New – Cholestria. When combined with a healthy diet and an increased level of activity, Cholestria can help the body:
- Reduce your total cholesterol
- Lower your (bad) cholesterol
- Help to reduce triglycerides
- Increase the good HDL
- Reduce the risk of heart disease
- Help promotes overall cardiovascular health
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When it comes to our health, its important, that our cholesterol levels are at the recommended levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 17% of Americans have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. This doesn’t even count those who might have it, but don’t get it checked. But what does this mean? Most people are a little unclear about what this is.
What is Cholesterol?
Think of it in these terms. Its a waxy like substance made by the liver and essential to the production of bile, vitamin D and hormones. It is also important to maintain cell density in the body. The blood carries cholesterol through the body using lipoproteins. The type of lipoprotein being carried will tell you what kind of cholesterol is being transported through the body. This is where good and bad kind comes into play.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the good stuff in our body. It actually counteracts the bad LDL , by absorbing it and excess fat.
The bad cholesterol is called Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). When LDL has high levels, it deposits bits of wax on artery walls. The wax builds up and forms plaque, which hardens and becomes a danger to the artery, as it could eventually cause a blockage.
What is a healthy level?
When it comes to healthy levels of HDL, your doctor or health care professional will look at the ratios of the HDL versus the LDL, to determine how healthy your levels are. A healthy level of cholesterol, should be above 40 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood) and a healthy level of LDL is below 100 mg/dl. A dangerous level of HDL is anything below 37 mg/dl and, conversely, the dangerous levels of HDL starts at anything above 130 mg/dl. To determine the ratio, the LDL is divided by the HDL and this then determines if you have enough HDL levels to offset the LDL levels. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) the optimum ratio is 3.5:1. If you can’t quite achieve this, then you should aim to keep it below 5.1:1 to stay at a healthy level.
With a little more knowledge about what it is and what the healthy levels are, you are now in a position to keep a close watch over it. It is a good indication of health, when you have an unhealthy ratio with a high levels of Low Density Lipoproteins. This can lead to heart disease, strokes, blocked arteries, high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm. The longer you go with high levels of LDL the more you increase your chance for one of these things to happen to you.
If you do find that you have high levels of LDL, there are a number of options to reduce this level of cholesterol. You will need to invest some time to educate yourself and take some easy and simple steps as follows.
- Watch what you eat. Stay away from fried foods, processed foods, foods high in saturated fat and too much alcohol. This will only increase those levels of bad cholesterol.
- Do your own research as well, to find out, what diet is right for you. Most will recommend foods rich in fiber (which absorbs LDL during digestion), fish (omega 3 fatty acids) and good fats like avocados, olive oil and nuts.
- Any type of exercise. A healthy exercise program will stimulate the thyroid, which has been shown to have an effect on your levels. It is also recommended that you get your thyroid checked if you have high LDL.
- There are medications you can take if absolutely necessary, but it should not be the only tool you use to manage your cholesterol.
- Quit smoking. Smoking raises LDL levels.
- Take a good multivitamin to cover any vitamins and minerals you may not be getting in your diet.
- Minimize stress. Stress raises blood pressure, tightens arteries, reduces blood flow to the heart and elevates your heart rate.
Knowing about levels and how to manage it can be the key to a healthy life. If you have been diagnosed with high levels, do your research and start up a comprehensive program to keep it in check, including seeing your health care provider.