High Cholesterol: An Overview
Cholesterol Background Information
High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, occurs in individuals when the level of cholesterol in the blood stream exceeds normal levels.
High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, occurs in individuals when the level of cholesterol in the blood stream exceeds normal levels. High cholesterol is technically a metabolic disorder, and can even be a secondary symptom of a larger, underlying health issue. There is no one cause for high cholesterol, as it can be the result of any of the following: Family History, Diabetes, Kidney Disease, Anorexia, Poor Diet, Hypothyroidism, Obesity, Lack of exercise. There are several ways to treat, or manage high cholesterol, but before we get into those, lets see what the different kinds of cholesterol are:
VLDL - Very Low Density Lipoproteins
Very Low Density Lipoproteins are a precursor to LDLs. They are produced in the liver by combining cholesterol and a protein molecule. VLDLs are associated with atherosclerosis. Their basic function is to carry triglycerides to fatty tissue.
LDL - Low Density Lipoproteins
As VLDLs lose some of their triglycerides, they transition into LDLs, or low density lipoproteins. LDLs are responsible for the transportation of cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the body. LDLs are a perfectly normal, natural state of the lipoproteins. They only cause problems when they bind to other particles and cause plaque build-up in the arteries.
HDL - High Density Lipoproteins
High Density Lipoproteins have a totally different job. Their function is to collect cholesterol and bring it back to the liver for salvage. HDLs are the “good cholesterol†we hear so much about. A higher concentration of HDLs is very important to cardiovascular health.
Total Cholesterol
A rating combining the blood cholesterol levels of both LDLs and HDLs. According to the American Heart Association, total cholesterol levels can be interpreted as follows:
Level mg/dL Interpretation 240 High risk.
While the above table provides some general guidelines for overall cholesterol, it should be noted that one can be within the desirable level, yet have too high a concentration of LDL to HDL. Separate levels of LDLs should be under 100.
Natural Treatment Options
The last few years have shown some interesting developments in health care. More and more people worldwide, are taking their health care into their own hands. This is largely a result of poor performance by doctors, poor performance by pharmaceuticals, or even just the rising cost of getting professional help.
Many of the available medications for treating high cholesterol have deleterious side effects. Some of these are so subtle that they were not picked up in initial testing, and now people are living with severe liver damage, and in some cases permanent muscle damage.
To this end, there are a number of natural ways to remedy high cholesterol. I have discussed these in some of my previous posts, and will add more in the future. For now, I’ll just review some of the natural treatments we’ve looked at:
Policosanol - a natural extract from the wax surrounding sugar cane. It has been proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels, and raising HDL levels.
Guggul - a natural tree resin from northern India that eliminates cholesterol by stimulating production of bile acids (which contain cholesterol).
Niacin - naturally occurring vitamin showing great promise in lowering LDLs and raising HDLs.
Garlic - overall support for the cardiovascular system. While not a panacea, very useful.
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