Cutting Cholesterol Naturally

"Cutting Cholesterol Naturally"
by Dr. Rita Louise

When most people think of cholesterol, they think of the waxy fat-
like substance that is found in many of the foods we eat. Often
feared, the truth is that cholesterol is needed by the body for a
number of different things. For example it is used in the
manufacture and maintenance of strong cell walls, it is critical for
hormone and vitamin D production, it even is used to coat the nerve
cells in the body.

Cholesterol is found in meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products.
In Fact, our bodies produce cholesterol all by itself, all the
cholesterol we need to live a healthy, happy life. Cholesterol is
produced primarily by the liver, but small amounts of it are also
manufactured by the cells in our bodies. This production of
cholesterol by our bodies is the reason why some individuals, who
consume a low cholesterol diet, still experience high cholesterol
levels.

While elevated cholesterol levels present no signs or symptoms on
their own, elevated levels have been identified as a significant risk
factor in health concerns such as arteriosclerosis and heart disease.
Clinically, doctors recommend that blood cholesterol levels (the
amount of cholesterol circulating in our blood) be no greater than
200mg/dl, with a total level of 180mg/dl being optimal.

Our total cholesterol is broken down into 3 separate components: HDL
(high density lipoproteins), LDL (low density lipoproteins) and VLDL
(very low density lipoproteins). Our HDL cholesterol is known as the
“good” cholesterol. It functions to remove cholesterol from the
blood and blood vessel walls, where it returns it to the liver for
elimination. Our LDL and VLDL cholesterol are considered to be
harmful to the body, because it carries cholesterol into the
bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, it can be deposited on the
artery walls, which promotes arteriosclerosis.

Doctors are not beginning to recognize a relationship between our HDL
and LDL cholesterol and many feel that this ratio may be a better
indicator of our health risk than our total cholesterol numbers. The
goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1.
Regardless of your heart risk ratio, however, individuals who have a
total cholesterol level of over 275mg/dl are still considered at risk
for heart disease, despite high HDL levels.

Recommendations For Wellness

Incorporate a regular exercise program into your daily routine. In
addition to increasing your HDL cholesterol, thus improving your
heart risk ratio, exercise helps strengthen your heart muscle, reduce
your blood pressure and helps you take off a couple of pound.

Try a vegetarian diet. Historically, individuals who consumed a
purely vegetarian diet had lower cholesterol levels.

Reduce or eliminate foods that contain high saturated fats such as
beef, pork, cheese, butter and ice cream. If eating chicken, remove
the skin to additionally reduce your fat intake.

Use olive oil instead of butter. Olive oil can help to reduce LDL
cholesterol from the body.

Eating a diet high in fatty acids such as those found in fish, or
supplementing with Omega 3 oil has been shown to increase HDL
cholesterol and protect the heart against heart disease.

Fiber, fiber, fiber! Eating high fiber foods such as beans, whole
grains, fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower cholesterol
levels. You can also supplement with other forms of soluble fiber
such as glucomannan, psyllium hulls, apple fiber, oat bran, guar gum
and acacia gum.

Guggul lipid is an herb native to India and has been used for a long
time in Ayuvedic medicine to help maintain healthy cholesterol and
triglyceride levels.

Niacin, vitamin B3, has been proven to lower cholesterol levels.
Niacin has been prescribed in higher doses by many doctors to help
lower cholesterol. Niacin, however has a number of side effects
which can include: flushing of the skin (due to dilating blood
vessels), itching, head aches, cramps, nausea and skin eruptions.
Another form of vitamin B3, niacinamide, does not affect cholesterol
levels.

Green tea has also been show to lower total cholesterol levels by
decreasing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL.

Lecithin enables fats, such as cholesterol, to be dispersed in water
and removed from the body. This can help to prevent fatty buildup in
the arteries 

Vitamin C and vitamin E appear to protect LDL cholesterol from
damage. Most cardiologists believe that only damaged LDL increases
the risk of heart disease.

© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2004. All rights reserved.

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Free your mind, body, and spirit naturally at SoulHealer.com. Dr.
Rita Louise, PhD is a Naturopathic Physician and a 20-year veteran in
the Human Potential Field, but it is her unique gift as a medical
intuitive that enlivens her work. So whether it is a physical
problem, an emotional issue, a problem at work or a problem in a
relationship, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. a can help you identify what is
really going on and provide you with straightforward guidance and
advice. Visit her at http://www.soulhealer.com or contact her at
rita@soulhealer.com
972-475-3393

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