Definition:
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance (a lipid) produced by the liver. It is
needed by your body to complete multiple functions such as building and maintaining
cell membranes, hormone balancing and manufacturing Vitamin D.
Description: Cholesterol is essential for life. Without it you would
die. It has major effects on fitness and longevity and is critical in the production of hormones, particularly
the sex hormones Progesterone and Testosterone. Cholesterol is primarily composed of two forms,
LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein).
LDLs are known as the "bad" or "oxidized" form of cholesterol. They attach to the walls of
your arteries and create "plaque". This plaque accumulates over time and creates a blockage in your arteries
causing a heart attack, or in your brain capillaries, starving your brain of oxygen and causing
a stroke. To achieve good health your LDL cholesterol level needs to be
as low as possible.
HDLs on the other hand are known as the "good" form of cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol travels in your bloodstream picking up excess
LDL cholesterol and transporting it back to your liver for re-processing
and excretion. To achieve good health and ensure adequate "cleaning" of this "bad"
cholesterol your HDL level needs to be as high as possible. Because of
this important balance between your LDL and your HDL
cholesterol, the most significant figures to examine when looking at cholesterol test results is
not your total cholesterol, but rather the balance between your LDL and
HDL cholesterol levels.
Click
Cholesterol
to buy "Cholest-Natural" dietary supplements, or continue reading. There is much more
information about cholesterol level balance below.
Statistics: Many studies have been performed to try to estimate the
enormity of excessively high cholesterol throughout the world. Results show us that
not only is it already a huge health problem in Western society, but that percentages have
escalated globally.
Causes: People are often misled by claims
that the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream is directly related to your diet.
Although your cholesterol level can be influenced by diet it is much less relevant
than people think. In actual fact only a mere 20% of your total cholesterol comes
from diet. Your body produces more than 80%.
Symptoms: Many people do not realize their blood cholesterol levels
are too high or out of balance, because the condition itself does not cause any actual symptoms.
The first sign is usually the development of a major health condition such as atherosclerosis
or some form of cardiovascular disease. These conditions may take many years to develop,
but over time cholesterol and fat has built up in artery walls. Narrowed arteries become
hardened and blood has difficulty traveling to the heart, muscles and other vital organs.
Whether you are young, middle aged or older, man or woman, healthy
or not, finding out your cholesterol levels will enable you to determine whether
or not you need to lower (or balance) them, thus lessening your risks of heart disease and
stroke. The best way to find out whether you have a high cholesterol level is to
visit your doctor, naturopathic practitioner, homeopath, or alternative health care
provider.
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Conventional Treatments: There are billions to be made by large
pharmaceutical companies in this particular health arena (and others). Leaving aside the
slick television commercials and glossy magazine ads touting this drug or that, have you paid
particular attention to the reported side effects of some of these drugs? Although it is
not our intention to say that all pharmaceutical drugs are "bad", that would just be
silly, but in many circumstances, it almost seems like these so-called "cures" might be
more dangerous than the affliction.
Natural Treatments: The following is a list of
natural supplements ingredients that scientists all over the world have
agreed will help lower (balance) cholesterol without the negative side effects of
pharmaceutical drugs:
1) Policosanol - A substance extracted from sugar, rice bran and
bees wax that significantly reduces the production of low-density (LDL)
cholesterol as well as increasing high-density (HDL) cholesterol -
hence to balance cholesterol levels - via the alcohols it contains. These alcohols inhibit
cholesterol synthesis, acting on cholesterol metabolism in the liver and inhibit
LDL oxidation. Policosanol also helps to remove plaque from
the arteries. It has been found in many supplements clinical studies to be
as effective as a statin drug, without side effects. An additional benefit is that Policosanol does
not directly inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, so consequently it does not harm the
essential enzyme CoQ10, which is a major downfall of statin drugs.
2)
Theaflavins (bioflavanoids) - Produced when green tea ferments, they scavenge
radicals to produce anti-oxidative effects. Theaflavins not only lower LDL
cholesterol but also raise HDL cholesterol at the same time.
3)
Lecithin - A natural phospho-lipid, an emulsifying agent that
dissolves cholesterol, inhibits its absorption into the gastrointestinal tract and reduces
oxidation. It does this by forming a protective barrier around cells and by regulating the homeostasis of
cholesterol (the balance of LDL and HDL levels) by controlling the
balance of lipid exchange to reduce cholesterol synthesis. Lecithin
increases cholesterol oxidation into bile salts, thus helping it to be excreted more easily.
4) Guggulipid - An extract of gum resin that inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol
produced in the liver and has an antioxidant effect. It blocks the activity of the receptor Faresoid X
(FXR) in liver cells. Bile acid binds to FXR, which
prevents further bile acid production. By inhibiting FXR, bile acid
production can continue and more cholesterol is excreted from the body resulting in a
significant decrease in LDL cholesterol.
5) Phytosterols - A plant sterol with a similar chemical structure to cholesterol.
It reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the gastro-intestinal tract by competing
for the same space in cellulose molecules.
6) Rice Bran oil, Oryzanol
- The outer hull of the rice grain containing fiber, lipids and amino acids along with
beta-sitosterol and phytosterols that reduce cholesterol absorption and increase bile
acid secretion. It is able to inhibit cholesterol absorption by converting cholesterol
into bile acids and subsequently increasing bile acid excretion.
7) D-Limonene
- A non-toxic component of the oil extracted from citrus rind. It is a natural solvent
that builds up in the liver, inhibits HMG-Coenzyme A and helps to dissolve
cholesterol gallstones.
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All of the above supplements ingredients are individually important and useful in their own right.
Most of them are readily available to you on the world market, yet none of them will
individually address ALL the multiple causes of high "bad" cholesterol levels or cholesterol level
balance problems.
However, we believe that by synergistically combining these ingredients along with
certain trace elements, that the cholesterol supplements
Cholest-Natural
provide the best chance to balance your cholesterol levels naturally without the negative
side effects of conventional prescription drugs.
Buy Cholest-Natural dietary health supplements
online today and balance your cholesterol levels naturally!
