The Eight Week Cholesterol Challenge

When I first started down this path I was looking for something to reduce my cholesterol levels without giving me a heart attack. My doctor recommended Lipitor, but I had read an article in the American Heart Associations web site that indicated Lipitor and other statin drugs may possibly be worse for me than my high cholesterol. (The article that I read is here: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3001036 )

Subsequent research led me to two compounds that have been clinically proven to improve cholesterol levels without side effects. Being a chemical engineer myself, I was skeptical about any claim that did not have sufficient research behind it. However, the two compounds that I found have been clinically verified to be effective in improving cholesterol levels. It was these two compounds that have dramatically changed my condition, and motivated me to solicit this challenge.

What are the two compounds? Well, the first is niacin. That's right, the inexpensive mineral that is occasionally listed on the food label of our bread, breakfast cereal, sports drinks, or other enriched food. The other compound is pantethine. Strangely enough, pantethine is a compound that our body makes as it created Co-Enzyme A which eventually creates cholesterol.

Between these two chemicals, extensive research has demonstrated dramatic, statin-like, effects on cholesterol levels. In addition, because they are already needed by your body, the two compounds don't create the dangerous side effects that have been demonstrated with statins.

The two compounds act together to balance out the levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and good (HDL) cholesterol in your blood stream. Clinical trials have demonstrated that niacin is effective in reducing the level of bad cholesterol in your blood stream. In addition, clinical trial on pantethine in Japan have demonstrated that the compound significantly improves the level of good (HDL) cholesterol in your blood stream. Subsequently, the combination of the two may have an amazing effect on your overall cholesterol level.

So what is the challenge? If your doctor have recommended that you lower your cholesterol level or worse, is threatening to put you on a statin drug. Try using these compounds instead. For eight weeks, on a daily basis take 500 mg of pantethine and 400 mg of niacin and see what effect it has on your cholesterol level. I know you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was

These compounds are effective, and there is data to back up that claim. However, a word of caution, with niacin. When you go to the drug store or natural foods market, make sure you buy niacin that is labeled time-release. Niacin is effective on cholesterol, but niacin supplements have a harmless side effect known as a niacin flush. This is the equivalent to a vitamin hot flash. Although harmless, a niacin flush can be uncomfortable for about a half hour. If the form of niacin that you take is not in a time-release dosage, a niacin flush may ensue. So be wary. Other than that, with any supplement do not exceed the recommended dosage.

If you have questions about the two compounds, do what I did. Start with research on the net, then move to reading clinical abstracts and reports. Just remember the challenge. I challenge you to lower your cholesterol to a healthy level without using a statin drug. Good health and good luck

About The Author

Barrett Niehus is a principal of IP Ware http://www.freetrainer.com and a technical associate of Compound Solutions http://www.compoundsolutions.com in Escondido, California.

---

The Fountain Of Youth

Aging, a steady declineThe History of the world is filled... Read More

Vitamin B-1

Did you know that vitamin B-1 has two other widely... Read More

Natural Tonics for Health and Wellness

I'm a great believer in natural tonics to strengthen or... Read More

Coenzyme Q10 - Learn All the Wonderful Properties of this Vitamin-Like Nutrient

Sometimes I ask myself why this wonderful antioxidant supplement was... Read More

Taste is Everything When Choosing a Protein Bar

As consumers, we are faced daily with choices about what... Read More

Health Benefits of Taking Spirulina Daily - Real Health Part 5

As I mentioned in Part 4 of my Real Health... Read More

The Trillion Dollar Industry

There is a generation called the baby boomers that make... Read More

Grreen Power

It's green, it's valuable, and it can vastly improve your... Read More

Health Benefits of CoQ10 - A Powerful, Important Heart Compound

Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone, but most widely referred... Read More

Vitamin E ? Just the Facts, Ma?am

It is important to understand that we are ultimately responsible... Read More

A Mothers Fish Tale

Sometimes I used to look at my son Shawn and... Read More

Healthy Eating isnt Enough, You Need Supplements, Real Health Part 3

The next step on your road to real health is... Read More

Calcium Supplement - The Importance of Taking One

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body... Read More

Pros And Cons For Vitamin Supplements ? Are They Good Or Bad?

There are a number of pros and cons for vitamin... Read More

Using Antioxidants in Your Weight Loss Program

If you're smart, you should not only be focused on... Read More

The Most Researched Performance Enhancing Nutritional Supplement

Creatine ? The most researched performance enhancing nutritional supplementDoes creatine... Read More

Mangosteen

Rarely has a fruit that has been so unknown to... Read More

Is Vitamin E Lethal?

Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had... Read More

The Science Behind Phytonutrient Rich Soy Based Products

A healthier diet is very much in the news these... Read More

Getting the Most Out of Your Supplements and Yourself

Are you not feeling any results from your nutritional supplements?Here... Read More

Steroid Stars

A long time ago, in the country far, far away,... Read More

What is Rhodiola Rosea?

Rhodiola rosea is available commercially as a supplement and rhodiola... Read More

How Effective are Oral Hyaluronic Acid Supplements?

There is a paradox of sorts when dealing with injections... Read More

I Have a Headache!

Actually, my headache is not the result of just thinking... Read More

Mineral Supplement: Minerals in Your Diet!

The food is the raw material for the body. Minerals... Read More

Glyconutrients - The Next Major Health Breakthrough

Did you know?· 20% of Australian children reported symptoms of... Read More

Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Hair

A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More

The Benefits of Protein Powders

I know protein is good for me, but do I... Read More

Benefits of Bee Pollen Supplementation

Since ancient time bee pollen has been considered as an... Read More

The Vitamin Companies Don?t Want You To Know

Do you ever find yourself asking any or all of... Read More

Megadosing

If you're constantly digging your hand into a jar of... Read More

Phytoestrogen - The Role of Phytoestrogens in Breast Development & Health

What exactly are phytoestrogens, and how can we use them... Read More

The Liquid Vitamin Mineral Supplement

The liquid vitamin mineral supplement is a must have for... Read More