| As someone who is affected personally with the task | | | | lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol: 1. Your family history |
| of lowering my own cholesterol levels, I would like to | | | | can play into your cholesterol equation (Asia Africa |
| share some of the steps you can take to decrease | | | | Intelligence Wire, June 11,2005). Since high cholesterol |
| your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol. | | | | runs in my family I have genetics working against me |
| I have a B.S. in Biological Science with a minor in | | | | as well. 2. Stress may lead to an increase in blood |
| Human Physiology. Although I offer educated | | | | cholesterol (Pharma Marketletter, Dec 12, 2005) 3. |
| information and research, the information in this article | | | | Smoking may raise LDL cholesterol ( March 15, 2006) |
| should not be used in substitute for a doctor's | | | | 4. Foods with Saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol ( |
| recommendation, and is not intended to cure any | | | | March 15, 2006) |
| disease. | | | | Factors that can lower LDL "bad" cholesterol 1. |
| Cholesterol travels through the blood attached to a | | | | Exercise raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL |
| protein. This cholesterol-protein package is called a | | | | cholesterol 2. Reduce the stress in your life 3. Stop |
| lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are either high density or low | | | | smoking 4. A high-fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, |
| density, depending on how much protein they have in | | | | whole grains, and fish (but low in saturated fat, trans |
| relation to fat. Lipoproteins with more protein than fat | | | | fat, and cholesterol) improves cholesterol levels |
| are called high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Lipoproteins | | | | Most of what I have listed should be of no surprise to |
| with more fat than protein are called low-density | | | | you. However, there are two more options to reducing |
| lipoproteins (LDL). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is | | | | your cholesterol levels. The first one is to take |
| sometimes called "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol | | | | prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol. I have heard |
| helps remove LDL cholesterol from the body by | | | | of good results with this method to drastically lower |
| binding with it in the bloodstream and carrying it back to | | | | cholesterol. Although this method seems effective it is |
| the liver for disposal. A high level of HDL cholesterol | | | | not without a price. For example, my brother and both |
| appears to lower your risk of developing heart disease | | | | of my parents have tried a couple of different |
| and stroke. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is | | | | prescription drugs for cholesterol discovering side |
| sometimes called "bad" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol | | | | effects. Their cholesterol was lowered significantly but |
| collects inside the walls of the arteries and often | | | | they had unbearable muscle and joint pain while taking |
| contributes to the formation of plaque. LDL cholesterol | | | | the medication. These side effects lead me to looking |
| is calculated from the total cholesterol, HDL, and | | | | for alternative health products. |
| triglyceride levels. | | | | I found that there are a number of naturally based |
| A high LDL cholesterol level is considered a risk factor | | | | health products that significantly lower cholesterol. I |
| for coronary artery disease (CAD) because, under | | | | have personally tried a couple of products and have |
| certain conditions, it can cause hardening of the | | | | not experienced any side effects like my family |
| arteries (atherosclerosis).Cholesterol is measured either | | | | members. I can say that I have been able to |
| in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or in millimoles | | | | successfully avoid the prescription drugs at this time, |
| per liter of blood (mmol/L).An LDL cholesterol level of | | | | and I am hoping to maintain my current good status by |
| less than 100 mg/dL (less than 2.6 mmol/L) is | | | | eating right, exercising and supplementing with natural |
| considered optimal.100 to 129 (2.6 to 3.35) is considered | | | | health products. |
| near optimal. 130 to 158 (3.35 to 4.10) is considered | | | | I am finding that I will either need to continue |
| borderline high.160 to 189 (4.12 to 4.88) is considered | | | | supplementing naturally or take prescription drugs for |
| high.190 and above (4.90 to 4.88) is considered very | | | | lowering cholesterol since my family history is playing a |
| high. | | | | major factor in my high cholesterol levels. |
| With this in mind there are factors that work against | | | | |