You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?
You would want to open the book and read part of it to get a better idea about what is going on, right?
Well, judging a book by its cover is what happens when you look at LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and decide that this is the only - or even the best indicator of heart disease.
Worse yet, you are told you MUST lower your LDL cholesterol level.
#1 Naturally produced by the body, cholesterol is needed for a variety of functions.-1
Your body uses cholesterol to make testosterone and other essential hormones and is one of the best health and youth enhancing strategies for aging men and women. -2
As you age your body naturally starts to lose its ability to produce as much testosterone and you start to lose energy, strength, sexual desire and sexual capacity.-2
#2 Because the fact is cholesterol alone is not THE indicator of heart disease. Cholesterol which has been oxidized is the problem. Oxidation of cholesterol is the more specific problem which would enable the cholesterol to become "sticky" and start to form plaque in the walls of the arteries.-3
We have all seen an apple cut open and watch as it turns brown - this is oxidation. Your body will oxidize on the inside unless steps are taken to help prevent this.
One can keep oxidation of cholesterol in check by incorporating plenty of anti-oxidants in your consumption of food and supplements.-1, 3
A few of the most powerful anti-oxidants are:
Low cost, safe and proven food sources high in omega 3's and the right fats to help keep your cholesterol levels in balance-1, 3
These are better, safe, proven and natural ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem.
A diet heavy in grains and processed foods will actually raise your blood cholesterol levels more than foods which contain cholesterol.
A diet low in cholesterol will do you little if anything health wise -4
Focusing on raising your HDL cholesterol levels because as you raise your good cholesterol it decreases the concern about your LDL levels of cholesterol and gives you a better total cholesterol profile. -5
Some of the best ways to improve your "Good" or HDL cholesterol is through:
There is a big difference between the cholesterol your Body produces and dietary cholesterol from the food you eat.
#3 Two factors which are of greater concern and are better indicators of heart disease are -3
1. A measure of inflammation in the blood stream called C-reactive protein
2. An amino acid produced by the body called homocysteine.
High levels of C-reactive protein and high levels of homocysteine are better leading indicators and also contribute to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels leading to heart disease -3
As reported in the July, 2003 issue of JAMA, a study was conducted which showed that a diet high in plant sterols, fiber and almonds was clearly the better way to reduce cholesterol and heart disease over statin drugs.-8
And finally ?
Policosanol ? An organic plant alcohol from sugar cane is one of the best natural ways to reduce bad cholesterol levels-7
Naturally, as you realize the power of these proven ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem, you will find yourself taking action.
References
1- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men ? "The biggest drug and the biggest lie" august 4th, 2003.
2- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men ? "Ignore the hype focus on cholesterol that matters" April 4, 2004
3- Hyman, Mark M.D., Liponis, Mark M.D., Ultra-Prevention, The 6-Week Plan that will Make you healthy for life, New York, Scribner, 2003
4- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men ? "Teaching Nutrition?" March 15, 2004
5- Framingham Heart Study conducted on healthy people in the 1950s. cholesterol misleading as only one of 240 factors in heart disease.
http://www.researchprotection.org/infomail/03/07/11.html
6- Castiglioni A and Neuman WR. "HDL Cholesterol: What Is Its True Clinical Significance?" Emergency Medicine, January 2003:pp 30-42.
7- Policosanol safe alternative just one of many.
http://www.life-enhancement.com/article_template.asp?ID=663
New study finds that this sugar-cane extract safely lowers cholesterol levels. By Aaron W. Jensen, Ph.D. References PR Newswire, March 5, 2002. White Plains, NY. Omar MA, Wilson JP. FDA adverse event reports on statin -associated rhabdomyolysis. Ann Pharmacother 2002 Feb;36(2):288-95. Gouni-Berthold I, Berthold HK. Policosanol: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent. Am Heart J 2002;143:356-65. Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive summary of the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). J Am Med Assoc 2001;285:2486-97.
8- Jenkins D. et al., Effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol- lowering foods vs Lovastatin on serum lipids and c-reactive protein. JAMA 2003; 290: 502-510
9- ? Health Sciences Institute - Jenny Thompson ? Article "Broken Ground" 3/11/2004
About The Author
Lee Cummings has been helping people solve problems and feel better with proven nutrition for over 4 years. Lee publishes the montly LC Nutrition newsletter. For a Fr^ee Report - mailto:report@lc-nutrition.com Discover proven nutrition information visit: http://www.LC-Nutrition.com
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
Manganese is a metallic mineral that was discovered by a... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
To many people, this may seem a simplistic answer to... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More
Many low carb dieters fall victim to "carb creep," which... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
How is it that we can't seem to think that... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old... Read More
Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More
Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More
Making simple changes to your food diet can help remedy... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Some fats are good for you. Your body can't function... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More
During the past thirty years there has been a steadily... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
It seems as if the health of America is failing.... Read More
During the Second World War, the Germans used fluoride as... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More
Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time... Read More
Some fats are good for you. Your body can't function... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
Imagine you're a cell.Inside your body runs the machinery that... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
Evidence suggesting that alcohol is "cardio-protective" first appeared in the... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
What if there was a combination of foods that were... Read More
Here's something you probably don't know. The fruit and vegetables... Read More
Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More
I'm sure by now you've heard all about the amazing... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
What is nutrition? We hear so many reports today on... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
Heart disease results when plaque builds up inside the arterial... Read More
1. Water. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. The majority... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the... Read More
The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entrée or soup to... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
I am going to share with you possibly the most... Read More
Nutrition |