Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Super Foods That Can Help Fight Heart Disease

      Heart disease continues to be the primary cause of death in the United States, according to the C.D.C.  In addition to this, about 12% of the country has been diagnosed with some type of heart disease and more than 600,000 people will lose their lives this year alone from this mostly unnecessary disorder.

One main reason for heart disease is maintaining a high fat diet that clogs the arteries.  Dishes that are rich in saturated fats and have little to no nutrient benefit will only carry you so far. Eventually, the arteries get choked on plaque and your heart is not able to pump blood easily throughout your body. Plaque that builds up along the artery's walls is not simply brushed out like plaque on the teeth. 

A solution to stopping and possibly reversing heart disease is eating a diet that contains unsaturated fats, like essential fatty acids from fish oil, for example.  Plus, your diet ought to include dietary fiber which are available in green leafy vegetables.  This form of fare will support decreasing low density lipids as well.

An excellent way to get your recommended daily serving of vital antioxidants and essential fatty acids is to make a tossed salad by tossing a portion of chopped salmon with walnuts, bell pepper and diced orange segments over a bed of spinach.

Kidney beans is an especially adaptable source of fiber. You can get a day's worth of calcium, potassium and fiber with a small bowl of bean chili by adding a can of Mexican-style diced tomatoes, with a can of drained kidney beans, heat and serve. This dish is low in fat and low in cholesterol.

Eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and you will certainly start your day off right.  Try adding in a handful of nuts and you can give your body an antioxidant boost and the power which will get you out of the house. You should stay away from the instant flavored oatmeal assortments as it has too much sugar and other additives. 

With a healthy, well balanced diet, you too can help fight heart disease and lower your cholesterol.
   

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Your Lifestyle May Affect Your Ability To Maintain Healthy Cholesterols

      It is not uncommon for people to experience high levels of cholesterol in ones bloodstream. However, you do need to take corrective action.  Cholesterol management can help you to avoid many health problems associated with heart disease. The only problem is that many people  do not understand what steps are necessary in order to help reduce these levels. Not realizing there are alternative approaches to reducing cholesterol many people end up with prescription medication from their doctor.

Most of the doctors prescribe statin drugs to help correct the problem. However, these medications have various side effects like blockage of the production of CoQ10. They also have another major side effect referred to as rhabdomyolysis. This is a condition whereby cells burst releasing their contents into the bloodstream causing pain.  When the cellular debris is released into the bloodstream, it is the duty of the kidneys to clean it up. In extreme conditions where the kidneys are overwhelmed, can lead to kidney failure and even death. To avoid complications, most people try to avoid statin drugs and deal with high cholesterol.

Why are they still being prescribed? First, it is important to note that the drugs do reduce cholesterol levels. This can happen even without doing any exercises or changing ones diet. Also, most doctors are more comfortable prescribing medications and may not be as familiar with natural supplements to lower cholesterol. On the other hand, there are physicians that are able to accomplish the same result using natural remedies.

The other major question many ask is whether there is a better solution. Of course there are many methods to manage your cholesterol levels safely and without much cost. If you are already taking statin drugs, you can ask for alternatives or have your liver function monitored closely.

Aside from this, there are different natural foods and herbs you can take to manage your cholesterol. The first one is alfalfa herb which contains saponins in the seeds. This helps block atherosclerotic plaque formation which happens when there is accumulation of cholesterol. The seeds strike the low-density lipoprotein in the blood replacing it with high-density lipoprotein.

Another helpful produce is garlic. Many people know about its medicinal properties. It has been used in treating many diseases over the centuries. Garlic, just like many other vegetables contains a high concentration of organosulfur. It is actually four times that in most other vegetables. This sulfur is very helpful in cholesterol management because it helps increase HDL levels. It also reduces clotting in blood vessels hence one can enjoy good circulation. As you can see, there a number of ways to naturally reduce your cholesterol.  The important thing is to consult with your physician to determine the most effective course of treatment for you.