Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. More people die yearly from CVD than any other disease. CVD is a general term used to describe medical condition that can affect the heart (cardio) and the blood vessel system (vascular).
The most popular usage of the term CVD is related to diseases that are linked with atherosclerosis. These diseases happen more often in people who smoke, who have high blood pressure, who have high cholesterol, are overweight or have diabetes. The major risk factor for atherosclerosis is high cholesterol ( hypercholesterolemia) and contributes 30% to development of CVD.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance in our body and significant nutrient in our diet because of its relationship to atherosclerosis. The level of the cholesterol in the blood is affected by the food that is eaten and to certain extent hereditary factors. It helps cell membranes, hormones and vitamin D. Liver makes all the cholesterol we need and if there is too much dietary cholesterol intake and saturated fat blood cholesterol levels rise too high.
How do we know we have elevated or high cholesterol?
We don't know at all or until our heart arteries are already blocked we will experience chest pain. Regardless feeling healthy we can still have threatening high cholesterol levels which can lead to heart disease. The only way to find it out is to undergo a cholesterol test. The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults recommends that all adults 20 years of age and above should have a fasting lipid profile checked very 5 years. People who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure or have been diagnosed with a chronic illness such diabetes or heart disease should have yearly follow ups.
How do we treat high cholesterol?
According to Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare 50% of the Australian population aged 25 years or over has cholesterol levels that are higher then desired range ( under 5.5 mmol/L ). If you are diagnosed with high cholesterol (above 5.5 mmol/L) your medical practitioner will prescribe certain medication. Scientists have developed four types of cholesterol-lowering drugs-statins, niacin, bile acid sequestrates and fibrates. Statins are the most popular and are also used in North America. Statins work by blocking natural enzymatic processes, including the enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis and significantly reduce cholesterol and therefore also remarkably lower the risk of coronary artery disease. However, statins can cause several adverse effects such as constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, insomnia, back pain and a rare severe muscle reaction which can result in kidney failure.
How supplements lower high cholesterol levels?
Thankfully, nature has given us sources to help lower cholesterol and maintain healthy triglycerides, safer and effective without side effects of synthetic drugs. These sources are Phytosterols and Omega-3 fatty acids. Phytosterols are plant based ingredients and are found in vegetable oil, seeds, nuts and coniferous trees. They are vital for stabilizing cell membranes in plants. They play similar role in animals. Scientists believe phytosterols work to reduce cholesterol because they have similar chemical properties as cholesterol and they battle for absorption site in the body. Phytosterols than inhibit the cholesterol absorption in small intestine which results in blocking some of the cholesterol being absorbed by body. At the end, the unabsorbed cholesterol leaves the body as a waste. Unfortunately, our daily diet does not contain enough phytosterols to have an impact to lower our cholesterol. However, supplements containing 1.5 g of phytosterols, importantly increases phytosterols intake. Trial, conducted in 2003, revealed that margarine spreads enriched of plant sterols had a significant cholesterol lowering results and no long term adverse effects have been reported.
Omega-3 fatty acids represent important role as a carrier for plant sterol and it also enhances a heart healthy lifestyle low in saturated fat. Study, published by American scientist in 2001, revealed that people who consume more fish have lower cholesterol than people whose diet contains saturated fat and is rich with cholesterol from the meat and dairy products.These people are more likely to develop different types of heart disease. Therefore, Nurse's Health Study confirms fish consumption is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and that Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for good health.
Unfortunately, our body cannot produce Omega-3 fatty acid. Therefore, our diet must contain all essential fatty acids. However, in these hectic times our diet does not consists of all these necessary elements. Supplementing your diet with 1 g of fish oil will crucially boost your Omega-3 fatty acid intake.
In conclusion, Several human clinical and animal studies have proven that a daily intake of phytosterols and omega-3 fatty acids have lowering effects on cholesterol without any side effects like statins. Supplement that consists of 1500 mg of Phytosterols and 1000 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids is safe and effective for everyone who wants naturally lower blood cholesterol levels and along with heathy diet and regular exercises improve cardiovascular health.
Lydia Vaupotic
goingwithus.com goingwithus.com/
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