Lower Cholesterol Will Help Reduce Heart Disease Risk
This article discusses the risks involved with having a high cholesterol level. It discusses how lower cholesterol will improve significantly your risk of heart disease.
Do you personally need a lower cholesterol reading to help reduce heart disease risk? If you do not know the answer, then it is highly important that you consult your doctor to have tests taken. There are multiple risks involved, if untreated.
Many people do not realize that high cholesterol plays a role in increasing the chance of developing heart disease. Paying attention to having a lower cholesterol reading is important.
Cholesterol is not all bad as it is an essential building block for new cells; it produces hormones in the body and it serves as insulation for nerves. Cholesterol comes from two sources – it is produced by the liver and also comes from food sources that are animal based, examples being eggs, meat and milk. A certain amount of cholesterol is necessary but when it gets to be too much, it constitutes a high risk factor for heart disease. At that point, achieving a lower cholesterol reading is extremely important.
High cholesterol is a widespread problem. When there is too much cholesterol circulating in the blood it ends up building up in the artery walls and if this problem is left unchecked then atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries) takes place. The arteries do not really harden but they instead narrow and cause blood flow to and from the muscle of the heart to become blocked or slowed down tremendously. Blood carries oxygen back and forth to the heart and a narrowing of the walls of the arteries makes it difficult for the sufficient passage of blood and oxygen to take place. Chest discomfort and pain is often noted when atherosclerosis is taking place. When the supply of blood is totally cut off to any areas of the heart, the consequence of this is a heart attack.
There are basically two different kinds of cholesterol. There is the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is often commonly called in laymans terms, “bad” cholesterol and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is the “good” cholesterol. The letters correspond with how the cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream and delineate the amount of proteins and cholesterol. For example, LDL has a great deal of cholesterol but a minimum of protein whereas HDL has lower cholesterol (minimal) and a tremendous amount of protein. It is LDL cholesterol that is responsible for causing plaque to clog the arteries whereas the HDL or good cholesterol helps get rid of the bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. Another type of fat that is found in the bloodstream is triglyceride. More and more research is being done into triglycerides all of the time and they have been found in high amounts to be connected with the development of heart disease.
High cholesterol in and of itself does not produce any symptoms therefore it is essential to have your cholesterol levels checked through a simple blood test in order to determine what your HDL and LDL levels are. It is recommended by the medical community that every individual over the age of 20 years should have their cholesterol levels checks at least once in a five-year period. The blood analysis that is used to determine cholesterol levels is known as a lipoprotein profile. Four measurements will be taken on a cholesterol test and these include the total cholesterol level, the LDL “bad” cholesterol, the HDL “good” cholesterol and the triglycerides.
A person whose total cholesterol is less than 200 (lower cholesterol) is at a desirable rate; total cholesterol that is 200 to 239 is borderline high and 240 and over is high. LDL cholesterol that is less than 100 is optimal, while 100 to 129 is near optimal or above optimal and with HDL, the higher the number, the better it is. HDL cholesterol that measures 60 or more is at a desirable rate while less than 400 considered a major risk factor. Triglycerides that are less than 150 are at a normal or desirable rate while 150 to 199 is borderline high and 200 or more is high and may necessitate the need for medication in some individuals.
Verlyn Ross
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/lower-cholesterol-will-help-reduce-heart-disease-risk-89196.html
Low sodium, low saturated fat, low cholesterol recipes?
My mother had a heart attack and subsequent triple bypass surgery in October. As a result, my family is on a rather strict diet. We need recipes with low sodium, very low saturated fat and low cholesterol. We are getting rather tired of our regular menu. Anyone have any suggestions? We’d love some cold recipes to avoid cooking in this heat, too. Please include nutrition facts, if you have them.
They have a lot of recipes on the American Heart Association website. Check that out for ideas. Also check out Cooking Light’s website. Fortunately, fresh fruits and vegetables are coming to market now which makes things easier. Think about low fat cottage cheese with fruits and maybe a muffin during the hot weather.
Bill Clinton became a vegan, lost 24 pounds, healing himself by not ingesting any cholesterol.
Former US President Bill Clinton recently confirmed that he is indeed eating a mainly vegan diet. In the interview, the former president explains the reason behind his decision to go vegan.
“I’m trying to be one of those experimenters,” said Clinton. “Since 1986, several hundred people who have tried essentially a plant-based diet, not ingesting any cholesterol from any source, has seen their bodies start to heal themselves — break up the arterial blockage, break up the calcium deposits around the heart. 82 percent of the people who have done this have had this result, so I want to see if I can be one of them.”
Clinton decided to adopt the diet in the early part of May 2010. While he does occasionally eat fish, the former president otherwise follows a strict vegan diet.
What made him go vegan? Clinton has read many books on the topic, including books by T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Dean Ornish. Although losing weight was a benefit of the dietary change, the choice to go vegan was about more than just losing weight.
With time, Clinton could become the most outspoken proponent of a complete vegan diet.”
Duration : 0:2:29
Tips for Managing Cholesterol : Low Cholesterol Butter Substitutes
Learn how to use lower cholesterol butter substitutes in this free health and fitness video.
Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell
Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a British born educated bilingual Asian with a British accent and can speak Cantonese.
Filmmaker: Nili Nathan
Duration : 0:2:17
Diet Tips : Lower Cholesterol by Eating
Lower cholesterol levels by eating herbs such as cilantro, and other super greens that help lower cholesterol production in the liver. Lose weight quickly and easily with these weight loss tips from an experienced dietitian in this free video on health and eating.
Expert: Rachael Richardson
Contact: www.nutrolution.com
Bio: Rachael Richardson is a registered dietitian and a Florida licensed nutritionist. Richardson has earned degrees from the University of North Florida and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Filmmaker: Paul Muller
Duration : 0:1:22
Diet & Nutrition : How to Reduce Your Cholesterol
Reduce cholesterol by avoiding red meat, high-fat dairy and egg yolks, and eating whole grains that will lower cholesterol levels. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day to reduce cholesterol with help from a registered nutritionist in this free video on healthy diets.
Expert: Nicole Gaitan
Contact: www.nicolegaitan.com
Bio: Nicole Gaitan has been certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer and has received certification in sports nutrition.
Filmmaker: Bing Hu
Duration : 0:1:29
Chinese Teas May Help Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
For thousands of years the Chinese have claimed many health benefits can be gained from drinking teas. In fact, many international, Canadian and U.S. based tea drinkers agree that Chinese teas should be the beverage of choice.
In fact, during a recent survey conducted by the Canadian Tea Council, over 40% of Canadians agreed that they drank tea for its “health benefits” and others stated that it “tasted great, had no calories or fat and can help you take better care of yourself.”
Only in recent years has the medical community jumped on the Chinese tea bandwagon. Now, researchers are conducting numerous studies on the viability of Chinese tea extracts in the treatment and prevention of many diseases and conditions. The most common types of Chinese teas are:
Green tea
Red tea
White tea
Black tea
Oolong tea
Pu-erh tea
Flower tea
Yellow tea
Pressed tea
Iron Buddha
Kudin tea
However, of these eleven types, scientists seem most concerned with learning about green, red, white, and black tea. Here’s a little background about these teas:
Each of them come from the same plant Camellia sinensis but are merely picked at different stages of development and fermented or oxidized for different periods of time.
The differences in oxidation and development allow for more or less of a certain kind of antioxidants in them often called catechins. Antioxidants have been shown to help protect the body from all kinds of damage.
Lucky for us, some of the claimed benefits look like they really exist. For instance, Chinese teas may help lower and maintain your cholesterol levels.
A recent study looked at the possibility that the antioxidants in Chinese teas, specifically called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could affect diet induced Hypercholesterolemia in rats.
Hypercholesterolemia is high levels of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood. This in of itself isn’t a disease but it can cause heart diseases, such as Atherosclerosis or ‘hardening of the arteries.’
In the study, laboratory rats were divided into four groups. These groups were all given a diet high in cholesterol and fat along with no EGCG, 0.2 grams EGCG, 0.4 grams EGCG and 0.7 grams EGCG per group on a daily basis.
The rats were given the same diet for four weeks. After this time it was found that the levels of bad cholesterol in the rats given 0.7 grams EGCG was significantly reduced compared to the levels of bad cholesterol in the control group of rats given no EGCG at all.
In addition, the rats were given a sample liquid meal high in cholesterol and it was observed that cholesterol absorption in the intestines in the group of rats given the most EGCG was significantly reduced (62.7%) compared to the control group with no EGCG (79.3%).
In essence, the study demonstrated that the cholesterol in the food the EGCG rats were given wasn’t being absorbed into their bodies as readily it normally would be, thus preventing it from getting into the bloodstream.
Researchers speculated that the EGCG interfered with the solubility of the cholesterol in the digestive tract so that it couldn’t be absorbed.
Another study of laboratory rats had similar results. This study used the extracts from Green tea, Jasmine, Iron Buddha, Oolong and Pu-erh teas in examining their effects on hypercholesterolemia in rats.
Jasmine tea is made from a mixture of Jasmine flowers and Oolong or black tea leaves. Oolong tea is fermented or oxidized to a level between green tea and black tea in taste.
Pu-erh is a tea made from tea leaves that are fermented and then aged for as many as 50 years. Iron Buddha tea is an Oolong tea noted for a particularly fine flavor.
This group of rats was given a high cholesterol diet for one week before receiving the different tea extracts in their respective groups along with a continued high cholesterol diet for eight weeks.
All the teas were found to lower the atherogenic index and increase the total ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ cholesterol ratio in the rats.
The green tea and the Jasmine tea extracts contained higher levels of EGCG than the other extracts and it was found that they had significantly lowered the cholesterol levels in the rats compared to the other tea extracts.
The teas also worked to reduce the average increase in liver size of the rats due to lipid disposition while they were on their high cholesterol diets.
Marcus Stout
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/chinese-teas-may-help-lower-your-cholesterol-levels-104506.html
How can I cook in micro oven.I want some recipes which are low in cholesterol&less in calories.?
Iam 53,having suger,cholestorel & MY URIC ACID also a bit high. My height is 6" & weight is 76kg.
Cashew Chicken (Microwave)
This can be doubled – just adjust cooking time.
4 servings 25 min 10 min prep
2 chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon gingerroot, freshly grated
3 tablespoons oil
2 minced garlic cloves
2 tablespoons sherry wine
1 cup fresh snow peas
1/2 cup cashews
Microwave oil on high for 3 minutes in a 2 or 3 qt microwavable dish.
Mix raw chicken chunks, soy sauce, cornstarch, ginger, garlic and sherry in separate bowl to marinate flavors.
After oil is hot, add the chicken to the oil.
Cover with saran wrap and microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes.
Add peapods and cashews.
Microwave for 2-3 more minutes.
Serve over rice.
Calories 373
Calories from Fat 224 (59%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 24.9g 38%
Saturated Fat 4.8g 24%
Polyunsat. Fat 8.4g
Monounsat. Fat 10.3g
Trans Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 46mg 15%
Sodium 661mg 27%
Potassium 350mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 12.5g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1.1g 4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 19.3g 38%
Vitamin A 231mcg 4%
Vitamin B6 0.5mg 25%
Vitamin B12 0.2mcg 4%
Vitamin C 9mg 16%
Vitamin E 2mcg 8%
Calcium 30mg 3%
Magnesium 74mg 18%
Iron 2mg 12%
Alcohol 3.8g Caffeine 0.0mg
Barbecued Chicken
Yield: 8 Servings
2 1/2 lb cut up broiler fryer
1 cup catsup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
2 dashes red pepper sauce
Cut chicken into pieces; cut each breast half into halves. Arrange
chicken skin sides up and thickest parts to outside in oblong baking
dish, 12 x 7 1/2 x 2-inches. Mix remaining ingredients in 4-cup
glass measure. Microwave uncovered on high (100%) 3 minutes; stir.
Microwave until mixture boils and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour
sauce over chicken. Cover loosely and microwave on high (100%) 10
minutes. Rearrange chicken and baste with sauce. Cover loosely
and microwave until chicken is done, 10 to 15 minutes, basting with
sauce every 5 minutes.
Micromagic Lasagna
6 servings 55 min 15 min prep
1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (26 ounce) jar mushroom and green pepper flavor spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
6 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2/3 cup parmesan cheese
Fry the sausage and drain off all the fat and rinse under hot water. Drain on paper towels.
Stir together the sausage, spaghetti sauce, basil, and pepper in a large bowl.
Spread one third the sausage mixture in the bottom of a lightly greased 11×7 microwave safe dish. Top with three noodles, 1 cup ricotta cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layer with the remaining ingredients. Top evenly with remaining sausage and grated Parmesean cheese.
Cover with a double thickness of plastic wrap. Microwave on medium power for 30 minutes.
Using an oven mit, carefull lift one corner of the plastic wrap to allow steam to escape. Let stand in the microwave for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Calories 563
Calories from Fat 385 (68%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 42.8g 65%
Saturated Fat 20.9g 104%
Polyunsat. Fat 3.2g
Monounsat. Fat 15.4g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 124mg 41%
Sodium 1386mg 57%
Potassium 364mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 7.2g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0.2g 0%
Sugars 1.4g
Protein 36.3g 72%
Vitamin A 702mcg 14%
Vitamin B6 0.3mg 15%
Vitamin B12 2.4mcg 39%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Vitamin E 0mcg 2%
Calcium 500mg 50%
Magnesium 35mg 8%
Iron 1mg 9%
Alcohol 0.0g Caffeine 0.0mg
Nutrition & Healthy Eating : Foods That Lower Cholesterol
Foods that lower cholesterol are those that contain good cholesterol, known as HDL, which carries the bad cholesterol away from the heart and through the liver. Find foods that raise the good cholesterol in the body with health information from a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist in this free video on healthy eating.
Duration : 0:1:23
How to degrease liquids and pan drippings