What is Cholesterol
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What is cholesterol ?
Cholesterol is fat produced by the liver. Foods like fatty meats, egg yolks, shellfish, and whole-milk diary products are high in saturated fat and therefore high in cholesterol. An over abundance of cholesterol in the blood can cause thick hard deposits, plaque, to build up in the arteries which makes it difficult for the the blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to the body. A lack of oxygenated blood reaching the heart causes chest pain, angina. A heart attack happens when the blood is completely cut off from the heart, this often happens when a blood clot gets stuck because the arteries are too small due to plaque build up.
Factors
An unhealthy diet high in
Say Goodbye to High Triglycerides Today
The Truth About High Triglycerides.
What are High Triglycerides
The focus on good health and a proper diet is paramount for anyone who wants to live a healthier and productive lifestyle, but one issue many not are aware of is the danger of having high triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat that is found in the blood and is used by the body for building energy. Like most fats, they are necessary for good overall health, but an overabundance of them can cause serious problems and damage to the heart. There are no symptoms when one has this issue, which makes it even more of a dangerous problem because the high levels usually are not detected until it is
What Is A Balanced Diet?
How many times when someone visiting a doctor has asked the doctor:
“Doctor, what do I have to do to keep myself fit and healthy?”
The doctor would typically respond with the following:
“Exercise frequently; drink your 8 glasses of water and have a well balanced diet.”
That will be what most doctors would say, aren’t they? But what is a balanced diet? How do you define exercising continually?
Didn’t you know that it’s just about close to not possible to follow the food pyramid? How many apples, bananas or lettuces that you’ve got to eat to get the required quantity of the fiber intake?
I don’t know about you but I admit that it is almost impossible for me
What is LDL and HDL
LDL, Low density lipoprotein
LDL is most commonly known as the bad cholesterol. A LDL particle has an outer rim of lipoprotein with the fat in the middle, lipoprotein is actually a protein that acts as transportation to LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Each type of lipoprotein is transportation specific to a particular type of cholesterol fat LDL cholesterol is so called because LDL particles are less dense than other cholesterol particles. Some LDL cholesterol is needed in the body as it transports it’s essential fat to support the cell membranes. Excess LDL cholesterol particles attach to artery walls. White bloods cells see this as being potentially harmful to the arteries and attack. This attack causes the then harmless LDL cholesterol
Lower Cholesterol without Medication
Diet
A healthy diet high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and low in saturated fats can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels while at the same time helping to raise your HDL cholesterol levels. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol diet has many other health benefits as well. Fiber helps to remove cholesterol deposits, food high in fiber does not mean you have to eat food that taste like cardboard. Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts are all high in fiber. Replace a snack of greasy potato chips with a serving of nuts everyday and lower you cholesterol by 5%. Citrus fruits, avocado, and grapes are high in fiber. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are multiple, just about any ailment of the
Medications to Lower Cholesterol
Statins
There is a specific enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol. Statin drugs work by blocking that enzyme. Different brand names of statin drugs vary in their efficacy. Side effects vary from individual to individual and are achy head , upset stomach, vomiting, bowel issues, skin irritation, loss of strength, and pain in the muscles. Statins cannot be used during pregnancy they could seriously effect the fetus. Dangerous but rare side effects are liver failure, loss of cells of the muscles, and kidney failure. Dangerous side effects are usually caused by combining statins with other incompatible drugs.
Niacin
Niacin is a B vitamin, B3, niacin can be found as an over-the-counter supplement but the discussion here would be niacin
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