Sounds like a great way to fight heart disease, right?
Lets take a look at what the article does not tell you about lowering your cholesterol. Because you must understand the effects of artificially lowering your cholesterol levels without implementing other strategies which are crucial to your health.
Because the fact of the matter is the Framingham Heart study - which has followed people for over 5 decades - proved without a doubt that LDL cholesterol is just one of many misleading factors of heart disease.
In fact, LDL cholesterol levels are only a very minor factor of heart disease and only under certain conditions.
Here is a quote from Christie Ballantyne, M.D., a cardiologist from the Baylor College of Medicine The majority of people who end up having heart attacks or stroke dont have high cholesterol.
Here is another quote from an article in the Red Flags Daily By Malcolm Kendrick, M.D. who talks about the Framingham Study results as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
There is a direct association between falling cholesterol levels over the first 14 years and mortality over the following 18 years.
You guessed it, the mortality rate goes UP.
Scientific research has also proved without a doubt that as people lower their LDL cholesterol level, their chances for stroke go up.
Using cholesterol lowering drugs may artificially lower cholesterol levels, however, they will also increase the death rate from stroke. And because of toxicity to the body, you will also face liver and kidney failure.
You see, your body not only produces cholesterol, it also needs cholesterol for a variety of functions. Cholesterol is an essential part of each and every cell membrane.
Cholesterol also provides the critical starting point and building block for the steroid hormones in our bodies. These hormones include testosterone and estrogen.
As you can see, cholesterol itself is not bad. It is the oxidation of cholesterol which is just one of the factors of developing heart disease.
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.
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.
The way to keep oxidation from damaging your cholesterol is to zap them with antioxidants!
You can keep oxidation of cholesterol in check by eating plenty of food and supplements which are rich in anti-oxidants.
A few of the most powerful anti-oxidants are:
CoenzymeQ10
Vitamin E
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
5 Tips To Lower Your Cholesterol Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It s a natural function of the human body. Unfortunately, most people aren t even aware they have high cholesteroluntil they have a heart attack or stroke. It is possible to have up to 80 percent closure of the arteries without ever feeling a single symptom! Here are 5 tips you can usestraight away to start lowering your cholesterol today:
1. Reduce fat in your diet.
Buy the leanest cuts of meat you can find. Regularly substitute poultry (without the skin) and fish for red meat. Both are lower in saturated fat. Switch to low fat co ..
And the mother of all anti-oxidants - Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA).ALA is produced naturally by your body but, as you age, your body produces less and less.
Low cost food sources which you can easily get, which are high in omega 3's and the right fats to help keep your cholesterol levels in balance.
Garlic
Ginger
Olive oil
Olives
Almonds
Walnuts
Flaxseed
Eggplant
Okra
Organic Eggs
Fresh fruit
These are easily purchased, safe, proven and natural ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem.
And if you are someone who truly needs to lower their cholesterol, there is an organic plant alcohol from sugar cane which is one of the most powerful ways to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Its called - Policosanol.
As for the majority of you, focus 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.
Some of the best ways to improve your Good or HDL cholesterol is through:
Exercise.
Vitamin D
Niacin
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with raising HDL cholesterol levels
Stress Dangerously Raises Cholesterol Levels
Stress Is Just As Powerful As Diet In Influencing Cholesterol Levels!!!
You might find that hard to believe but its very true. Let me give you an example:
Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time, and another of accountants during tax season, have shown significant increases in cholesterol levels during stressful events when there was little change in diet.
Interesting isnt it!
Are you caught up in modern day life? Do you have a mix of crazy work deadlines, household responsibilities and family needs -- perhaps car problems or some bills that need urgent ..
Sources:
Framingham Heart Study conducted on healthy people since the 1950s. cholesterol misleading as only one of 240 factors in heart disease.
Health Sciences Institute e-alert Cholesterol Cowboys, August 2nd , 2004, Jenny Thompson
Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men Ignore the hype focus on cholesterol that matters April 4, 2004
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
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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 No cost Report - mailto:report@lc-nutrition.com Discover proven nutrition information visit: http://www.LC-Nutrition.com
leeman@wi.rr.com
Lee CummingsLower Your Cholesterol and Increase Your Chance of Stroke
