Metagenics Lipotain - 60 Tabs

HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND CONTROLLING IT

Controlling high cholesterol can be a challenge, but with the right nutritional supplements many people have success...

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in North America. High cholesterol contributes to heart disease when the fatty molecules build up on the inside of arteries. This leads to a decrease in the flexibility and elasticity of the walls. As the artery becomes narrower, decreased circulation leads to high blood pressure because the body struggles to maintain enough blood flow to its tissues. Pieces of the cholesterol plaque can break off or the turbulent flow of blood can cause clots to form. If the pieces or clots lodge in smaller vessels this leads to heart attack or stroke.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, improper diet, stress and lack of exercise contribute to your risk of developing high cholesterol and heart disease. It is encouraging to note that adopting a healthier lifestyle and using natural therapies can maintain a healthy vascular system.

Cholesterol is not all bad; it is the amount and the ratio of the various forms of cholesterol that are a health concern. LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is fat that is being transported from the liver for use by your cells. It is commonly called bad cholesterol. HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is called good cholesterol because it is fat that is being taken unused cholesterol from your cells back to the liver, where it is broken down. Cholesterol levels are unhealthy if you have lots of circulating LDL, not enough HDL or a combination of the two.

Dietary cholesterol is different than the serum cholesterol mentioned above. Although eating foods that are high in cholesterol does raise serum cholesterol levels the liver is responsible for making cholesterol when needed. Thus a cholesterol reduction plan should include a low cholesterol diet with other treatments to help to reduce serum cholesterol. Genetics also plays a role in high cholesterol.

Conventional treatment of high cholesterol with lipid lowering drugs decreases serum cholesterol but makes only small improvements to your chance of developing heart disease. Plus these drugs have many side effects.

The most troublesome is the increased risk of depression and suicide amongst medicated individuals. The drugs also deplete vital nutrients for heart health such as coenzyme Q10. These medications can interact with natural products. Consult a health professional before starting any new therapy.

Dietary changes for high cholesterol include maintaining adequate fiber intake and lowering the fat and cholesterol content of your foods. Drink lots of clear fluids and eat raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Include green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, vegetable protein like soybeans and unrefined oils like olive, flax and sunflower in your daily diet. Foods to avoid are any margarine, hydrogenated oils, junk foods, fried foods, processed foods, fast foods, white flour products, white sugar products, red meat, egg yolks, ice cream, salt, coffee, colas and other caffeine sources. Eliminate alcohol, tobacco and highly spiced foods.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT CHOLESTEROL:

• EXERCISE
• EAT MORE VEGETABLES
• EAT LESS BAD FAT
• EAT ENOUGH FIBER OR USE A FIBER SUPPLEMENT
• TAKE ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTS
• TAKE ESSENTIAL FATS
• MONITOR YOUR INTAKE OF MEDICATIONS
• DO REGULAR COLON CLEANSING; POOR ELIMINATION CAN CAUSE CHOLESTEROL TO BE RECYCLED BY YOUR BODY

DID YOU KNOW? (CHOLESTEROL FACTS)

• YOUR BODY PRODUCES HIGH LEVELS OF CHOLESTEROL
• THE BAD CHOLESTEROL IS "BAD" BECAUSE IT IS MORE REACTIVE THAN HDL CHOLESTEROL
• SOME STUDIES SHOW THAT HIGH HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS ARE JUST AS HARMFUL AS HIGH CHOLESTEROL
• HORMONES ARE MADE FROM CHOLESTEROL.