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Red Fruit To Lower Cholesterol Levels

You probably know that when it comes to keeping cholesterol down, you want your total number low. However, it is the ratio of bad to good cholesterol that may matter even more. The good kind of cholesterol is transported out of the body, but the bad kind (LDL) stays in your body and has the potential to clog your arteries and raise your risk for having a heart attack.

Food scientists are now looking at fruits and vegetables that may help bring bad cholesterol down and have discovered that bad cholesterol may have met its maker. Eating red or what is commonly called pink grapefruit may work to bring cholesterol down as well or better than some cholesterol-lowering medications. Israeli researchers studied this food and found that it may be effective even in people who don't respond to the most common medications, called statins.

For four weeks, scientists monitored 57 people with heart disease. All of those in the study had failed to respond to drugs that normally bring cholesterol down. When they gave each person in the study one red grapefruit a day without any other change in their diet, they decreased bad cholesterol levels by 20%. It actually may be what is in the color of these fruits that has the effect. Those who ate white grapefruit did not get the same reduction in cholesterol levels. Red grapefruit is higher in antioxidants and lycopene. It is the lycopene that makes the fruit red. Previous studies have shown this compound--which is also present in tomatoes and watermelons--may also play a powerful role in fighting both heart disease and cancer.

There is a word of caution with this study, too. If you have heart problems and you want to eat this each day, talk to your doctor. Grapefruit can interfere with the absorption of some medications. Your pharmacist may even be able to tell you if it is not suggested based on what you are taking.

Cholesterol Quiz

Cholesterol Quiz
Test your knowledge of cholesterol by taking this simple quiz. more

Cholesterol Drugs And Natural Alternatives

For several years people have been taking cholesterol drugs as a
means to lower high cholesterol levels. The most frequently prescribed class of cholesterol drugs are the statins, also known as lipid lowering medications.However they are known to have some quite serious side effects, such as causing liver function abnormalities. Statins currently available on the US market include :Statins currently available on the U.S. market include, Lipitor (atorvastatin) made by Pfizer, Zocor (simvastatin) made by Merck, Pravachol (pravastatin) made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lescol (fluvastatin) made by Novartis, Mevacor (lovastatin) made by Merck, and Crestor (rosuvastatin) made by AstraZeneca.

The latest cholesterol drugs that are soon to come on the market, are the CETP inhibitors. These new drugs have a different action as based on the latest scientific discoveries, it is now known that not all cholesterol is unhealthy. There are several types of cholesterol, including LDL bad cholesterol and HDL good cholesterol. The CETP Inhibitors work to also raise the hdl cholesterol levels which have been proven in themselves to aid in lowering levels of the ldl cholesterol.

There are however a large number of alternative cholesterol lowering drugs. Natural alternatives that do not pose such a risk, although of course any medication you take you should always check with your doctor first. You can lower cholesterol naturally by taking herbal remedies such as Guggul, Pantethine, Curcumin, Policosanol, and Beta-Sitosterol .These supplements are easily available and low cost compared to prescribed drugs. Of course there are also many lifestyle changes that can be made to lower your cholesterol levels naturally. Regular exercise and eating a diet for
lowering cholesterol can also reduce your risk of developing heart disease. As
they say, prevention is better than cure.

Low Cholesterol Diet

We all know just how important it is to eat healthy and that includes foods that are not high in cholesterol. But, we also must understand that there are two types of cholesterol, one that is good for us and one that is bad.

The good cholesterol is known as High Density Lipoprotein or HDL and the bad cholesterol is Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL. You should keep the LDL levels low while keeping the HDL levels high. You can visit with your doctor and keep an eye on your cholesterol levels. But, a good diet is the best way to ensure that you keep your cholesterol levels where they should be.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have compiled a diet for you to follow to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Below is the diet that should help control your cholesterol.

Your total fat calories should be lower that 30 percent in a day, total saturated fat should be lower than 10 percent per day, and the total cholesterol from your diet should be lower than 300 milligrams. If your cholesterol is already high then you should lower the above suggestions.

Foods that can help lower your cholesterol levels include foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids such as sardines, salmon, albacore tuna, lake trout, mackerel and herring. Other foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids are canola, almonds, tofu, other forms of soybeans and flaxseed, including their oils.

Soluble fiber is another item you should add to your daily diet and they can also help to lower your LDL levels. These foods include apples, oranges, pears, prunes, apricots, oats, berries, carrots, dried peas, beans, cabbage, dates, figs, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

Foods that can raise your cholesterol level include poultry, fish, egg yolks, cheese, butter and other dairy items made from whole milk. Any type of food that has saturated fats and hydrogenated oils should be avoided if you are on a diet to lower your cholesterol level. These items even include coconut oil, palm oil, cocoa butter, and some stick margarines.">Cholesterol Weblog: "Low Cholesterol Diet

We all know just how important it is to eat healthy and that includes foods that are not high in cholesterol. But, we also must understand that there are two types of cholesterol, one that is good for us and one that is bad.

The good cholesterol is known as High Density Lipoprotein or HDL and the bad cholesterol is Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL. You should keep the LDL levels low while keeping the HDL levels high. You can visit with your doctor and keep an eye on your cholesterol levels. But, a good diet is the best way to ensure that you keep your cholesterol levels where they should be.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have compiled a diet for you to follow to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Below is the diet that should help control your cholesterol.

Your total fat calories should be lower that 30 percent in a day, total saturated fat should be lower than 10 percent per day, and the total cholesterol from your diet should be lower than 300 milligrams. If your cholesterol is already high then you should lower the above suggestions.

Foods that can help lower your cholesterol levels include foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids such as sardines, salmon, albacore tuna, lake trout, mackerel and herring. Other foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids are canola, almonds, tofu, other forms of soybeans and flaxseed, including their oils.

Soluble fiber is another item you should add to your daily diet and they can also help to lower your LDL levels. These foods include apples, oranges, pears, prunes, apricots, oats, berries, carrots, dried peas, beans, cabbage, dates, figs, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.

Foods that can raise your cholesterol level include poultry, fish, egg yolks, cheese, butter and other dairy items made from whole milk. Any type of food that has saturated fats and hydrogenated oils should be avoided if you are on a diet to lower your cholesterol level. These items even include coconut oil, palm oil, cocoa butter, and some stick margarines."
written by Matt at cholesterolweblog.com (click title to visit)

Are there different types of cholesterol?

Cholesterol travels through the blood in different types of packages, called lipoproteins.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) remove cholesterol from the bloodstream.

This is why too much LDL cholesterol is bad for the body, while the HDL form is good. It's the balance between the types of cholesterol that tells you what your cholesterol level means (see the box below).

For example, if your total cholesterol level is high because of a high LDL level, you may be at higher risk of heart disease or stroke. If your total level is high only because of a high HDL level, you're probably not at higher risk."

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LDL cholesterol definition - Cholesterol: health and medical information about high cholesterol and heart disease

LDL cholesterol definition - Cholesterol: health and medical information about high cholesterol and heart disease: "Definition of LDL cholesterol

LDL cholesterol: Lipoproteins which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. The low-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to the tissues of the body. LDL cholesterol is therefore considered the 'bad' cholesterol.

Common Misspellings: ldl cholestrol, ldl cholesteral, ldl chlorestol, ldl cholestoral, ldl colesterol"

Lower / Reduce LDL Cholesterol, Lowering LDL bad cholesterol

Lower / Reduce LDL Cholesterol, Lowering LDL bad cholesterol: "Lower LDL Cholesterol

1.

Soluble fiber lowers the LDL cholesterol. Five servings (a serving is � cup) a day of fruits and vegetables will help. Eat foods high in soluble fiber sucxh as apricots, apples, citrus fruit, berries, carrots, prunes, cabbage, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
2.

Beans are another source of high soluble fiber. All of the beans or legumes also provide soluble fiber. Eat daily 1/2 cup of any bean like kidney beans, black-eye beans, lima beans, or or other dried beans will reduce your cholesterol.
3.

Recent studies have shown that stanol esters and plant sterols block the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines, reducing the cholesterol. New margarines, Benecol and Take Control in USA, Flora Pro-active and Logicol in Australia contain these ingredients.
4.

Eat oats, soy products, nuts, and garlic.
5.

Reduce your intake of meat. They are high in cholesterol.


One should try to reduce or lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol to achieve a LDL HDL ratio below 3.

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