cold, dampness, especially in women (menstruation, low protein, low fat diet, in the extreme) and children (underdeveloped).

Cold and damp foods (milk, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, juices, cold drinks, etc.) in excess tend to dilute, weaken and cool the digestive system, organs producing the following symptoms: abdominal bloating, pain, gas, burping, heartburn, bad breath, flatulence, loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, rectal itching, colitis, kidney and or bladder infections.

Low protein, low fat and cold foods decrease digestion, nutrient absorption and blood while increasing waste, as whatever food, nutrients not digested, absorbed becomes waste that is sent to the large intestines for temporary storage and eventual elimination.

Weak digestion and low protein, low fat weaken, thin the blood, which in turn, thins and weakens all structure and function, especially locomotion. Blood deficiency (quality and quantity) tends to attack the extremities, head, arms and legs first before any other organ as it is (a) harder to pump blood up and out than down and in, and (b) in times of deficiency, coldness and or rest, blood is concentrated in the center of the body, abdomen and chest, where the vital organs are located, not in the arms and legs.

Blood deficiency tends to produce arthritic type symptoms (pain, inflammation, numbness, tingling sensations in the joints, extremities, bones, ligaments, muscles, etc.) in addition to fatigue, anemia, pallor, coldness, night sweats, PMS, memory loss, depression, mood swings, etc.

Antibiotics, in excess, also tend to cause cold and damp, yeast infections, thrush, white spots on the tongue, cheeks of the moth, etc. Antibiotics are cold, bitter in nature as are golden seal, gentian and aloe vera, but to a lesser extent. The bitter taste is cooling and drying. Biter herbs (golden seal, gentian, aloe vera, etc.) are generally used to drain excess fire, breakdown excess protein and fat (cholesterol). Their use requires strong digestion as their coolness can quickly overwhelm weak digestion.

For more information about diet and disease, please visit the author's website and or read Hot and Cold Health. Know the whole before you attempt to diagnose and or treat the part (symptom, disease, structure, function, etc.)

Author, Hot and Cold Health; Acupuncture Physician (FL 1992-2002); Owner, operator Food and Thought, health food store, Hollywood, FL (1984-2001); Questioned and counseled 30,000+; "What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?"; Cooking teacher; Chi gung practitioner, daily, outdoors, since 1988; Web: [hotandcoldhealth.net]

High Cholesterol in Teenagers

Teenagers should begin forming good habits regarding their diet and exercise because they will be far more difficult to adopt as adults. By taking care of high cholesterol as a teenager, they can significantly reduce their chances for heart problems further along in their lives. Teenagers should eat low-fat diets, avoid saturated fats, and eat more foods that come from plants like fruits and vegetables.

As a teenager, there is lots of peer pressure to try things such as alchohol and cigarettes. These are two habits you can't afford to pick up. They reduce HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Teenagers are generally more active, but TV and video games has significantly hampered many teenager's physical activities. They should strive to exercise 30 minutes of aerobics at least 3 times a week. This will help raise HDL cholesterol levels.

What are acceptable levels of cholesterol for teenagers

Acceptable levels of cholesterol in teens are between 120 mg/dL and 170 mg/dL for total cholesterol. If you have levels above 200 mg/dL, you should see a doctor and make some lifestyle changes. It is normal for cholesterol levels to increase about 1 point per year after the age of 18.

How to lower LDL cholesterol in teenagers

If your cholesterol levels remain high even though you follow the treatment recommendations, ask for an appointment with a nutritionist for happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diets. Join a local gym or fitness center to get on a weekly routine. Medications are prescribed for adults to help lower their cholesterol levels in serious cases. However, teenagers are rarely prescribed unless they have a rare form of high cholesterol related to disease instead of diet.

Get more information about decreasecholesterol.com cholesterol and save your teenager's life. You can find out more information about decreasecholesterol.com/cholesterollevels/cholesterol-levels.html cholesterol levels at: decreasecholesterol.com decreasecholesterol.com

Cooking Tips - Low Fat Cooking

Most of us are aware that we should eat healthy to stay fit. But most of us fail to follow this sensible advice mainly because we lack information on low fat cooking. Low fat cooking does not require special ingredients or a lot of extra effort. By giving a little more attention to what we eat and what we use to cook our food, we can come up with healthy and delicious low-fat food.

Low fat cooking is a way of preparing and cooking food that reduces our total fat intake. By making simple changes in how we cook, we will be able to enjoy a healthier diet without sacrificing flavor or giving up whole food groups

There are many benefits that we can get from lower fat cooking. It helps to keep us fit, lowers cholesterol levels, and protects us from heart problems. Below are a few tips to cut the amount of fat in the diet:

1. Use non-stick cooking spray instead of oil or butter. If cooking spray is not an option, use liquid oils instead of solid fats.

2. Choose lean meat and skinless chicken breasts, and trim all visible fat from meat.

3. Instead of frying, use other cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, baking, braising, poaching and microwaving foods. When you must saute, use minimal amounts of oil or use broth instead.

4. Dredge chicken or fish in breadcrumbs instead of batter, and then bake them instead of frying.

5. Replace some of the meat content in burgers, meatloaf, chili, etc. with vegetables, whole grains or beans.

6. Instead of pork or beef sausages, use chicken or turkey sausages. Replace regular bacon with Canadian or turkey bacon.

7. Use an egg substitute to cut out cholesterol. Or, use one egg and two egg whites to replace two whole eggs in your recipes.

8. Use fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Substitute full-fat cheeses with reduced-fat ones, and lessen the amount you use. Use yogurt or reduced fat sour cream in dressings, dips, spreads and stews.

9. Marinate your food in soy sauces, flavored olive oil, herbs or spices.

10. When baking, replace some of the fat with applesauce, low-fat buttermilk, or nonfat yogurt. Your baked goods will taste just as good without the extra fat.

Obesity and heart disease are on the rise. Low fat cooking can lower the amount of fats in our diet and help us avoid heart disease and common health problems associated with excess weight such as arthritis, joint pains and back problems.

Cook on a stainlesssteelgriddle.org/presto-electric-skillet Presto electric skillet and notice the difference. Learn more about cooking on a stainlesssteelgriddle.org stainless steel griddle by visiting our site today!

Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol - A Journey Shared

Unless you have been through the heartache and pain of dealing with very high cholesterol, you cannot even begin to understand how much it really impacts on your life. When my cholesterol was at its highest, I was afraid to do anything, in case I brought on a heart attack!

I knew, right then and there, that I needed to find natural ways to lower cholesterol and keep it lowered as part of my daily life. And I needed the solution to be as easy as breathing.

When you have lost family members and friends to heart disease, you really do sit up and take notice. It does make you take stock of your life, especially when you know, deep down in your heart, that they passed away prematurely, before their time. This motivated me to research natural ways to lower cholesterol.

High cholesterol is associated with heart disease, stroke, clots and in some cases, death. People I knew, who were not overweight, took care of themselves, and exercised, dropped dead of massive heart attacks. Doctors said they were dead before they hit the ground.

I know, for many of you, that may seem like a shock tactic, but the way I look at it is, if I can help save one life today through writing this, then that life is worth saving.

The natural ways to lower cholesterol, and indeed keep it lowered, are to make some changes to your life. Being overweight contributes to high cholesterol, so you need to revise your daily diet and take some exercise to try to lose a few pounds. Now, even if you are skinny and not overweight at all, that does not mean you cannot get high cholesterol.

Foods high in saturated fat raise bad cholesterol. Dairy products (cheese, spreads etc.) and red meats (beef, pork etc.) are the biggest culprits. Change full fat foods to low fat foods. Bake, poach, and grill instead of frying. Eating more fruits, vegetables and dietary fibre (oat bran, rice bran etc.) is one of the natural ways to lower cholesterol.

I know more than most, given all I have gone through, that it is not easy to suddenly add exercise to your busy daily schedule. But you know what, when you know the possible consequences, you suddenly find the drive to make a start and keep it going. The trick is to start slowly and get comfortable, then build on that, bit by bit.

One of the driving forces on my quest to find natural ways to lower cholesterol, was the fact that I could not take prescription cholesterol lowering medication. Over the years, I had been on those medications for long periods of time, which to my shock and horror, caused damage to my liver.

So I knew, I needed a proven, quality, natural remedy, to assist me with lowering cholesterol. Some of the stuff I came across was absolute junk, no matter how nicely it was packaged. Because of my liver problem, I had to assess every single ingredient in each product, to be sure that, firstly, it delivered as one of the natural ways to lower cholesterol, and secondly, it would not harm the liver or any other organ.

I want to make it clear, I have never smoked and I do not drink. The liver damage was caused over time by prescription cholesterol lowering medication and antibiotics.

I am thrilled to say, that my quest for results in lowering cholesterol, was not in vain. My test results showed an incredible drop from very high cholesterol to the normal range. And you know what, every test after that, showed the same. I have been able to sustain it.

Oh, and you will be pleased to know, that in the process, I also reversed my liver damage!

Life is precious, and too often, we will delay taking action when we really need to, because we think, sure there's always tomorrow. But why not help make certain that there is a tomorrow and visit my website to learn how you too can use natural ways to lower cholesterol.

Mary Ruddy is a strong advocate of natural and safe health care and enjoys nothing more than helping others make a positive impact on their lives. To find out more about how you too can improve your health naturally visit her website today at curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com/

Visit her site curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com/ to learn the natural and safe way for lowering cholesterol.

High Cholesterol - How to Reduce High Cholesterol

By now, we all know what cholesterol is, or at least we all know that it is bad for us, but how? Well, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. The truth is, we need cholesterol for our bodies to produce adrenal hormones, vitamin D and sex hormones. It aids the formation of bile acid as well. Arteriosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, and gallstones are the result of increased levels of, or high cholesterol found in the blood.

Although we are told to watch what we eat when diagnosed with high cholesterol, some medical experts believe that these increased levels are not necessarily due to the diet, but to stress and genetics, among other things. It means adding raw fruits and vegetables to your diet, and drinking lots of water. Some studies have proven that Vitamin C aids the body in eliminating dangerous arterial plaque. The only difference with the Vitamin C you would be taking is that it must be taken in a certain pattern as was the case with the researchers. They claim that Vitamin C as we know it and take it is useless because for it to work, it must be in combination with trace minerals, electrolytes and bioflavonoids.

High cholesterol exists because the liver makes LDL, or low density cholesterol in order to repair arteries to avoid death from internal bleeding, but that LDL builds up gradually forming plaque, leading to clogged arteries. Vitamin C, however, has proven to reduce high cholesterol if taken in the correct pattern by helping the body to make collagen. When the collagen reforms the arteries, the plaque then becomes unglued from the artery walls. Cholesterol levels rise to begin with, and then decrease as does the plaque build-up in the arteries, resulting in the liver halting the production of LDL.

Essentially, supplementing your improved diet with vitamins that imitate nature's way may actually cause the condition high cholesterol to disappear, or at least ameliorate.

If left untreated high cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease, stroke and death. What are you doing to improve your condition? Stop cholesterol before it stops you [healthinfo21.com]. Read more news about high cholesterol and other health issues at HealthInfo21.com [healthinfo21.com]

"Creepy" Cholesterol

Weight Loss and Cholesterol: One of the main causes of heart disease is high cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to diseases of the heart such as hypertension, diabetes, weight problems as well as many other conditions. First, we need to understand what cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a waxy-like fat substance which is actually a natural product that is made in the liver of our body. Cholesterol is generally considered to be bad for us, but it is actually necessary to have cholesterol in our bodies to maintain proper performance of many of our vital functions.

There are two types of cholesterol. The first type is called LDL or Low-Density Lipoprotein. It is LDL that tends to clog arteries and cause increased risk of heart problems. LDL causes the build of up fat tissue, and/or plaque in our arteries. It can also cause the build up of white blood cells. The medical term for this higher than normal accumulation of white blood cells is called "macrophage".

The second type of cholesterol is called HDL or High-Density Lipoprotein. This is the cholesterol that helps us to reduce the LDL, which then helps our heart and circulatory systems stay healthy. HDL is also important to the manufacture and support of the biochemical functions of the body, such as the production and regulation of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins, K, E, and A.

Cholesterol problems are usually associated with older adults, but children who are fed unhealthy diets can also develop serious problems. Unfortunately, whether you are an adult or a child, the symptoms are not always evident until it is too late. There have been reported cases of children as young as 5 years of age having higher-than-normal cholesterol levels. Early symptoms of high cholesterol can be similar to those of a heart attack, but can also be manifested as a stroke.

There are other factors that can affect cholesterol, such as lifestyle and genetics, but your cholesterol levels can usually be controlled through a combination of proper diet and exercise. Exercise has been shown to be a key component in the reduction of LDL and in keeping a healthy balance between the two cholesterol components.

Most of us are already aware that the highly saturated fats that are associated with fried and deep fried types of foods (such as potato chips, french fries, and some cooking oils) are one of the main sources of the "bad" or LDL cholesterol. Since there is no way of telling whether or not we have high cholesterol, it is important to have your cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis by your doctor or health care professional.

There is a lot more to taking care of your cholesterol that has been mentioned here. Cholesterol health is not obvious. Many, if not most of us, end up finding out that we have a cholesterol problem when it is too late. We are either in the hospital or dead! If you have not had your cholesterol checked within the past year it would be an excellent idea to consider checking with your doctor. The test is very simple and relativelyquick and easy. It could save your life.

If you have a weight problem and are looking for some answers, Mr. Bates has written a FREE article uncovering the answers to what it takes for continued weight loss and how stay on track. His article is called "Unleash The Thin Within". You can have it for free by clicking youreasyweightloss.com HERE. You can also check out his weightzapper.blogspot.com blog

Mr. Bates is a former personal trainer with a major TN health club. Mr. Bates now works as a Performance Psychology Consultant helping individuals to achieve their goals in many arenas. He is presently helping individuals in the area of weight loss.

Cholesterol - What Is It And Is It All Bad?

Cholesterol. Boy, there sure is a lot of noise being made about keeping your cholesterol low. You can see ads for all kinds of drugs all over the TV to help lower your cholesterol. Go to a doctor's office and the first thing you see hanging on the wall is a cholesterol chart.

So what exactly IS cholesterol and what's the big deal about it? In this article we'll try to answer some of those common questions.

For starters, all cholesterol is not bad. In fact, it's produced naturally in your liver and it helps with important body functions. It's the bad cholesterol, called LDL (low density lipoprotein) that can really do you in. Get too much of this in your system and it can lead to heart disease. Unfortunately this can be something you inherit from your ancestors, meaning there isn't much you can do about getting it, not that it can't still be controlled. We'll get to that later. The more common cause of high LDL is poor diet, usually one that's high in saturated fats. Add to that lack of exercise and you've got a real problem on your hands.

In 2003 it was estimated that about 50 million men had high cholesterol greater than 200. Oh yes, the numbers. How they come up with these figures isn't important. What is important is that it has been determined that a cholesterol level above 240 is considered high and risky. A person with a level above 240 has twice the risk of heart disease compared with someone who's cholesterol is below 200. The magic number seems to be below 200. That's when you are no longer considered to have high cholesterol. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) you should have your cholesterol checked at least once every five years. All that is needed to do this is a simple blood test.

So what happens when you get high cholesterol? How can you treat it?

Without having to take drugs, which is the last resort, the best way to lower your cholesterol is to change your diet. Eat fewer foods that are high in saturated fats and exercise regularly. The most common foods to avoid are fatty meats, deli, bacon, peanut butter, unless it specifically says it is low in cholesterol and anything coming out of a fast food chain such as fried food and onion rings. Also eating lots of fruits and vegetables will help in lowering cholesterol levels. If you smoke, by quitting, you will lower your cholesterol level. Also drinking alcohol in moderation will help to lower cholesterol levels,

If diet and exercise aren't enough, there are drugs that can help to lower your cholesterol. The most popular of these drugs is Lipitor. What Lipitor does is lower the level of LDL produced by your liver, usually by 39 to 60%.

While cholesterol can be extremely dangerous it is actually one of the easiest things in your body to control between diet and exercise and if need be, with prescription drugs. There is no need for anyone to suffer from heart disease because of high cholesterol. It is an easily treated disease. So see your doctor and get a blood test. If you have high cholesterol speak to him about how you can lower it. You'll be glad you did.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to cholesterol.guide-for-you.com Cholesterol

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

The first line of treatment in lowering cholesterol levels are lifestyle changes such as proper diet, weight loss, and exercise. Along with lifestyle change, your doctor is also likely to prescribe medication to help in lowering and maintaining your cholesterol levels. A number of prescription drugs to lower cholesterol are available on the market, with a number of them (statins in particular) advertised very heavily in the media.

The statin class of drugs is quite popular as the cholesterol lowering drug of choice. It is sometimes difficult to judge whether this is due to their effectiveness or to the massive marketing campaigns from the pharmaceutical industry. Either way, as the top selling drugs in the nation, there are a tremendous number of prescriptions written for statin drugs.

Statins are known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and work in the liver to slow the development of cholesterol. Studies have indicated that statin drugs tend to work best at lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol, but tend to not be as effective at reducing triglyceride levels. A few of the current statin drugs on the market are: atorvastatin (Lipitor) , fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Another, Vytorin, is a combination of Zetia (ezetimibe) and the statin drug Zocor (simvastatin). In an unsettling FDA report in January 2008, it was noted that Vytorin did not reduce atherosclerotic plaque any better that simvastin given alone, and in some cases actually resulted in an increase in plaque. Beyond common side effects such as headaches and nausea, the more serious side effects of statins include extreme muscle pain and muscle disease (statin induced myopathy), as well as serious liver problems.

Beyond statins, there are other classes of drugs which may be prescribed to help in lowering cholesterol levels. While not hyped with as much fanfare as statins, they have been shown to be effective for many patients.

One such class of drugs are resins, also known as bile acid-binding drugs. The resins basically work in the intestines to help increase elimination of LDL cholesterol. As the body digests food, it uses cholesterol to make bile. Resin type drugs bind themselves to bile. As the liver increases the production of bile, the body will use up more cholesterol. A few of the resin type drugs on the market are Cholestyramine (Questran®, Questran® Light, Prevalite®, Locholest®, Locholest® Light), Colesevelam Hcl (WelChol®), and Colestipol (Colestid®).

Fibrates are termed fibric acid derivatives and tend to be best at lowering triglycerides. In some cases they also have been known to raise levels of HDL. They are usually prescribed for patients with high triglyceride levels and low HDL levels and may be used in conjunction with statins. A few of the fibrate drugs on the market are: Gemfibrozil (Lopid®), Clofibrate (Atromid-S), and Fenofibrate (Antara®, Lofibra®, Tricor®, and Triglide(TM)).

Niacin in the form of nicotinic acid works by affecting the production of blood fats in the liver. In prescription form niacin is used to help lower LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. A few of the prescription niacin preparations on the market are Niaspan® and Slo-Niacin®.

For more information about cholesterol and how to control it visit our website at:

cholesterol-fix.com cholesterol-fix.com/

Foods To Lower Cholesterol You Need To Include In Your Diet For Protection Against Heart Disease

Who doesn't love food? Sure we are spoilt for choice with all the different varieties of foods that are out there! But on a more serious note, we need to be careful, and make sure we stack the foods to lower cholesterol in our favour, for better protection against heart disease.

Coronary artery disease, out of all the forms of heart disease there are, is the single biggest killer.

High blood cholesterol is strongly linked with coronary artery disease.

And the one thing that has the biggest impact on our cholesterol levels, is the foods we eat.

Here is a list of foods to lower cholesterol that should be included in your diet:

* Whole grains (oats, barley, rice)

* Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios)

* Blueberries

* Olives

* Olive oil

* Flaxseed oil

* Black soybeans

* Avocados

* Apples

* Pomegranate juice

* Yoghurt with probiotics

* 100% cranberry-grape juice

* Fish and fish oil

Now you are probably wondering what is so special about these foods?

Well, the above list of foods to lower cholesterol between them contain soluble fiber, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and Omega 3, all of which are proven cholesterol lowering nutrients.

Stay away from, or at least limit, any foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats or cholesterol, as they are a sure-fire way to increase your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, putting you at risk of developing coronary artery disease.

You see, when LDL cholesterol levels become too high, a substance called plaque will start forming in the coronary artery walls.

As more and more plaque builds up, clots begin to form, and partial or full blockages, in the coronary arteries feeding blood to your brain or heart, can occur.

When this happens, you will more than likely have a stroke or heart attack.

The good news of course is that your HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol, as long as you do not let its levels drop too low, will work to continually remove excess LDL cholesterol from the arteries, giving you greater protection against heart disease.

For a lot of people, even following a list of foods to lower cholesterol can be hard, especially when they are used to eating a certain way.

So adding a cholesterol supplement, with natural cholesterol lowering ingredients, is a key to their success. Not to mention the additional heart healthy beneficial nutrients they provide.

Now you know the curing-cholesterol.com foods to lower cholesterol, why not pop over to my website to learn more.

About The Author

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com

Low Carb Diet Menu - What You Should Know Before Following One

There are many diet plans that are designed to lower carbohydrate consumption, but some of it only differs on a few applications and behaviors.

Here's to mention a few:

Atkins Diet - mostly on protein power and strictly no carbs

Southbeach diet - same as Atkins but bans the unhealthy fats and looks at how much sugar is in the carb

Zone diet - moderately low on carbs but high in protein

All these diets are a sure-ball way to lose weight fast. Although they are the same at some point, each of it has its own set of plans and procedures to follow.

First, let's dig in to some of the benefits of following a Low Carb Diet Menu:

- Increased energy

- Weight loss

- Longing for sweets gone or much less

- Active mind

- Enhanced emotions

- "Emotional" eating eliminated

- Helps more in dental hygiene in lessening dental plaque and improves gum health

- Decrease joints and muscle pain

- Less headaches

- Improved triglycerides

- Reduced blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics

- Lowers cholesterol level

- Lowers blood pressure

- Improved insulin sensitivity

- Lowers blood insulin level

This might be a long healthy, positive list of benefits but you should keep in mind that every weight loss plan or diet program has a corresponding downside in it.

What You Should Know About the Low Carb Diet Menu

In taking this diet plan, be aware that what it needs you to do is to actually remove some of the important parts of your meal - the ones that give energy such as rice, bread and pastas. Plus, it will also prohibit foods that are made of starchy vegetables, with flours, any cereals that have no "low-carb" label on it and foods that have sugar - which includes quite a few fruits. However, you are allowed to eat meat, eggs, and any low sugar fruits. There are also some low carb diet menus that will consent you to eat dairy.

The Dangers of Taking a Low Carb Diet Menu

Be aware that if you follow a "too" low carb diet menu and do not follow the proper steps or procedures, it may or can lead to:

1. Fluctuation in your energy, blood sugar and insulin levels

2. Decreased brain functions

3. Muscle burnings

4. Regained weight

There are many diet plans out there and it's up to you to choose the best one for your body. Just make sure that you are taking the right foods for your body while taking any of these diet plans.

As always, it is advisable to consult with your doctor first before following a low carb diet menu.

More things you should know when taking a fat-loss-101.com/low-carb-weight-loss-diet-things-should-know.html low carb weight loss diet, visit Fat-Loss-101.Com.

Fat-Loss-101.Com is currently having a free 3-month trial of its Weight Loss Secrets Newsletter. Get your free subscription at fat-loss-101.com fat-loss-101.com!

Weight Loss Programs That Work - The Diet Solution Program Review

The Diet Solution Program is one of the more popular happinesslifetime.com weight loss programs currently available online.

The author of the The Diet Solution Program is Isabel De Los Rios. She stated that she has based her program on 15 years of personal study and nutritional research. Professionally she has 10 years experience as a nutrition and exercise specialist. As well as her professional skills she has her own personal experience dealing with weight and health related issues as well as her experience with her mother's severe diabetes.

In preparing the program she has used her practical knowledge from helping clients tackle weight issues and health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. It appears that her hands on experience has been transferred to the sensible approach and practical advice she provides in her program.

This program appears to be low on hype and big on realistic advice and useful information.

The Program would be suitable for dieters who:

have struggled with their weight their whole life and need a program that will work longer term
have tried following nutrition plans that do not work
no longer want to follow programs that are extreme or make them feel terrible while losing weight
are looking for a balanced diet program which has a clear process to develop a personal diet plan
are looking for practical advice and information presented in a simple and easy to understand format
want to take control of their health and have a program that will help with health conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.

As with any weight loss program you will still need to put in some effort, but Ms De Los Rios has done much of the hard work for you. She has provided four processes to make it easy:

Step by Step Action Plans so you know how to put her principles in place
Simple Recipes so you can make everyday meals that are tasty
Shopping Lists so you know what to get and food shopping is a breeze
Daily Meal Plans with the detail to make it easy for organising everyday

One of the great side effects the program claims is increased health and vitality. Through eating the right foods the benefits could include lower blood sugar levels, decreased cholesterol levels, increased energy, cleared skin conditions and improve digestive problems.

Most people do not have the time to undertake the reading or detailed research required to decipher the range of current nutritional information required for a balanced diet program. Ms De Los Rios has used her own personal and professional experiences to develop the program. Her apparent aim is to help you achieve your weight loss goals, and have a healthy body, without resorting to any extreme dieting methods. Her approach is not just to follow the main stream nutrition programs but she also provides you with clear facts about foods. She has the ability to put simply the truth about why some foods are bad for you and why some are good.

Ms De Los Rios has structured her program to teach you the nutritional and lifestyle principles to follow to reach your ideal weight. But better than this, her identified approach is also to teach you how to make following a healthy way of eating into your own lifestyle.

If you go to the site and do not want to go straight into the program then you can simply download the Starter Kit to get started. There are claims that some people have used the Starter Kit to lose 10 lbs in as little as 6 weeks. There is also information about the Program available in the FAQs.

It is stated that The Diet Solution Program is backed by a 60 day money back guarantee. The guarantee states that if you are not completely satisfied, you will receive your money back without any questions asked.

For the money, the Program with the meal plans, the shopping lists, the recipes, the bonuses, the 60 day guarantee, and based on Ms De Los Rios's personal and professional experience and expertise, must be one of the best deals in the weight loss industry.

Wellbeing is a state of being healthy, happy and prosperous. The Wellbeing Factor provides information on health related issues and programs. Neil is a family man with over 20 years experience in the people services and development sector. He has moved from the stressful executive city life to the green rural hills and clean country air of Bilpin in the Blue Mountains near Sydney in Australia. He is enjoying the new online world where he has the opportunity to work from home and spend more time with his family. His website is thewellbeingfactor.com thewellbeingfactor.com

Cholesterol Diet Lowering Portfolio - Learn About Cholesterol Diet Lowering Portfolio

Cholesterol can be broken into three categories. These three are LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.

LDL or low density lipoprotein is the type of cholesterol that doctors consider to be the bad cholesterol. HDL or high density lipoprotein is the type that is considered good cholesterol. Which leaves triglycerides, this substance is another type of fat found in the blood stream. Triglycerides are used by the body as a form of energy in between meals. When the body takes in more food than it can burn, these fats stay at higher levels in the blood stream.

Classify Your Food.

An example of the cholesterol diet lowering portfolio is the portfolio diet. This diet consists of a daily two thousand calorie diet. On a daily basis a person must ingest thirty grams of almonds, twenty grams of viscous fiber foods such as oats or barley, fifty grams of soy protein, and two or three grams of plant sterols and stanols. Recent studies have shown that sterols and stanols have a molecular structure similar to cholesterol and they keep the body from absorbing cholesterol. One other thing of note about this diet is that it does not recommend ingesting meat. If meat is desired then only the leanest cuts should be eaten.

Cholesterol and the Body.

A little known fact is that the body manufactures all the cholesterol it needs. Anything extra that is taken in to the body is not beneficial. Overindulging on foods that are high in cholesterol will lead to deposits forming in the arteries which can eventually lead to blockages and serious health problems. This makes it important to create and utilize a cholesterol diet lowering portfolio.

The Herbal Supplement.

The study of natural foods and herbs has produced many supplements that are conducive to lowering cholesterol. A good place to begin the search would be with natural herbal products from New Zealand. If one knows where to look, it is rather easy to find supplements that perform better that prescription medication for lowering cholesterol. To maximize benefits, one of these spectacular herbal supplements should be used in conjunction with a cholesterol diet lowering portfolio. Helping the body to heal itself while raising good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol, is the most efficient weapon in the fight against cholesterol.

NO More Fried Foods.

It is best to steer clear of fatty foods, deep fried foods (even those fried in vegetable oil), and of course fast foods. Any type of homogenized oil is harmful as it contains higher concentrations of trans fats. Trans fats like cholesterol are unhealthy for the cardiovascular system. A good rule of thumb about the ingredients in foods is that if you cannot pronounce it, you probably should not eat it. Create and utilize a good cholesterol diet lowering portfolio and live a long healthy life, both for yourself and the ones that love you.

Len Gibb is a webmaster who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. His latest website - cholesterol-product-we-use.com Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in partcular, a natural product we personally use with excellent health results known as - cholesterol-product-we-use.com Cholest-Natural

Fish Oil and Cholesterol - Discover How it Can Help Your Cholesterol Levels

Scientists and researchers have been debating the principles of the relationship between fish oil and cholesterol in our bodies since the 1970s. Around that time there existed a belief that consuming a diet rich in fat usually led to heart problems, but this was soon disproved.

This was because scientists found out that, although the Eskimos in Greenland ate lots of fat, they had a much lower incidence of heart disease. This led scientists to believe that not all fats were bad for you.

As many of us know, Eskimos eat a lot of fish, halibut in particular. Other notable names include salmon, mackerel and sardines. It was no coincidence that the aforementioned seafood contained omega 3 fatty acids.

As science is won't to do, it progressed. Omega 3 fatty acids were revealed to play an important part in our diets. However, our bodies cannot produce these essential fatty acids (EFAs) on their own, and so they had to be consumed through our food.

It is important that we understand the link between fish oil and cholesterol. You see, cholesterol naturally assimilates in our body and is also introduced to our bodies through our diets (like meat and dairy products.) It's a fat-like substance, which helps our blood cells function effectively by transporting through them.

LDL (low-density lipoproteins) and HDL (high-density lipoproteins) are the two types of cholesterol in our bodies.

LDL

LDL is carried through the body to the organs and tissues of each person. LDL isn't able to be eliminated if the levels of it increase too much.

If nothing prevents it, a chemical change occurs in these particles -- making them denser, and this enables them to grow in number on the walls of our arteries. This growth can lead to inflammation and can cause coronary heart disease as the blood vessels become narrower. It is because of this that LDL is regarded as the "bad" cholesterol.

HDL

Some people sum HDL up as the "janitor" in our blood. As it cleans up the blood vessel walls of surplus cholesterol and moves it back to your liver for processing, it is often regarded as the "good" cholesterol. Basically, the more HDL you have, the less LDL there is in your system.

Fish oil has been found to increase the level of HDL and (as we have just learned) this would decrease the level of LDL. Due to this, the American Heart Association (AHA) fully endorses omega 3's heart benefits. Therefore, consuming a quality fish oil supplement can increase your health.

Eating fish is healthy (for those who even like fish!) but it turns out that if you eat excessive amounts of it, it can have negative side-effects (like mercury poisoning.) The pollution we dispose of goes into our water, affects the fish in the water and we then consume the fish. Talk about recycling! Some fish come into contact with concentrated levels of metal like mercury, lead and PCBs.

Fortunately, fish oil supplements present a safe way to ingest omega 3 fatty acids (and also an alternative method for those who don't like fish.)

Now that you know the link between fish oil and cholesterol, you can choose to seek further information for properly purified fish oil supplements that will not only improve the health of your heart, but will also improve many other aspects of your life.

Scott D Oakley is a passionate researcher and reviewer of fish oil supplements. This research is published on his website. To find out about the purified omega 3 supplements which he personally uses and recommends, visit your-omega-3.com your-omega-3.com/

your-omega-3.com your-omega-3.com/ can help you to enhance your health.

About the Mediterranean Diet

As researchers seek clues about diet and health, they have noticed that the various peoples of the Mediterranean experience lower rates of cancer and heart disease than Americans despite consuming a diet that is relatively high in fat. In fact, those who adhere to a Mediterranean diet do not even have low cholesterol. Because the medical establishment had previously equated fat and high cholesterol with heart disease and an array of other risks, they were at a loss to explain this phenomenon.

The Mediterranean diet is, nonetheless, recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. It is a somewhat fattier, but ultimately a more satisfying version of the AHA Step 1 diet plan. Overall, it allows plenty of fats from foods like olive oil, fish, nuts and other good fats like avocados as well as abundant servings of whole-grain breads and pastas which are balanced by plentiful servings of fruits vegetables, as well as red wine.

Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe red wine as a part of a healthy diet, apparently thinking that people will take this as permission to become alcoholics. This is unfortunate since the benefits of regularly drinking red wine (in moderation, of course) have been shown in study after study. In fact, the positive effects of drinking red wine are almost too numerous to list here. As it pertains to the heart, however, drinking a glass a day for women and two glasses per day for men can reduce the risk of heart disease by thirty to fifty percent. The reason is that there is an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) and a lowering of the risk of blood clots.

When you look at it through that lens, why wouldn't you start enjoying a glass or two with dinner? Not only is red wine great with a mean, it could save your life. Red wine is rich in anti-oxidants which have been shown to reduce plaque that builds up in the arteries. It has this in common with fruits and vegetables, another cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. People who live along the Mediterranean, generally, eat about nine servings of fresh produce daily. Over time, eating foods rich in anti-oxidants gives them a huge advantage when it comes to combating heart disease.

The appeal of the Mediterranean Diet is that you can be healthy by enjoying your food and living well, just like the people of the Mediterranean do. If you fill yourself full of delicious, healthy foods, you will not be so sad about giving up the unhealthy fats and sugars you might be used to. On the Mediterranean Diet, you get to eat plenty of pasta with olive oil, for instance, and maybe some lovely roasted salmon with fresh vegetables. But, the red meats are largely out of the equation. Just keep a delicious steak as a food of choice for those special occasions. Even those living in the Mediterranean enjoy some beef occasionally.

Tip: Did you know that simple guided mediation can actually boost your fat burning efforts? Visit Nicole's quickweightlossplan.net quick weight loss plan blog and check out her amazing new brain entrainment technology that will end your body fat loss struggles for good!

Click here if you are interested in boosting your fat burning efforts, boosting your energy and skyrocketing your self confidence for free => quickweightlossplan.net quickweightlossplan.net/

Lowering Cholesterol Without Drugs

Drugs for treating cholesterol have proved to be very effective and popular in reducing total and ldl cholesterol. The most popular variety of drugs is known as the Statin family of drugs. There are many different brand names for Statin drugs but they all have the same basic effect. Statins cause the liver to produce less low density lipoproteins that act as a transport for cholesterol throughout the body. If there is too much low density lipoprotein then excess cholesterol tends to stick to artery walls and leads to atherosclerosis. However taking drugs to lower cholesterol is often seen as a last resort. If a patient has high cholesterol, a doctor will often advise that the patient alters his/her diet and takes on a regular exercise program. This will continue for 6 months and if no alteration has been made to the cholesterol reading then the drugs may be prescribed. This article will discuss lowering cholesterol without drugs.

The first thing that a person with high cholesterol has to look at is their diet. Foods high in saturated fats and trans fats should be avoided. Saturated fats are things like animal fats. This means fatty meat. You should always trim excess fat off any meat you are planning to eat. You should remove the skin from things like chicken and turkey. You should stop using lard and pork fat for cooking. Consumption of full fat dairy products should also be reduced. Try low fat alternatives or non-dairy alternatives.

Trans fats are a man made product. It is vegetable oil infused with hydrogen. It was very popular in the food industry because it gave extra flavor to processed foods and acted as a preservative too. It was also cheap to make. Recently it was found to increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body and many food companies are trying to limit the use of this type of fat. However you will still find it in many products so it is a good idea to look at food labels before you buy something. Try to avoid products with trans fats in them.

Another way to reduce your cholesterol level is to eat foods that limit the amount of cholesterol that gets into the blood. Spreads and yogurts that have plant sterols in them compete with animal cholesterol for absorption into the intestine. They can limit the amount of cholesterol that gets into the blood. Soluble fiber, like oatmeal and vegetables, limit the absorption of cholesterol and ldl cholesterol sticks to the fiber and is excreted with it.

Eating fresh food is the best guideline for lowering cholesterol, along with cooking with polyunsaturated and unsaturated oils.

In terms of exercise, the idea is to reduce weight and use up excess calories. If you consume more calories than you use, you will end up putting on weight and more cholesterol will be created. Concentrate on aerobic exercise and try to do it as regularly as possible. This could be a light walk each day to begin with and gradually build up to longer exercise times or more strenuous activities. Check with your doctor before starting the program and ask for advice on the best type of exercise to start with.

Get more details on lowcholesteroldieting.com/Cholesterol_Diet.html diets for people with high cholesterol and lowcholesteroldieting.com/Low_Cholesterol_Food.html food low in cholesterol at lowcholesteroldieting.com lowcholesteroldieting.com - Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to reducing cholesterol and how to monitor cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol - The Good And The Bad

First, the Bad News: LDL Cholesterol, Large and Small

How does an artery become damaged? Understanding how our body's vascular plumbing system-especially the arteries-becomes damaged by imbalances in the cholesterol it creates is critical to understanding what causes chronic heart disease. LDL's job is to carry cholesterol and fatty acids from the liver, where it is synthesized, to the cells where it is used by your body in a variety of ways. This sounds reasonable, so how does LDL get such a bad rap?

Well, first you need to know that LDL cholesterol comes in seven sizes, called type I, IIa and IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa and IVb (the larger the number, the smaller the size). LDL's bad rap comes from three of these. The first is IVb, the smallest of the stew. If you have elevated levels of IVb, you have a much greater risk of developing artery damage. But that's not all-having more than 15-20 percent of the IIIa and IIIb types also puts your arteries at risk.

So why are these three smaller ones bad for you? They are so small that they can easily slip in between the cells that line the insides of your arteries. In fact, they are twice as likely as the larger types of LDL to do this. When they do this slippery thing, they cause the arteries to become inflamed in reaction to the invasion, and that's not good.

One way to think of these culprits is as little metal chips with spikes on them that, once they get inside the artery's lining, make a multitude of cuts that then need to be healed by your immune system. The smaller the chip, the more places it can cause damage. When the inflammation reaches a certain level, your immune system becomes overwhelmed. Plaques of hardened calcium and cholesterol then form in your arteries in a misguided attempt to seal the damage off.

Here's where the Apo E genotypes come in. They determine what happens to the different types of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that you eat. For example, if you have the Apo E 4 gene-either the 4/4, 4/2 combination or the 4/3-and eat a lot of fat, the likelihood of inflammation in your arteries is higher. To a lesser extent, arterial inflammation occurs with the Apo E 2 gene-either the 2/2 or the 2/3 combination.

Each genotype has both an ideal kind and combination of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates for arterial health-and hence heart health-so knowing the right balance for your particular genotype is crucial.

The Good News: HDL2b

While the various components of the LDL pot carry cholesterol out to your cells, HDL carries the surplus back to the liver where it is recycled. In this way, HDL provides our body with a natural artery-cleaning service. You simply cannot have too much of this good type of cholesterol, and later we will see how the Apo E Gene Diet and exercise program can cause even more HDL to be produced.

In my experience, the Apo E 2 and the Apo E 3 genotypes tend to have higher levels of HDL, especially HDL2b. So how does HDL2b relate to artery disease? If you have too much bad LDL and not enough good HDL, especially HDL2b, your body can't clean its arteries properly, and the cholesterol accumulates and causes them to narrow-and thus begins cardiovascular disease.

HDL2b works for the body's vascular system in at least two ways. It lowers blood "thickness"-a tendency to clot inappropriately-and it is a powerful antioxidant that stops molecular damage to the vascular system. Having levels of HDL2b greater than 20 percent for men and 30 percent for women contributes to optimum artery health. To achieve these levels I advise patients to first be tested for HDL2b because despite high HDL levels, I often see very low HDL2b levels. Unless your HDL2b levels are normal or above, your ability to clean your arteries is hindered.

It's important to know that not all advanced cholesterol-testing methods are the same-some can be off by as much as 40 percent-leading to the wrong treatment plan. Once you know your true levels you can make any necessary dietary and lifestyle changes.

apoegenediet.com Pamela McDonald is a leading Integrative Medicine Nurse Practitioner, who specializes in the prevention of heart and Alzheimer's disease, and chronic illness. To learn more about her ground breaking book, and program - visit apoegenediet.com apoegenediet.com To subscribe to her free APO E Gene Diet Health Notes - send a blank email to