cholesterol

[azade]

how can i control my colesterol

[VinniButler]

You can control high cholesterol by the following:
• A healthy and balanced diet should be consumed. A diet enriched with vegetables, fruit and whole grains is very important and better than eating a diet high in saturated or trans fats. The saturated fats should be replaced by healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats like the sunflower, olive, and rapeseed oil. Food with high soluble fibre such as oats, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, fruits should be included in the diet.
• Regular exercises to increase the HDL cholesterol and thus lead to a healthy heart
• Medication like Atorvastatin and Lipostat can be taken but only as per the GP’s recommendations.

[gymdandee]

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Lowering Foods
            
               Mushrooms
Used for centuries in Eastern medicine, mushrooms have powerful effects on the immune system –
especially the maitake, shiitake, and reishi varieties. "Mushrooms such as maitake help prevent and
treat cancer, viral diseases, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure."  In fact,
mushrooms are used as an adjunctive cancer treatment throughout Asia because of their ability to counteract the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation while simultaneously shrinking tumors.
What's more, Japanese researchers have found that regularly eating shiitake mushrooms lowers blood
cholesterol levels up to 45 percent.
            
            Dark Chocolate
When it comes to chocolate, bitter is better  at least in terms of health. The benefits of chocolate come
from flavonols and antioxidants (the same disease-fighting chemicals found in cranberries, apples,
strawberries, and red wine). Only real cacao contains flavonols, so look for chocolate that
boasts a high percentage of cacao (60 percent or more). Dark chocolate also has fewer calories than other varieties, and when eaten in moderation, it lowers unhealthy LDL cholesterol and prevents plaque
from building up in your arteries.

           Pomegranates
Pomegranates have up to three times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea and the juice has been shown to reduce artery-clogging plaque, which in turn prevents heart disease and stroke. Research shows that long-term consumption of pomegranate juice may also help slow aging and protect against cancer.

                      Eggs
The best protein source on the planet, eggs consistently outrank milk, beef, whey, and soy in the quality of protein they provide. In addition to containing all nine essential amino acids, eggs are loaded with nutrients. "And  eat the yolks."  People avoid the yolks because they fear cholesterol, but egg yolks contain choline, which helps protect heart and brain function and prevents cholesterol and fat from accumulating in the liver.

                   Almonds
Almonds are loaded with fiber and monounsaturated fat, both of which have been shown to lower cholesterol. According to the Food and Drug Administration, eating 1.5 ounces of most nuts, including
almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. And
even though almonds are relatively high in fat and calories, studies show that eating almonds can
actually help with weight loss (their protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats provide the feeling of
fullness, preventing overeating).

                   Garlic
Research shows that garlic lowers total cholesterol and triglyceride (blood fat) levels, helping prevent
clogged arteries. "Two to three cloves a day cut the odds of subsequent heart attacks in half for heart disease patients." "Garlic also tops the National Cancer Institute's list of potential cancer preventive
foods." Whole baked garlic helps detoxify the body of heavy metals like mercury (from fish) and cadmium. Garlic also acts as an antibacterial and antiviral, boosting resistance to stress induced
colds and infections. Can't stand garlic breath? Chew on a sprig of parsley.

         Fish and Fish Oil
Eating fish helps cut the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis. The
fatty varieties may also help alleviate depression. The American Heart Association recommends that
adults eat at least two fish meals per week, especially wild salmon, herring, and sardines, because those varieties provide the most heart-healthy omega 3s. Avoid mercury-containing varieties like shark,
swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and albacore tuna, says Roberta Anding, M.S., R.D., national
spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. (Chunk light tuna is okay.)

               Blueberries
Antiaging superstars, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which have
been shown to improve vision and brain function. Studies show that eating blueberries slows
impairments in motor coordination and memory that accompany aging. These berries also reduce
inflammation, which is inextricably linked with virtually every chronic disease from Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's, to diabetes and heart disease. Other studies show that blueberries have much greater
anticancer activity than other fruits.

                  Apples
"An apple a day really does keep the doctor away," says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., author of The
150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Apples are loaded with the powerful antioxidants quercetin and
catechin, which protect cells from damage - that means a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular
disease, especially if you eat the skin. Research shows that the apple peel contains five times more
polyphenols than the flesh. Apples and their skins pack a lot of fiber too (about twice that of other
common fruits, including peaches, grapes, and grapefruit), which may help fight the battle of the bulge.

               Avocados
They're high in fat, but avocados contain healthful monounsaturated fat, which has been linked to
a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. "Avocados aid in blood and tissue regeneration,
stabilize blood sugar, and are excellent for heart disorders," says Ed Bauman, Ph.D., director of
Bauman College. They're loaded with fiber (11 to 17 grams per fruit) and are a good source of lutein,
an antioxidant linked to eye and skin health

[gymdandee]

If you're going to take Red yeast rice
then you need to be seen by your doctor as it's like a statin you need your blood checked.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505142730.htm

http://www.drsinatra.com/why-your-cholesterol-test-can-lie/

[gymdandee]

Cholesterol Particle Size

Posted by Amin on May 19, 2011 in Your Health | 23 comments

LDL patterns A and B refer to the size of LDL cholesterol particles in the blood. Some doctors believe that small LDL cholesterol particles in the blood may pose a greater risk for developing atherosclerosis and heart attacks than the absolute level of LDL cholesterol in the blood. The size of LDL cholesterol particles is primarily inherited. A special blood test called polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis can measure particle size and determine whether a person has blood cholesterol LDL pattern A or LDL pattern B.

Persons with LDL cholesterol pattern A have large, buoyant LDL cholesterol particles. Individuals with pattern A are more likely to have normal blood levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Pattern A is usually not associated with an increased likelihood of atherosclerosis.

Persons with LDL cholesterol pattern B have predominantly small and dense LDL cholesterol particles. Pattern B is frequently associated with low HDL cholesterol levels, elevated triglyceride levels, and the tendency to develop high blood sugar levels and type II diabetes mellitus.

Individuals with pattern B are also more likely to develop high blood triglyceride levels after a fatty meal (postprandial hyperlipidemia). Pattern B is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and a 3 to 5- fold increase in heart attack risk. Pattern B is believed to be the most important cause of atherosclerosis in people with normal or near normal total and LDL cholesterol levels.

Some scientists believe that the smaller LDL particles are more dangerous than the larger ones because they can more easily squeeze through the tiny gaps between the cells in the endothelium to reach inside the artery walls. The endothelium is a thin layer of cells which covers the inner wall of the arteries. The cells making up the endothelium have tiny gaps between them. Others postulate that the smaller LDL cholesterol particles are more easily oxidized. Oxidation of cholesterol is significant in the formation of cholesterol plaques.

How can LDL cholesterol size be enlarged?

Even though LDL cholesterol particle size is mainly genetically inherited, individuals who have small LDL particles (pattern B) can increase their particle size through diet, exercise, and medications.

Diets that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol, regular aerobic exercise, and loss of excess body fat have been determined to decrease the number of small LDL particles and increase the number of large LDL particles in the blood. In other words, lifestyle modifications can change pattern B to pattern A.

When lifestyle changes alone are unsuccessful, medications can be used. Even though the statin medications (discussed above) are effective in lowering the absolute levels of LDL cholesterol, they appear to have a limited effect on LDL cholesterol size pattern. Medications such as nicotinic acid (niacin) and gemfibrozil (Lopid) have been found effective in many instances in increasing the size of LDL cholesterol particles.

Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is an LDL cholesterol particle that is attached to a special protein called apo(a). In large part, a person’s level of Lp(a) in the blood is genetically inherited. Elevated levels of Lp(a) (higher than 20 mg/dl to 30 mg/dl) in the blood are linked to a greater likelihood of atherosclerosis and heart attacks in both men and women. The risk is even more significant if the Lp(a) cholesterol elevation is accompanied by high LDL/HDL ratios.

Certain diseases are associated with elevated Lp(a) levels. Patients on chronic kidney dialysis and those with nephrotic syndromes (kidney diseases that cause leakage of blood proteins into the urine) tend to have high levels of Lp(a).

There are many theories as to how Lp(a) causes atherosclerosis although exactly how Lp(a) accumulates cholesterol plaques on the artery walls has not been well defined. Clinical trials conclusively proving that lowering Lp(a) reduces atherosclerosis and the risk of heart attacks have not been conducted. Currently, there is no international standard for determining Lp(a) cholesterol levels and commercial sources of Lp(a) testing may not have the same accuracy as research laboratories. Therefore, specifically measuring and treating elevated Lp(a) cholesterol levels are not widely performed in this country.

How can Lp(a) cholesterol levels be reduced?

Most lipid-lowering medications such as statins, Lopid, and cholestyramine have a limited effect in lowering Lp(a) cholesterol levels. Estrogen has been shown to lower Lp(a) cholesterol levels by approximately 20% in women with elevated Lp(a) cholesterol. Estrogen can also increase HDL cholesterol levels when given to postmenopausal women. Additionally, nicotinic acid (Niacin or Niaspan) in high doses has been found to be effective in lowering Lp(a) cholesterol levels by approximately 30%.

[Paxiled]

For most people medicine isn't required to reduce cholesterol.  In fact, it can produce unwanted other problems, including impeding the absorption of nutrients that the heart requires to function properly.  If you do it without meds, all the better.  If you can't, well, you can't.  But remember, cholesterol in and of itself doesn't cause heart problems, oxidized cholesterol does.  If you can prevent its oxidation it doesn't stick to the blood vessel walls, clogging them, it just moves on through.

[msniki412]

Medicine and diet.

[Paxiled]

There's good and bad cholesterol.  LDL is the bad, and is mostly from red meat intake and the storing of simple carbs quickly into sugar and then fat.  Triglycerides, the worst part, is largely from hydrogenated vegetable oils.  HDL is the good stuff, increasing that is better for you than reducing the LDL.  You can do that with flax seed oil, hemp seed oil, fish oil, eating cold water wild caught fish, flax seeds, and such.  There are also many herbal remedies that might help in combination with dietary changes and an increase in exercise.  Red yeast rice, for example, is a natural statin.  Try searching the complementary medicine forum archives and see if there aren't some discussions of this.