Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A month ago, I received news that a former colleague of mine collapsed in his office, and had a sudden massive heart attack and did not survive the night to see his family. He was in his early fifties.
This incident motivated another former colleague to have his blood checked for cholesterol. The cardiologist recommended immediate hospitalisation and he was operated on for a triple coronary bypass within days. Without that bypass, this friend would likely encounter a fatal massive coronary heart attack.
These two ghastly incidents jarred me into researching ways to bring down my own level of cholesterol, and to read medical books on cholesterol.
In my research, what amazed me was there were safe and effective ways to lower blood cholesterol and hence reduce the probability of a heart attack.
I was encouraged that it was possible to cut the risk of heart attack by more than half by limiting the amount of cholesterol produced by the body, and increase the amount of cholesterol eliminated by the body.
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Ten Cholesterol Lowering Food Tips
Cholesterol lowering food in combination with a healthy fit lifestyle has been proven over and over again to be one of the most effective ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.
More people than ever before have high cholesterol even with millions of dollars being spent each year to try and educate people on this problem.
Unfortunately, instead of focusing on such things as cholesterol lowering food the emphasis for dealing with this health problem has been on 'statin' drugs. Drugs are never a good idea and when it comes to the 'statins' it's even worse.
So, how can you lower cholesterol naturally without taking risky prescription medication?
As mentioned above using your diet to lower cholesterol with the help of cholesterol lowering food is a very good place to start.
There are of course other ways of lowering cholesterol naturally such as adding cholesterol lowering vitamins to your health regime, making exercise an important part of your life, etc. but in this article we'll stick with cholesterol lowering food and food additives.
Before going any further it's important that you understand the difference between LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. You always hear these terms repeated on the news but what's the difference between them?
In simplest terms HDL cholesterol is healthy for you. You body needs it. On the other hand LDL cholesterol is the bad guy. LDL helps to cause heart disease by allowing cholesterol to build up in your arteries.
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Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Avoiding Cholesterol in Foods Won't Lower Your Cholesterol
If you avoid all foods that contain cholesterol, will your high cholesterol return to normal?
It's not that simple. Your blood cholesterol level is influenced far more by how many calories and how much saturated and partially hydrogenated fat you eat, than by how much cholesterol is in your food. Cholesterol is found only in foods from animals, such as meat, fish, chicken, dairy products and eggs. It is not found in plants. More than 80 percent of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver. Less than 20 percent comes from the food that you eat. When you eat more cholesterol, your liver makes less.
Your liver makes cholesterol from saturated fats, which are found in most foods but are concentrated in meat, poultry and whole-milk dairy products. The saturated fat is broken down by your liver into acetone units. If you are not taking in too many calories, your liver uses the acetone units for energy, but if you are taking in more calories than your body needs, your liver uses these same acetone units to manufacture cholesterol. That explains why eating two eggs a day does not raise blood cholesterol levels in the average American. They are already taking in so much cholesterol from meat, fish and chicken and diary products, that when they take in more, they absorb less.
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Rob Cooper reviews 60 Day Prescription Free Cholesterol Cure
I've always believed that every condition know to man could be treated naturally with diet, exercise and with the proper application of knowledge and nutrition. When it comes to Lowering High Cholesterol Naturally, I feel no different.
My Own Cholesterol Levels
My sister and her husband are doctors. In fact, my sisters husband worked as a private consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva Switzerland for 6 years. One summer they were visiting and I had just had my cholesterol levels checked with my doctor.
I remember the moment exactly, when I read what my cholesterol report said because they both stopped what they were doing, turned and looked at me. They had me repeat the numbers and then they looked over the report themselves.
It was at that moment that I realized I had actually stunned my sister the "doctor" for the first time. I had fallen prey to the "little brother can't possible know best" syndrome, so they had never listened to me in the past.
I've been following a natural diet for a number of years and the work paid off not only with my weight , fitness level and health, but also for my cholesterol numbers.
Lower Your Cholesterol Without Drugs
In having a look online for a good way to inform people about Cholesterol and how to lower it naturally, I was lead to Frank Mangano after reading his book about natural high blood pressure reduction.
Frank began looking for a natural approach to lowering cholesterol for his mother. She was diagnosed with High Cholesterol and was afraid to begin Statin Drugs because of their terrible side effects. He dove into the research and the hard work paid off. What He gave his mother was a plan based on hard science that allowed her to lower her cholesterol without drugs. Her cholesterol dropped 40 points with his all-natural system. This kind of result normally leaves doctors slack-jawed at the amazing results.
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Monday, February 26, 2007
Red Rice Yeast, the Liver Cleanse and Cholesterol
The Statin drug is the most today, and is derived from yeast. effective cholesterol lowering agent used This is why red rice yeast is such an effective and natural way to reduce your cholesterol.
As a matter of fact the FDA had tried to make it a regulated drug and remove it from the health food store shelf. But, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 prevent this from happening. (And it is my belief that if we don't change this congress they will get their way eventually, and alternative care will be a thing of the past.)
Already this congress has deregulated so much that it has freed the companies of the responsibility that would force them to guarantee the purity and the quantities that are claimed on their labels. Isn't lobbying wonderful? So with that being said, if you take red rice yeast, try to buy it from reputable companies so that you are more likely to be getting what the label says you are getting.
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10 Cholesterol Lowering Food Tips
Ten Cholesterol Lowering Food Tips
Cholesterol lowering food in combination with a healthy fit lifestyle has been proven over and over again to be one of the most effective ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.
More people than ever before have high cholesterol even with millions of dollars being spent each year to try and educate people on this problem.
Unfortunately, instead of focusing on such things as cholesterol lowering food the emphasis for dealing with this health problem has been on 'statin' drugs. Drugs are never a good idea and when it comes to the 'statins' it's even worse.
So, how can you lower cholesterol naturally without taking risky prescription medication?
As mentioned above using your diet to lower cholesterol with the help of cholesterol lowering food is a very good place to start.
There are of course other ways of lowering cholesterol naturally such as adding cholesterol lowering vitamins to your health regime, making exercise an important part of your life, etc. but in this article we'll stick with cholesterol lowering food and food additives.
Before going any further it's important that you understand the difference between LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. You always hear these terms repeated on the news but what's the difference between them?
In simplest terms HDL cholesterol is healthy for you. You body needs it. On the other hand LDL cholesterol is the bad guy. LDL helps to cause heart disease by allowing cholesterol to build up in your arteries.
Read the 10 Cholesterol Lowering Food Tips
Read more Lower Cholesterol Levels Articles
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Reduce Your Cholesterol Naturally
What can you do to improve your cholesterol levels? Here's a quick list to get you started.
* Reduce fat in your diet
Buy the leanest cuts of meat you can find. Regularly substitute poultry (without the skin) and fish for red meat. Both are lower in saturated fat. Switch to low fat cottage cheese and yogurt, reduced fat hard cheeses and skim or 1 percent milk.
* Eat no more than four egg yolks a week
An average egg yolk contains 213 milligrams of cholesterol!
* Eliminate fried foods
Don't fry foods. Roast, bake, broil, grill or poach them instead. Use fat free marinades or basting with liquids like wine, tomato or lemon juice. Use olive or canola oils for sautéing or baking. Both are very low in saturated fat. Use diet, tub or squeeze margarines instead of regular. Watch for the term "hydrogenated," which means some of the fat is saturated.
* Eat vegetables and complex carbohydrates
Lowest fat foods of all are vegetables, fruits, grains (rice, barley and pasta), beans and legumes. Try substituting some of these for meat and high fat dairy products. Don't douse your pasta with butter or your potato with sour cream. Use tomato base sauces instead of cream base. Use lemon juice, low sodium soy sauce or herbs to season vegetables. Make chili with extra beans and seasonings while leaving out the meat.
* Lose weight
If you are overweight, the chances are almost 100% that you have a problem with high cholesterol. You can lower your LDL and elevate your HDL just by dropping some pounds.
* Nuts to you!
Do you like nuts? If you do, sprinkle a few on your cereal, bake them into muffins or pancakes or add them to casseroles or stir-fries. Walnuts and almonds are especially good. Eating about three ounces of walnuts a day is shown to decrease blood cholesterol levels by 10% more than an already low fat, low cholesterol diet.
Read the next 7 tips on how to Reduce Your Cholesterol Naturally
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Links for 2007-02-03 [del.icio.us]
- Digg - 10 Changes To Your Diet That Will Instantly Make it 90% Better
- Ten Changes To Your Diet To Make It 90% Better
- 15 Rules For Fat Loss
- cholesterol
- Digg - 10 Changes To Your Diet That Will Instantly Make it 90% Better
- Ten Changes To Your Diet To Make It 90% Better
- 15 Rules For Fat Loss
- cholesterol
Sunday, February 25, 2007
High Cholesterol Symptoms - What to Look Out For
Do you have a high cholesterol intake? Eating products with high cholesterol levels can result in some serious health hazards.
A growing problem in the world, high cholesterol levels can shorten your lifespan and result in a host of medical problems if not monitored. One of the deadliest aspects of this silent killer is the fact that high cholesterol symptoms are usually rare and undetectable until tragedy strikes.
For one, high cholesterol levels can lead to a risk of coronary disease. Coronary disease sometimes results in a symptom known as "Angina". Angina is a chest pain that is felt when afflicted with this disease, and has been accurately described by many as feeling a pressure or squeezing directly on their heart.
These high cholesterol symptoms can spread to the jaw, neck, or the arm. In addition to this painful symptom, people with coronary disease sometimes report nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and heart palpitations. A stroke is another deadly factor associated with a high cholesterol level. There are symptoms that help identify a stroke, but most often, strokes happen with little to no warning.
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According to general medical opinion regarding causes of prostate cancer, the risk factors are age, ethnic history and family background. But recently, a research study have found that high cholesterol levels speed up the growth of prostate tumours. This conclusion may help to find an explanation regarding the fact prostate cancer is more frequent in the West world than in Asian countries because of diets high in cholesterol. For instance, in rural parts of Japan and China, where people use low fat diets, rates of prostate cancer are up to 90% less than in the West countries. It is also a reality that in United States prostate cancer hits about one in every six men.
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Saturday, February 24, 2007
by Will Brink
Author of: Muscle Building Nutrition.com
Muscle Gaining Diet, Training routines by Charles Poliquin & Bodybuilding Supplement Review
Diet Supplements Revealed
Real World Fat Loss Diet & Weight Loss Supplement Review
Readers of the March 2003 issue of Life Extension magazine should recall the long list of potential medical, performance and anti-aging effects of creatine. The article outlined the substantial body of research that found creatine may help with diseases effecting the neuro muscular system, such as muscular dystrophy and may have therapeutic applications in aging populations, wasting syndromes, muscle atrophy, fatigue, myopathies, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and other mitochondrial cytopathies. Several studies have shown it may reduce cholesterol by up to 15% and has been used to correct certain inborn errors of metabolism, such as people born without the enzyme(s) responsible for making creatine.
The article also covered exactly what creatine is, how it works and how much is required to possibly treat the aforementioned pathologies. If you missed that article, refer to the March 2003 issue of Life Extension magazine, or view it at www.lef.org. In this article, we examine some additional properties of creatine, such as its effects on growth hormone release, homocysteine and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as other important issues surrounding this supplement, such as its safety.
Although data is limited, some research suggests creatine can raise growth hormone equal to that of intense exercise. Growth hormone (GH) is known to play an essential role in the regulation of body fat levels, immunity, muscle mass, wound healing, bone mass and literally thousands of other functions both known and yet unknown. It is well established that GH levels steadily decline as we age and is partially responsible for the steady loss of muscle mass, loss of skin elasticity, immune dysfunction and many other physical changes that take place in the aging human body. Therefore, the possible effects of creatine on GH is worth exploring in aging populations.
One study found creatine could mimic the increased GH levels seen after intense exercise.1 In this comparative cross-sectional study, researchers gave six healthy male subjects 20 grams of creatine in a single dose at resting (non-exercising) conditions. The study found that all subjects showed a "significant" increase of GH in the blood during the six-hour period after creatine ingestion. However, the study also found "a large interindividual variability in the GH response." That is, there were wide differences among individuals in the levels of GH achieved from taking the creatine. For the majority of subjects the maximum GH concentration occurred between two and six hours after ingesting the creatine.
The researchers concluded "In resting conditions and at high dosages creatine enhances GH secretion, mimicking the response of strong exercise which also stimulates GH secretion." These researchers felt that the effects of creatine on GH could be viewed as one of creatine's anabolic properties with the lean mass and strength increases observed after creatine supplementation. Although creatine supplementation has been found to increase lean muscle mass and strength in many studies, the effects of creatine on those tissues via GH enhancement has yet to be elucidated.
Creatine may reduce homocysteine levels
Homocysteine has been recognized as an important independent risk factor of heart disease, more so than cholesterol levels according to some studies. Creatine biosynthesis has been postulated as a major effector of homocysteine concentrations,2 and oral creatine supplements may reduce levels of homocysteine. Many studies have found that methyl donors (such as trimethylglycine (TMG) reduce levels of homocysteine, which also reduces the risk of heart disease. Conversely, pathways that demand large amounts of methyl groups may hinder the body's ability to reduce homocysteine levels. The methylation of guanidinoacetate to form creatine consumes more methyl groups than all other methylation reactions combined in the human body.
Researchers have postulated that increasing or decreasing methyl demands on the body may increase or decrease homocysteine levels. In one study researchers fed rats either guanidinoacetate- or creatine-supplemented diets for two weeks.3 According to the researchers "plasma homocysteine was significantly increased (~50%) in rats maintained on guanidinoacetate-supplemented diets, whereas rats maintained on creatine-supplemented diets exhibited a significantly lower (~25%) plasma homocysteine level." These results suggest that homocysteine metabolism is sensitive to methylation demand imposed by physiological substrates such as creatine.
Creatine and chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia
Because of creatine's apparent abilities to improve the symptoms of other pathologies involving a lack of high energy compounds (e.g., congestive heart failure, etc.) as well as the aforementioned afflictions outlined in the introduction to this article, it has been suggested that creatine may help with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (some researchers now posit that they are in fact the same syndrome). Although the causes of both pathologies is still being debated, a lack of high energy compounds (e.g. ATP) at the level of the mitochondria and general muscle weakness exists. For example, people with fibromyalgia have lower levels of creatine phosphate and ATP levels compared to controls.4 No direct studies exist at this time showing creatine supplementation improves the symptomology of either chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
Considering, however, the other data that finds that creatine supplementation increases creatine and ATP levels consistently in other pathologies where low levels of creatine and ATP are found, it stands to reason that people suffering from either syndrome may want to peruse the use of creatine. Another similar syndrome to chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome, which may also be potentially improved by the use of creatine supplements, though more research is clearly needed.
Creatine safety issues: fact or fiction?
After the first article in Life Extension magazine on the many potential medical and anti-aging uses of creatine, I received several letters and many e-mails that basically said "I would like to use creatine for the various reasons stated in the article, but I am worried about its safety." This fear over the safety of creatine was usually generated from some hysterical news report or poorly researched article. It's odd, but predictable that the media and conservative medical establishment have desperately tried to paint creatine as an inherently dangerous or "poorly researched" dietary supplement. The fact is, creatine may be the most extensively researched performance-enhancing supplement of all time, with a somewhat astounding safety record.
True to form, the "don't confuse us with the facts" media and anti-supplement conservative medical groups have had no problems ignoring the extensive safety data on creatine, or simply inventing safety worries where none exists. A perfect example of this was the news report that mentioned the deaths of three high school wrestlers who died after putting on rubber suits and riding a stationary bike in a sauna to lose weight. Amazingly, their deaths were linked to creatine by the media, rather than extreme dehydration! Even more amazingly, on further examination, it was found that two of the three wrestlers were not using creatine!
Creatine has been blamed for all sorts of effects, from muscle cramps to dehydration, to increased injuries in athletes. However, these effects have been looked at extensively by researchers without a single study reporting side effects among several groups taking creatine for various medical reasons over five years.5-8
In some, but not all people, creatine can raise a metabolic byproduct of creatine metabolism known as creatinine. Some people-including some medical professionals who should know better-have mistakenly stated that elevated levels of creatinine could damage the kidneys. Elevated creatinine is often a blood indicator, not a cause, of kidney dysfunction.
That's a very important distinction, and several short- and long-term studies have found creatine supplements have no ill effects on the kidney function of healthy people.9,10 Though it makes sense that people with pre-existing kidney dysfunction should avoid creatine supplements, it is reassuring to know that creatine supplements were found to have no ill effects on the kidney function of animals with pre-existing kidney failure, showing just how non toxic creatine appears to be for the kidneys.11 Bottom line, creatine safety has been extensively researched and is far safer than most over-the-counter (OTC) products, including aspirin.
Conclusion
Though additional research is warranted regarding the pathologies outlined in this article, creatine has a substantial body of research showing it is an effective, safe and worthwhile supplement in a wide range of pathologies and may be the next big find in anti-aging nutrients. Although the dose used in the studies was quite high, recent studies suggest lower doses are just as effective for increasing the overall creatine phosphate pool in the body. The dose of 2 to 3 grams per day appears adequate for healthy people to increase their tissue levels of creatine phosphate.
People with the pathologies mentioned in this article may benefit from higher intakes in the 5 to 10 gram per day range. People interested in more information regarding creatine, in particular the use of creatine and other supplements for athletes, should consider referring to my recent ebook Muscle Building Nutrition found at www.MuscleBuildingNutrition.com for additional information.
About the Author - William D. Brink
Will Brink is a columnist, contributing consultant, and writer for various health/fitness, medical, and bodybuilding publications. His articles relating to nutrition, supplements, weight loss, exercise and medicine can be found in such publications as Lets Live, Muscle Media 2000, MuscleMag International, The Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Body International, Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women’s World and The Townsend Letter For Doctors. He is the author of Priming The Anabolic Environment and Weight Loss Nutrients Revealed. He is the Consulting Sports Nutrition Editor and a monthly columnist for Physical magazine and an Editor at Large for Power magazine. Will graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in the natural sciences, and is a consultant to major supplement, dairy, and pharmaceutical companies.
He has been co author of several studies relating to sports nutrition and health found in peer reviewed academic journals, as well as having commentary published in JAMA. He runs the highly popular web site Brink Zone which is strategically positioned to fulfill the needs and interests of people with diverse backgrounds and knowledge. The Brink Zone site has a following with many sports nutrition enthusiasts, athletes, fitness professionals, scientists, medical doctors, nutritionists, and interested lay people. William has been invited to lecture on the benefits of weight training and nutrition at conventions and symposiums around the U.S. and Canada, and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs.
William has worked with athletes ranging from professional bodybuilders, golfers, fitness contestants, to police and military personnel.
See Will's ebooks online here:
Muscle Building Nutrition http://musclebuildingnutrition.com
A complete guide bodybuilding supplements and eating to gain lean muscle
Diet Supplements Revealed http://aboutsupplements.com
A review of diet supplements and guide to eating for maximum fat loss
Free Creatine Report The "Creatine Report" is a free and in depth report on creatine's usage in sports, health and anti-aging. In this report you will learn what creatine is and how it works, and what it can do for you. This excellent free report exposes the facts and fiction of creatine, and details it's effects on the brain, heart, the body's production of growth hormone, anti-aging effects, fatigue, muscle atrophy, Parkinson's disease, and much more! You'll also learn how to use creatine properly, as well as topics such as purity, safety, and loading are fully explained... ...And of course, as with all Will Brink's writing, it's based on the actual studies with creatine and backed up with scientific references, not conjecture and pseudo science many self proclaimed "experts" rely on. Click here for information on the instantly downloadable Creatine Report |
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Raising Your Metabolism With Protein Posted By :
Protein can raise your metabolism because it helps to build muscle fibers, it aids in the growth and repair of cells, it produces amino acids and helps lower your cholesterol
Labels: cholesterol
