Three factors that will affect your cholesterol and your health

Cholesterol is as much a part of life as breathing itself. Our bodies make cholesterol in order to keep the entire system working. What most people aren't aware of is that not only are there two types of cholesterol, but there are various factors that dictate the amount of good and bad cholesterol in our body. These levels of good cholesterol, (HDL) and bad cholesterol, (LDL) are influenced by external factors that have a big impact on our ability to stay healthy and avoid disease.

Heredity and the cholesterol puzzle

Let's face it; there isn't much a person can do about the genes in their family. Like the saying goes, "you can choose your friends, but not your family". Unfortunately, with the family part, that includes your genes. It also means the propensity toward elevated levels of low density lipoprotein or (LDL) cholesterol. Because of genetic pre-disposition, many people struggle with this problem from a young age. The liver is also a contributor to high levels of (LDL). The liver works while we sleep and creates bad cholesterol into the blood stream. According to research, stress is a contributor to your livers production of bad cholesterol.

What can I do to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol?

Exercise has been proven to help to reduce high levels of bad cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, moderate exercise on a daily basis can reduce (LDL) by burning up calories. Here is the best part; moderate exercise is defined as an activity lasting up to twenty minutes a day that stimulates the cardio vascular system by increasing heart rate. Translated, this can be something as simple as a twenty to thirty minute walk with the dog. Not only are you supplementing good heart health by exercising the heart muscle, but exercise also helps foster higher levels of (HDL) known as high density lipoprotein. Our bodies need levels above 40mg/dl of (HDL) to counteract the bad cholesterol in our arteries. This good cholesterol actually helps remove particulates of bad cholesterol from the walls of the arteries.

The third factor to watch for is diet

This third factor relating to healthy cholesterol levels has to do with the foods we consume. More evidence is emerging from clinical studies that show the efficacy of Omega 3 fish oil in contributing to fighting bad cholesterol. Omega 3 comes in various forms but the fatty acids found in cold water fish contain high concentrations of EPA and DHA. These fatty acids, according to the American Heart Association, have shown the ability to increase the good cholesterol by up to eight percent over a period of a few months. In addition to increasing your intake of Omega 3, a heart healthy diet includes eating less red meat, dialing back on the animal fats in general and eating more fruit, nuts, and more green vegetables. The Greek diet is one that has shown to be the most heart healthy. The Mediterranean diet includes lots of leafy green vegetables, lintels, beans and plenty oily fish dishes.

Why is Omega 3 so helpful to any diet?

The fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid have been clinically proven to fight inflammation in the body as well as flush the coronary arteries through the benefit of elevating (HDL). Cholesterol management has an inverse relationship, in that as the good cholesterol rises, the bad cholesterol diminishes in most cases. Omega 3 is credited with delivering heart healthy benefits to native Eskimos as well as other populations around the globe that have a regular intake of cold water fish in their diets. For those that don't care for sea food per se, quality fish oil gels are available in most health food stores and pharmacies. One thing to always look for however is the level of the EPA and DHA included. The best fish oil products will always contain high levels of these essential fatty acids.

Now that you know the facts about Omega 3 fish oil, you can augment your regimen of eating healthy, while using moderate exercise on a regular basis to ensure a more healthy cholesterol level, and a healthier heart. Here's to your good health.

Jim Morham is a vocal advocate for healthy living and products that promote good health. Due to personal needs, Jim strives to find the very best quality products that aid good health, in order to share them with others. Visit his site at http://purest-omega-3.com/

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So many people are prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications to lower their cholesterol and decrease their risk of heart disease. But who really wants to take drugs that can cause different side effects if you can avoid it, right? Natural methods to reduce cholesterol are still the best and safest way to get those numbers down.

You probably already know about some of the methods you can apply, such as exercise, diet modification and weight loss. Well, let's look at some not so common natural ways to lower cholesterol that you may not have heard of before.

1. Red Wine

Though not exactly conclusive yet, many people have touted the benefits of red wine in lowering the risk of heart disease. It seems that this potent drink has been shown to increase HDL (good cholesterol) level and stop the formation of LDL (bad cholesterol).

There are also some studies that red wine may help reduce damage to the body's blood vessels, and help prevent the formation of blood clots. In fact, people from the Mediterranean region who drank red wine routinely seem to have lower rates of heart problems.

Grape skins and seeds contain Resveratrol and Flavonoids, which are antioxidants that have a lot of health benefits. So drinking red wine may be one of the natural methods to reduce cholesterol you should try. But remember to always drink in moderation - the American Heart Association recommends a maximum of one to two glasses of alcoholic beverages in a day.

2. Orange juice

Studies have shown that drinking a glass or two of orange juice at breakfast daily can help get those numbers down. It seems Vitamin C helps in the elimination of cholesterol from the blood, as it aids in the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, which are then excreted from the body. There have been studies that the orange juice has been able to lower LDL and total cholesterol levels by more than 10 percent, but drinking regular juice did not.

Of course, remember to use fresh oranges or other fresh orange juice options, not those artificially flavored juices out there.

3. Black Tea

There have been ongoing studies that drinking three to five cups of black tea a day can help lower cholesterol levels. It is rich in antioxidants that can help strengthen your blood vessels and prevent the occurrence of heart disease.

The problem with black tea, however, is the fact that it contains around 4% caffeine, so it can be rather addictive and too much of it can cause side effects due to caffeine overload, such as headache, nervousness and dizziness. So if you want to try this natural method to lower cholesterol, make sure to stop at five cups a day and remember to drink water as well.

So there you have it - three not so common natural methods to reduce cholesterol. You may be interested in trying out these techniques to get those cholesterol numbers down and keep your heart healthy.

To learn more effective natural methods to reduce cholesterol, don't forget to visit http://www.lowercholesterolbydiet.com/. And make sure to sign up for our mini course so you can easily get started on getting your numbers down.

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If you are one of the millions of people who are told by your doctor that your cholesterol is too high, you are faced with a tough decision. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe a medication to reduce you level of bad cholesterol.

What if you are one of many who prefer not to take medication? There is good news for you as well. Natural ways to lower cholesterol are available, and they just may do the trick for you.

Step one

One fast common sense way to fight high cholesterol is to drink lots of water. By drinking up to eight glasses of water per day, several good things happen for your body. First, by keeping your body hydrated with non sugar based fluids, you are cleansing your system, including your heart, kidneys, and especially your liver.

The process is two-fold; first, your liver actually processes cholesterol and assigns the good cholesterol to the areas of the body that need it, and dumps out the bad cholesterol. By cleansing your liver with refreshing water, you help it to perform at optimum levels.

A second reason for replacing soda, or caffeine drinks is that these drinks actually contribute to increased levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol. Sugar and cream add to potential weight gain which results in increased cholesterol. By adopting a water regimen on a daily basis you are employing one of the natural ways to lower cholesterol.

In addition, drinking an eight ounce glass before every meal diminishes your level of hunger. This will enable you to eat less, causing weight loss and less bad cholesterol in your system.

Step two

Integrating more omega 3 fatty acids into your diet is also one of the natural ways to lower cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids have been clinically proven to lower excess LDL while boosting the good cholesterol we need in our system. The good cholesterol is known as high density lipoprotein or LDL. Aside from eating more foods containing omega 3, the simplest way to achieve this goal is to take fish oil capsules. Always make sure that the fish oil contains plenty of the fatty acids DHA and EPA. These essential fatty acids, found in cold water fish are one of the most effective natural ways to lower cholesterol.

Another benefit of fish oil capsules is that for those that aren't big fans of sea food, taking fish oil capsules alleviates the need for eating meals centered on sea food.

Step three

Moderate exercise is also considered by the American Heart Association to be one of the most natural ways to lower cholesterol. The reason is simple. By increasing the heart rate and working up a sweat, one burns the fat and calories in your system. This fat that is stored in your system as a source of energy for the body called triglycerides.

The great news is that one can achieve an elevated heart rate by simply walking a mile, four or five times a week for half an hour. It's recommended, if you are just starting out a new exercise regimen, to work up to the desired pace by starting out on a level surface. You can always progress to walking hills when you work up to it.

A perfect time to integrate step one, is when you are on your walk. Take a bottle of water with you to stay properly hydrated. By doing this, you are burning the fat and staying refreshed. This will keep you from cramping or getting a head ache on a warm day.

Conclusion

Believe me, now that you are armed with this information, knowing that natural ways to lower cholesterol are at your disposal, there is no reason for delay! Fish oil capsules, combined with moderate exercise and drinking plenty of water will go a long way to lowering bad cholesterol. Take up the fight and get healthy today. Here's to your good health.

Jim Morham is a vocal advocate for healthy living and products that promote good health. Due to personal needs, Jim strives to find the very best quality products that aid good health, in order to share them with others. Visit his site at http://purest-omega-3.com/

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Puneet is the creator of DiscussDosha.com, a health blog dedicated to helping people find alternative and natural treatments for various health issues. He offers free ...

One of the major culprits that are said to cause certain heart diseases is high levels of bad cholesterol in the body. It is true that the body needs cholesterol to be able to function properly but too much of it could already cause harm to the body most especially to the heart. Cholesterol particularly the bad cholesterol tends to build up on the walls of the arteries where blood passes through. Cholesterol build up with other fatty components is called plaque build up or deposits. This plaque build up will eventually restrict the flow of blood over time or it could even cause a blood clot which causes the arteries to be completely blocked. When this happens, blood that is carrying oxygen and other nutrients could not pass through. The heart then begins to lack oxygen and the heart muscle begins to die.

You must be able to take good care yourself and prevent the development of certain heart diseases by lowering high blood cholesterol. One effective way of achieving this is with the help of herbal supplements. Over the years, a lot of researchers have come with different types of natural supplements which help in addressing different health concerns and problems. One particular herb supplement that helps in lowering high blood cholesterol is heart care herbal supplements that contain Three Myrobalans (Triphala Ghana). Three Myrobalans (Triphala Ghana) is a kind of herb that has medicinal properties that help improve the hearts health. It is considered as a heart-brain-longetivity tonic and a powerful rejuvenative which helps reduce heart diseases as well as liver diseases. Three Myrobalans (Triphala Ghana) also has antioxidants which have been studied to prevent heart diseases especially coronary artery disease. It also has properties that help in lowering high blood pressure and in lowering bad cholesterol levels in the body. Three Myrobalans (Triphala Ghana) is also a good antibacterial laxative, diuretic, antihistamine, anti yeast, antifungal, and anti viral. This herb has a lot of medicinal properties that is why it is commonly used as an important component of these supplements especially when it comes to heart care.

In lowering high blood cholesterol, it is still important that you take other measures and not to depend solely on taking herbal supplements. You must remember and keep in mind that herbal supplements work at their best when they are accompanied with the proper diet or healthy eating habits, and regular exercise. You must also change your kind of lifestyle into a healthy one to effectively lower high cholesterollevelsand prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Lowering high blood cholesterolmainly depends on you. It takes time before you can see great results in effectively lowering bad cholesterol levels but you should have the determination and diligence to achieve your goal.

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