Cholesterol And How You Can Control It

Its not enough that your cheeks are chubby and your waist is just a tad wide. Now your doctor says your blood is to fat. Well that's not exactly what he said but it might as well have been. Because when your cholesterol levels are to high , you've got a mushy , yellow fat -related substance circulating in your blood stream. If the excess builds up on artery walls , it can clog your arteries and restrict blood flow, possibly leading to a heart attack , stroke or angina pain. And you don't need a medical degree to know that's not good for you. Not unless you have the desire to take a really long dirt nap.

Funny thing is , cholesterol isn't all bad. Your body naturally produces it and it does perform some pretty vital jobs inside of your body. It helps to build new cells , produces hormones and insulates nerves. Only when you have too much you have a problem.

  Unfortunately there is a whole lot of confusion surrounding Cholesterol. And its no wonder with similar terms like dietary cholestrol , serum cholesterol, HDL Cholestrol, and LDL Cholesterol being talked about. You will most likely have trouble telling the good from the bad. Here is the explanation.

Dietary Cholesterolis whats contained in food. Most of this is from Animal Origins. One egg for example has 275 milligrams where as a apple has none. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your daily intake to 300 milligrams.

Serum Cholesterolis what is in your blood stream and what your doctor measures with a cholesterol test. A reading under 200 is the type of reading you want.

HDl or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a sub division of serum cholesterol that is considered good for its artery-scouring ability. The higher your levels of HDL the better off you are.

LDL oe low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is HDL's artery clogging evil twin. The lower your levels the better off you are.

Now here is how the experts say you can lower your serum cholesterol levels.

Supplements that Counter Cholesterol

Can nutritional supplements lower cholesterol? Most researchers now seem to think so. Here's a run down on the supplements that have shown the most promise.

Niacin

Large doses of niacin may lower both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Its best to start off with low doses say 100 milligrams a day. Then gradually increase over a period if several weeks to 1-2 grans three times a day for a total of 3-6 grams daily.

be aware that sudden drastic increases in niacin can produce severe overall flushing , intestinal disorders , and sometimes abnormal liver activity .

Fruits or Vegetables with Niacin are.

A. Cantaloupe

B. Kiwi Fruit

C. Mango

D. Peaches

E. Tomato

F. Watermelon

Vitamin C

It has been proven that Vitamin C increases the levels of protective HDL Cholesterol. Orange Juice , Oranges and Bell Peppers are excellent sources of Vitamin C. One interesting fact is that Bell Peppers have more Vitamin C than Oranges.

Vitamin E , Vitamin E is known to increase the good HDL Cholesterol.

Fruits and Vegetables with lots of Vitamin E are.

A. Apples , remember a apple a day keeps the doctor away.

B. Banana's

C. Kiwi Fruit

D. Mango

Calcium

If your taking calcium supplements for the sake of your bones you may be doing your heart a favor to.

Apple Cider Vinegar with Honey

Add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar , and 1 teaspoon of pure honey to 1 8 oz. glass of water three times a day. Watch your Cholesterol levels and it will go down in a few weeks time.

If you want to try to naturally help your Cholesterol increase your fruit intake with as many of the above fruits as possible. Cut back on fried foods. Have your chicken and fish broiled or boiled instead of fried. Add leafy green vegetables to your diet if they are not already there. Do you know that if you switch to all diet soft drinks and you were drinking 2 soft-drinks a say that you will lose 10 pound in one year.

The Alternative Route To Lower Cholesterol

Tea or more precisely the tannins in it are known to help to control cholesterol. And the best thing you can do to really help yourself is to learn to drink your iced tea unsweetened.

Lemongrass Oil A common flavoring in oriental cooking , lemongrass oil lowers cholesterol.

Spirulina A protein rich form of algae often sold in powdered or tablet form.

Barley Long considered a healthful high-fiber grain , barley may have the same cholesterol-lowering potential as oats.

Oatmeal is the wonder drug when it comes to Cholesterol. Buy you a box of Quaker Old Fashioned Oatmeal and read on the box what it can do for your cholesterol problems.