HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol that helps remove excess bad cholesterol (LDL) from the bloodstream, which in turn reduces the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

There are number of strategies that can be used to improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally.

A low HDL level for men is one that is below 40 mg/dL, and for women a low HDL level is one that is below 50 mg/dL.

The level for women is higher because they produce estrogen which aides in the production of HDL.

Good HDL levels are considered to be above 60 mg/dL, which means that there is an optimal amount of HDL cholesterol for eliminating excess LDL from the bloodstream.

If your HDL level is lower than the recommended level, then there are a number of things you can do to improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally.

One thing that you can do is to try to lose weight. This will achieve a number of different things including a reduction in the level of LDL cholesterol that is present in your body, as well as increase the HDL count.

The other obvious benefit of losing weight is the increased satisfaction and self-confidence that you will have in yourself when you get rid of the extra pounds.

Exercise is another great strategy that can help you increase your HDL levels naturally.

Aerobic exercise when performed on a regular basis for 20 to 30 minutes can help burn excess fat and calories and get the heart rate up in order to increase blood and oxygen flow to the muscles and other organs in the body.

Another strategy that can help improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally is to eliminate foods that contain trans fat, saturated fats, and other harmful substances that can increase LDL cholesterol and reduce HDL cholesterol levels.

When foods that contain these types of substances are eliminated from your diet, HDL levels are improved.

To ensure success, consider adding natural supplements to your diet. They are extremely successful at raising HDL levels while lowering LDL.

Stopping the bad habit of smoking is also a great way to improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally.

Not only does quitting smoking help improve HDL counts, but it eliminates the many other health risks that are associated with smoking.

An overall reduction in alcohol is another valuable strategy that can help improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally.

It is recommended that men consume no more than one or two drinks per day, and women consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day.

If you are ready to improve HDL cholesterol levels naturally as well as lower LDL levels thus improving your heart health, then visit my website today for quality information to guide you to success.

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: http://www.curing-cholesterol.com/

View the original article here

In the United States alone, many deaths are associated with some type of cardiovascular problem. The number of people who die of a heart attack each year is actually quite scary (approx. 250,000 US citizens). The statistics around the world are equally as daunting.

As a result, health authorities are continually emphasizing the importance of learning more about cardiovascular health and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

Being able to identify the various symptoms associated with a cardiovascular problem is paramount to ensure you seek medical attention quickly.

Cardiovascular disease symptoms you need to be aware of include:

* fatigue
* chest pain
* edema or swelling of the ankles
* short of breath
* sweating excessively
* nausea
* dizziness
* excessive urination
* numbness which is often felt in the extremities

All of the above symptoms are the result of clogged or blocked arteries.

Many experts support the theory that at least seventy percent of the arteries in the body would need to be blocked before these symptoms would become recognizable.

However, you should not wait for this to happen. You should start taking preventative measure to keep your arteries as clear as possible.

If any of these symptoms become noticeable, you should take it a warning sign that you may have a cardiovascular problem.

For some who develop an underlying cardiovascular disease and are taking certain medications, their condition may worsen.

The reason being, some medications can actually result in sodium retention or a decreased ability for the heart to pump effectively.

Ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of such medications that you need to be aware of.

Therefore consult your doctor, and find out all the information you can about any medications that are prescribed to you in the treatment of any cardiovascular problem.

With regard to the pumping power of the heart, many people, particularly senior citizens, are at risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

This is due to the fact that people aged 65 years and older are more prone to arterial blockage because of high cholesterol. Of course, another factor worth noting is that as the body ages, so does the heart.

The good news is though, irrespective of what age you are, you can protect yourself against developing cardiovascular problems by treating the primary risk factor - cholesterol.

You need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and follow a heart healthy diet. Avoid or limit animal products, full fat dairy products, fast food, processed food and pre-packaged food as these are high in saturated fats and trans fats, and will cause your bad cholesterol levels to increase.

Exercise regularly, quit cigarette smoking, manage your blood pressure and take natural supplements, all of which will lower cholesterol and improve your cardiovascular health.

This will prevent a cardiovascular problem from developing, giving you excellent protection against heart disease.

If you are ready to protect yourself against developing a cardiovascular problem and ultimately heart disease, then visit my website today for quality information to guide you to success.

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: http://www.curing-cholesterol.com/

View the original article here

When it comes to your heart health, staying alert and being proactive is essential. Heart disease is a leading cause of death the world over resulting in more and more people trying to find ways to improve their cardiovascular. One such way is to unblock arteries and restore natural blood flow.

Coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease, affects more than 14 million people in the US alone, with similar worrying statistics in other countries around the world.

For some, developing heart disease can prove fatal.

For others, they face the possibility of undergoing bypass surgery to increase blood flow to the heart muscle tissue.

The good news is, your can avoid both of the above scenarios, by following some simple guidelines to unblock arteries and keep them free from clogging.

First, it is important to understand the role arteries play, and how important it is to keep them free from blockage.

Arteries are the vessels that carry blood and oxygen from your heart to the rest of your body.

When arteries are clogged with plaque, their ability to deliver blood and oxygen to the body suffers.

Although partially clogged arteries may still manage to deliver enough blood and oxygen to the body while at rest, during exercise or strenuous movement the blood flow to the muscles may be limited by the presence of plaque.

As plaque continues to build up inside the arterial walls, the arteries harden and narrow, and blockages begin to develop in the arteries connected to the brain and heart.

When this happens, the unfortunate outcome is often a stroke or a heart attack.

This shows the importance of knowing how to unblock arteries and keep them free from plaque.

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries will occur when there are too many cholesterol deposits in the inner walls of the arteries.

The development of cholesterol deposits combined with fibrous tissues, calcium, and dead cells, can result in an arterial blockage if left untreated.

So how can you unblock arteries and keep them free from clogging or becoming blocked?

There are specific risk factors that contribute to the development of plaque, and subsequent hardening and narrowing of the arteries, such as:

* smoking
* high cholesterol
* diabetes
* being overweight
* high blood pressure
* inactive lifestyle
* excessive alcohol intake

It is important to review your current lifestyle and make any changes necessary to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

If you are a smoker, consider quitting.

Review your diet and ensure you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts and seed.

These will provide you with soluble fibre and Omega 3, which will help lower cholesterol naturally.

Get plenty of exercise as often as you can, but preferably a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day for 5 days.

This will boost your HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL levels.

Compliment the above with natural supplements to ensure you unblock arteries successfully. Choosing a high quality natural supplement with the right ingredients will produce significant results.

Always ensure that any supplement you choose has purely naturally ingredients and are sourced from a reputable or recommended company.

Look after your arteries and your heart health so that you have the freedom and peace of mind to enjoy many healthy years with your family and loved ones.

If you are ready to unblock arteries and significantly improve your heart health, then visit my website today for quality information to guide you to success.

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: http://www.curing-cholesterol.com/

View the original article here