5 Keys to Lowering Cholesterol

September 2nd, 2010 by admin

How does Lean N Clean help lower cholesterol?

Psyllium and Guar Gum

Viscous water-soluble fibers. A large number of clinical and animal studies have been conducted to test the cholesterol-lowering effects of various sources of dietary fiber. Several conclusions can be drawn from these studies. Wheat bran and cellulose, both sources of non-viscous, insoluble complex carbohydrates, do not lower plasma cholesterol level. In contrast, guar gum, psyllium husk, pectin, oat bran, beans (legumes), and fruits and vegetables have been reported to lower plasma cholesterol and especially LDL, which is considered the “bad” cholesterol. Several mechanisms have been proposed whereby sources of fiber affect cholesterol metabolism. These include increasing the fecal excretion of bile acids, slowing the rate of lipid absorption, and enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids by complex carbohydrate fermentation in the large bowel.

Alfalfa leaf

Alfalfa leaf has been shown in animal studies to reduce blood cholesterol and plaque deposits on artery walls.

Irish Moss

Irish moss is a seaweed. Carrageenan, a constituent of Irish Moss, guards against fat and cholesterol buildup and thus inhibits arteriosclerosis.

Dandelion Root

Dandelion root is an herb with long history of safety profile. It increases the bile flow from the liver, thus increasing the metabolism of fat and cholesterol.

Apple Pectin

Apple pectin is a soluble fiber, has been verified by recent scientific research to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels. These natural ingredients work together to help you lower your blood cholesterol level, decrease the plaque buildup on artery walls, and as a result, help reduce blood pressure as well as the chance of heart disease.

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Understanding Cholesterol  in Simplified Terms

What is so wrong with high cholesterol level? Lets try to understand it in a simplified fashion.

About 15% of blood cholesterol comes from one’s diet. The other 85% is made by the liver. Fats (lipids) and cholesterol are completely insoluble in water and therefore do not circulate free in the blood stream. They are transported to and from tissue cells in body fluids bound to small lipid-protein complexes called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins vary considerably in their fat-protein compositions. In general, the higher the percentage of lipids in the lipoprotein, the lower its density; and the greater the proportion of protein, the higher its density. On this basis, cholesterol is differentiated into high density lipoprotein (HDL’s) and low density lipoproteins (LDL’s).

The role of LDL’s is to transport cholesterol to the peripheral tissues for hormone synthesis and for storage for later use. The major function of HDL’s is to transport cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver, where it is broken down and becomes part of the bile. It is not enough to simply measure total cholesterol. The manner in which the cholesterol is being transported in the blood is more important. As a rule of thumb, high levels of HDL’s are considered as good because the transported cholesterol is destined for degradation. High LDL levels are considered bad, because when LDL’s are excessive, potentially lethal cholesterol deposits are laid down in the artery walls.

Animal products are usually high both in saturated fats and cholesterol. Based on the observation of the typical American diet, it is clear that the major cause of too much cholesterol in the body is the over consumption of high saturated fat, high cholesterol foods. Other contributing factors to increased LDL levels and coronary artery disease are cigarette smoking, coffee drinking, excessive alcohol intake, sugar, and stress. Regular aerobic exercise lowers LDL levels and increases the levels of HDL’s. Chronically elevated blood cholesterol leads to arteriosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arteries), high blood pressure and risk of excessive clotting. Heart disease is very rare when the blood cholesterol level is at 150 mg/dl. The majority of heart attacks occur in people with cholesterol levels in the range of 200-250 mg/dl.

 

Read the rest of this article on how to lower cholesterol

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