Are you aware of the fact that besides the bad cholesterol that produces many medical conditions there is also healthy and good cholesterol? Your body has 2 kinds of cholesterol. HDL, which is the good cholesterol and LDL, the bad cholesterol. We have been told for many, many years that having a high level of HDL was thought to be very good for your health. We were told that having a high level of good cholesterol was going to give us a large amount of protection against heart conditions. As of late there has been some information on how to lower all cholesterol levels, not just your LDL cholesterol level, which is the bad cholesterol.

Those that thought that HDL cholesterol levels which are high can protect you from heart problems are now saying that this cholesterol level is actually also causing us concern as a risk of heart disease. The risk however, is only if you have a low HDL cholesterol level. So as we are told to lower both cholesterol levels is actually wrong advice. It has also been found that even if the LDL cholesterol level are in normal levels, people that had the good cholesterol levels a little lower were now at risk of having an artery problem. Normal HDL cholesterol levels are when you have minimum 35 mg/ Dl. The actual HDL cholesterol is truly needed for the work that it does. The HDL cholesterol is actually a very complex molecule the more we study it.

This HDL cholesterol is the combination of lipids, protein and cholesterol. It helps to clean out the walls of your blood vessels, which is a very important and a much needed factor to maintaing good health. The HDL cholesterol actually cleans out the excessive cholesterol that is sitting in your blood. So this means that the good cholesterol will clean out the bad cholesterol that is found in your blood. The bad cholesterol or better known as the LDL cholesterol then travels to your liver to be filtered. So this explains why one cholesterol level must be higher to help the other cholesterol level become lower and all the while protecting you from having heart problems.

If you need to raise your HDL cholesterol levels you will need to have healthy eating habits and an exercise routine in place. By doing some type of daily exercise for 30 minutes a day and eating properly you will help to keep your cholesterol levels at the right levels.

Have you ever been in a conversation about cholesterol and noticed that people are usually commenting on how high levels of cholesterol can be bad for your body and can even cause death? What one never hears about is the fact that cholesterol is essential for our bodies.

The cholesterol molecule is a waxy like and fatty like substance, which comes from a group of molecules known as steroids. The cholesterol molecule is in our blood as well as all the cells in our body tissue. A cholesterol molecule does not enter our bodies through food, but is made by different parts of our body. Body tissues that have highly packed membranes, such as the liver, and arethoma are known to produce more cholesterol molecules and have more cholesterol present in their cells.
A form of the cholesterol molecule, if present in huge amounts in our bodies could form plaque on the walls of our arteries, which will eventually block the flow of blood supply and cause heart problems. But, the cholesterol molecule also plays an important part in the formation of sex hormones and the cholesterol molecules helps the cells to hold up under temperature fluctuations and most importantly to protect the nerve fibers. Cholesterol molecules help in the much needed digestion of food through the making of bile salts. HDL cholesterol molecules become our broom and will eventually sweep and clean up LDL cholesterol molecules from our arteries. The intake of Vitamin D from natural sunlight is helped by the cholesterol molecule.

The cholesterol molecule is needed for our bodily functions, but as too much of it can be bad for our bodies in increased quantities, people should watch and have a handle on the amounts of cholesterol molecules that are in their bodies. By living a lifestyle with a proper diet, and if needed over the short term the use of needed medications.

Garlic: Powerful Protection

Garlic is one of the world’s oldest medicines, and it is still among the best. If the term wonder drug can be applied to any food, garlic deserves that distinction. Garlic appeared prominently in the world’s oldest surviving medical text, the Ebers Papyrus, written somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1500 B.C. It was an ingredient in 22 remedies for headache, insect and scorpion bites, menstrual discomforts, intestinal worms, tumors and hea rt problems. Modern science has validated several of these ancient prescriptions.

Cancer. Tantalizing evidence suggests garlic plays a role in preventing and treating cancer. In one study researchers separated mouse tumor cells into two groups. One was left alone. The other was treated with allicin, a major component of garlic. Then both batches of tumor cells were injected into mice. Those who received the untreated cells quickly died, but in the garlic-treated group, there were no deaths. Since then, other animal studies have shown similar results. Of course, animal findings do not necessarily apply to humans, but another study suggests that garlic helps prevent human stomach cancer. Researchers analyzed the diets of 1,800 Chinese, including 685 with stomach cancer. Those with the cancer ate considerably less garlic. The researchers concluded that a diet high in garlic can significantly reduce risk of stomach cancer.

Lead Poisoning. Studies show that garlic helps eliminate lead and other toxic heavy metals from the body. Lead interferes with thinking and causes other serious health problems, and children are particularly susceptible to lead effects. Add garlic liberally to spaghetti and pizza sauces and other foods children enjoy. The only downside to garlic is garlic breath. If this is a problem for you, check your health food store for deodorized garlic.

Infections. During World War I, doctors treated infected battle wounds with garlic juice. They also prescribed garlic to prevent and treat dysentery. Shortly after the war, the Swiss researchers isolated alliin from the bulb. By itself, alliin has no medicinal value, but when garlic is chewed, chopped, bruised or crushed, its alliin comes in contact with an enzyme and becomes allicin, a powerful antibiotic. Garlic kills the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, food poisoning and bladder infections and the fungi that cause athlete’s foot and vaginal yeast infections. For minor skin infections, garlic juice may prove sufficient, but unless you are an experienced herbalist, do not rely exclusively on garlic to treat infectious diseases. Instead, take it in addition to standard medication. You must chew the fresh cloves to transform alliin into allicin. One medium-size garlic clove packs the antibacterial punch of about 100,000 standard units of penicillin. Depending on the type of infection, oral penicillin doses typically range from 600,000 to 1.2 million units, or the equivalent of about 6 to 12 cloves.

Heart Disease. Garlic contains chemicals that reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and they help prevent the blood clots that trigger heart attack. Studies dating back to the 1920s confirm garlic’s ability to reduce blood pressure in animals and humans. More than a dozen medical journal reports document garlic’s ability to reduce cholesterol. In one experiment, researchers had volunteers eat a meal containing about four ounces of butter, which raises cholesterol. Half the group also ate about nine cloves of garlic. After three hours, the average cholesterol level in the nongarlic group increased 7 percent. But in the garlic group, it decreased 7 percent. The researchers concluded that garlic has a very significant protective action against high cholesterol. I call garlic as potent as aspirin, which is now widely used to prevent the blood clots that trigger heart attack. To prevent heart disease, it is recommended eating at least one clove of fresh garlic a day.

Mudra for Regularising the Heart beat

A Helping Hand for cardiacs

Are you prone to heart attacks or deafness?These mudras will help in curing your ailments

One of the finest gifts of yoga to the cause of human welfare is the science of mudras. Hands have a power of their own. In this article I begin with yoga injections and Mudras (postures) which are of immense value for day to day healthy and purposeful life. Mudras can cure almost any ailment from a simple earache to a heart attack. They can cure or curse according to the will of their owner, and one who knows how to use this power can control his life and health both mental and physical through various other important mudras.

If a person who has developed heart trouble perform Mritsanjivini Mudra. This will act like a tablet of sorbitrate, not temporarily but lead to path of permanent recovery. Through MritsanjiviniMudra that a patient having a heart attack can check the attack and get instant relief.This mudra is very helpful in healing the problem of Cardiac, which is an abnormally slow or unsteady heart rhythm that causes symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, being extremely tired, and shortness of breath.

Technique :

Fold the forefinger down on the mound of the thumb,.

Join the thumb with the tips of the third and fourth finger.

The little figure remains straight.

Close your eyes and relax, keeping whole body motionless.

The gesture formed is MritsanjiviniMudra.

Healthy Tips for HEART.

• The early morning is ideal for taking a walk in MritsanjiviniMudra. It will not only help your heart, it will prepare you for the day by charging up your circulation and your metabolism.
• Yoga and Dhyan for at least 30 minutes, three or more times per week helps strengthen the heart.
• NadiSodhanaParanayamis a best exercise for heart patients and can be done virtually anywhere, anyplace.
• Increase fibre and reduce fat intake in your Diet. Fibre is found only in plants – fruits, vegetables and grains. Fibre helps lower blood cholesterol and people who eat more fibre have a lower risk of heart disease.
• Learn to stay calm so that you don’t lose your temper and increase your blood pressure. Deep breathing is a good way to control anger and to relax.
• Make yourself feel free and happy, keep smiling always. Even 5 minutes of laughter keeps our stress at lowest possible level.

If you need more information on mudras, Yoga, and yog mudras visit http://www.mudrasforhealing.com.

16 Healthy Reasons To Buy A Treadmill Desk And Lose Weight

Treadmill desk exercises are good for you for many health reasons, including:

Keeps you off the couch (but not your psychiatrists couch, or the casting director’s couch), and you can still watch TV or work on your computer while exercising.

Makes you a real smarty pants – like you aren’t already. Any neurologist moron (Wu CW, Chen YC, Yu L, Chen HI, Jen CJ, Huang AM, Tsai HJ, Chang YT, Kuo YM. Treadmill exercise counteracts the suppressive effects of peripheral lipopolysaccharide on hippocampal neurogenesis and learning and memory. J Neurochem. 2007 Dec;103(6):2471-81. Epub 2007 Oct 22.) knows that exercise stimulates the formation of neurons… like, duh, who doesn’t that? But, did you know that those little connections, yeah synapses, get stronger when you work out. It is also increases, umm, what do you call it, umm, umm, oh yeah, memory. Works for me…

Better sex life – healthy body = healthy libido. Yeah, I am now up to once a year, (well, in a good year that is). What a stud I be… and I owe it all to the 17.3 hours a day I spend on my treadmill desk.

Live long and prosper – no that is not a Vulcan proverb, it is proven that people who are physically active simply live longer. Physical activity (and visiting certain online web sites) makes your heart work harder and get stronger. If you regularly exercise on your treadmill desk, you can also decrease your chance of heart disease by lowering your blood pressure and increasing that good HDL cholesterol. Yeah, I remember reading about the James Fixx, who wrote the book Running, died young, but I have always said how much younger would he have passed away if he wasn’t working out.

As Olivia Newton-John sang in her hit song, “Let’s Get Cognitive,” treadmill desk exercising increases cognitive performance and may delay the onset of dementia. I am going to get my grandmother strapped to my treadmill and test this hypothesis. Gawd, I hope her walker can keep up with her.

Lower your cholesterol without drugs (at least without prescription drugs). Science has demonstrated that physical exercise positively impacts blood cholesterol levels by decreasing LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol.

Help control of type 2 diabetes using Twinkies. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy an extra few dozen Twinkies. You know what? Don’t focus on all those abstract things like “insulin resistance” and “glucose tolerance.” Just take pleasure in knowing your treadmill desk will help you control your diabetes so you can really indulge to all those things that got you there in the first place.

Lower your blood pressure (without dying). Regular exercise will decrease the blood pressure in approximately 75% of hypertensive people. With odds like that, you should can gamble online while you are working out on your treadmill.

Weight control. You know that old adage, “Garbage in, garbage on (your hips),” or something like that. If you work out more than you take in, wait a minute, let me check my calculator… yep, it is official, if you burn more calories than you eat, you will lose weight.

Muscle strength without ‘roids. The only person who doesn’t like this finding is that high school kid who has been selling you steroids for the last few years. Your treadmill desk will put her out of business.

Bone strength. Exercising can positively impact your bone density. (Geez, that is way cheaper than a penile implant). Who knew that weight-bearing exercises can promote bone formation and may protect against osteoporosis. The great new about this, is that we won’t have to see Sally Fields on TV anymore pushing drugs on old people.

Exercise promotes better night sleep. Works for me… I went from 12 hours a night (plus nap) to 16 hours. Gawd, I love my treadmill desk.

Stress management. I SAID STRESS MANAGEMENT, DID YOU HEAR ME? ARE YOU READING THIS? GEEEZUS! GET WITH IT! NOW!! NOW!! Hold on, I need to go sit down for a minute or ten.

Tom Cruise was right – yelling at Oprah works. You don’t need antidepressant medication. Numerous studies have revealed that exercise promotes mental health and can reduce the symptoms of depression. I also taken his other advice in that I watch Oprah and yell at her for the entire hour. Makes me feel really good.

Optometrists and audiologists approve of treadmill desks. Optometrists approve because most people have screens are too small to comfortably read, so they have to get new glasses or contacts. Audiologists find that the dull roar of your treadmill desk motor is often compensated by jacking up the volume on your TV or computer, thus starting a nasty spiral towards them promoting the $3,500 hearing aid over the $100 device that works just as well.

There you have it, now go buy a treadmill desk.

Blood Pressure FAQ

More Blood Pressure questions please visit :Hypertension-Cholesterol.com

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Cholesterol lowering drugs?
I have started taking cholesterol lowering tablets?And it states on the box that i have to pinch them at night {before you go to bed}.my dilema is i work hours of darkness shift and now take them surrounded by the morning.will this have an adverse effect or what.I cant ask my doctor, as…

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Low Acidic Foods For Health

The fluids and cells of our body is designed to be slightly alkaline (a pH of 7.365), and the body will go to any length to maintain this pH – no matter what the long-term damage this causes. So when we eat acidic foods such as sugar, trans-fats, chocolate, sweets, pizzas, chips, fatty meats, excessive dairy, alcohol.

Premature aging can start as early as 25 years of age. If you are 25 to 30 years old and you are always feeling low on energy with a lot of aches and pains in your body, you are acidic. Other symptoms of an acidic body are anemia, asthma, and other serious symptoms of major illnesses like cancer. These are all due to the acid imbalance in your body.

Not only have apples been proven to be potent weapons against cancer, heart disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes but other fruits and vegetables have some remarkable health benefits as well. For instance, strawberries and raspberries contain a compound called ellagic acid. One of the best cancer fighters Mother Nature ever created.

Our body is unable to manufacture DHA and EPA on its own. However, these fats are naturally present in the blood by birth. When we grow up our nutritional needs also expand and we should eat a properly balanced diet consisting of vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates, to develop a strong immune system.
Right about now you’re probably wondering, “So, what’s the difference?” There is a huge difference. Nutrient-dense foods have a high nutrient-to-calorie ratio. That simply means that they are rich in nutrients when you compare that to their calorie count.

Low acid diet is being considered to be the solution and the appropriate diet program for those looking for a healthy way of living, as this diet program helps maintain the right kind of proper levels of pH in our own body. The alkaline diet is on its way of replacing the past popular diet programs like the South Beach diet and the Atkins diet.

Making natural weight loss affordable with low carb foods, high fiber foods and health drinks is not that easy. These days it seems that losing weight costs more money than gaining weight.

Health conscious individuals would be looking out for a compilation of the list of low fat foods as it gets decidedly difficult on the choice of foods with all the fads, dieting crazes and misinformation circulating around. This is all the more true for those individuals who would have unsuccessfully tried several diets without resulting in weight loss.

Fruits and vegetables are essentially “cholesterol free” because cholesterols can only be produced from animal sources. Thus, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake will not only mean loading your body with important vitamins and minerals, but indulging in all health goodness without increasing cholesterol.

This brain food is safe, effective and is easy to come by. The only thing is you must be sure your are getting pure and fresh ones. I am talking about fish. The oily, cold water species like tuna, salmon hoki and sardine. These are the best fish for brain however due to the commonly known trend that these fish can be toxic many people do not want to risk their health by eating them.

Almost all types of food have cholesterol content in one way or the other. You have to be aware of how much cholesterol is present each food items you take so as to regulate your consumption. People suffering from heart diseases and those who are at risk of developing them are the ones who should be very careful of what they eat.

Lipid Transport

LIPOPROTEINS
Once lipids are disassembled in the intestinal lumen and mucosal cell (enterocyte) they are reassembled in the mucosal cell as chylomicrons (CM’s) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL’s). These vehicles contain primarily nonpolar cholesterol esters and triglycerides in the core and polar cholesterol, protein, and phospholipids in their membranes. (Fig. 20)

[ Lipoproteins Image ]

http://www.wysong.net/articles/lipid/figures/figure20.jpg

They are transported via the lymph and blood circulation to the liver, fat depots, and muscles. There the endothelial enzyme lipoprotein lipase removes the lipid contents.

Lipid carrying vehicles are also made by the liver primarily as very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and these function to move lipids made by the body itself into tissues. On the other hand, high density lipoproteins (HDL), which are made in the intestines and liver, function primarily to reverse this process and transport lipids from tissue to liver hepatocytes.1 HDL’s are of two types: HDL3 and HDL2. HDL3 is an empty package composed of a bilayer lipid membrane plus proteins. Lysolecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) and apoprotein A associated with HDL3 remove free cholesterol from the blood, esterify it and fill the HDL3 package.

The LCAT enzyme uses the fatty acid in the number two position of lecithin to esterify to cholesterol. If this fatty acid is saturated, the process is inhibited: if it is unsaturated, the process is enhanced. Thus, cholesterol blood clearing by HDL3 is linked to dietary intake of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. High saturated triglycerides are often clinically associated with high blood cholesterol levels.

As HDL3 swells with cholesterol ester, it becomes HDL2, which in the liver releases its cholesterol through the action of hepatic lipase. Released cholesterol is conjugated with the amino acids glycine (predominantly in most species) and taurine (predominantly in cats) to form bile salts which are then excreted in the bile into the small intestine.2,3 Some cholesterol is then reabsorbed via the enterohepatic circulation and some passes with the feces. The less reabsorbed, the lower the blood levels of cholesterol. A variety of complex factors influences the reuptake of bile cholesterol. For example, some of the beneficial effects of fiber and certain bowel microorganisms can be related to decreasing cholesterol uptake.4,5

Characterization of lipid transport vehicles is based on physical density, size and ratios of constituents. Chylomicrons are the largest particles, the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is the next largest, the intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) is the next largest, the low density lipoprotein (IDL) is the next largest, and then high density lipoproteins (HDL) are the smallest. In terms of their constituents, as the particle becomes smaller as it is hydrolyzed by lipoprotein lipase on capillary endothelial cells, its protein and cholesterol content becomes greater, triglyceride content becomes smaller and its density increases.6 Thus chylomicrons are laden with lipid but lean of protein, whereas high density lipoproteins contain smaller amounts of lipid and larger measures of protein. (Fig. 21)

[ Lipid Transport Vehicles Image ]

http://www.wysong.net/articles/lipid/figures/figure21.jpg

Diagnostically the measure of these lipid carriers in the blood is important as indicators of risk particularly to cardiovascular disease. If there are high levels of LDL’s, this would be unfavorable whereas high levels of HDL’s would be favorable. High levels of LDL’s mean that there is a large amount of circulating cholesterol which may have atherogenic potential. On the other hand, a high level of HDL’s would mean that lipid stores are being mobilized from tissue and metabolized in the liver to be excreted in the bile.7

APOPROTEINS
The proteins associated with lipid carriers help solubilize the lipids, and identify them for enzymatic action. There are a host of these apoproteins. Some of those believed to be most important diagnostically are B, found on LDL’s and VLDL’s, E, found on IDL’s, and A. found on HDL’s. Apoprotein B on LDL’s and VLDL’s tags lipids for uptake by liver cells or scavenger cells in blood vessel walls. Apoprotein A tags HDL’s for liver uptake. Another apoprotein, C-2, serves as a cofactor for lipoprotein lipase which hydrolyzes the contents of low density lipid carriers on the endothelial wall. (Fig 22)

[ Lipoprotein Metabolism Image ]

http://www.wysong.net/articles/lipid/figures/figure22.jpg

This is a very brief overview of some increasingly complex biochemistry coming to light.8-l0 Diagnostically, identifying apoproteins may be most revealing since they are more specific than simply measuring cholesterol or lipoproteins. High apoprotein A, for example, indicates high levels of HDL’s whereas high levels of B indicate high levels of LDL’s.

Lipoprotein (a) (different than A) may be one of the best independent markers for both cardiovascular risk and severity of existing disease. It is comprised of LDL and apoproteins B-100 and (a). Lp(a) is genetically controlled and due to the homology between apo (a) and plasminogen, a blood clot lysing factor, it interferes with clot lysis and adheres LDL to the endothelial surface where it can initiate atherosclerosis. Lp(a) levels greater than 50 mg/ell, plus high LDL levels can increase cardiovascular disease risk six fold. 11-14

TARGET BLOOD LEVELS
Blood cholesterol is increasingly used as a screening tool for cardiovascular risk. One third of all adults in the U.S. now know their blood cholesterol level. How much is the right amount? Looking at just LDL cholesterol, it is argued that since newborns have levels of approximately 30 mg/dl and that 25 mg/dl is sufficient to nourish the body’s tissue with cholesterol, and that species which do not experience cholesterol-related cardiovascular disease consistently have LDL cholesterol levels of less than 80 mg/dl, a recommended level of 25-80 mg/dl is considered to be in the healthy range. This is 1/5 the level normally seen in Western societies.15 Other tests measuring HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, apoproteins and cholesterol/HDL and Apo A/Apo B ratios are also used to determine cardiovascular risk.
[ Blood Lipid Levels Image ]

http://www.wysong.net/articles/lipid/figures/figure22a.jpg

By measuring various lipid factors it is possible to compile a composite lipid risk score.16 Diagnostic values, however, are subject to error both in testing and interpretation. We are far from being able to accurately quantitate health. A false “positive” risk could create anxiety and disease (convert a normal person to a patient) where none was present, and a false “negative” risk could lead to complacency and exacerbation of existing disease. Therefore, laboratory results and “normal” values should always be viewed with suspicion and used only as leads for further diagnostic evaluation.17-20

CHOLESTEROL
The level of various lipids in the blood, including cholesterol, is dependent upon cholesterol ingested and the amount of cholesterol being synthesized within the body. Cholesterol is an extremely important compound that makes up part of cellular membranes, is a substrate for the synthesis of a variety of hormones and vitamin D, and also is a component of bile acids which permit the digestion of lipids.

If cholesterol is a normal and healthy physiological compound, why such an uncomplimentary reputation? Government, through the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) seeks to decrease the nation’s blood cholesterol levels. This is the largest medical intervention in the history of the U.S.A. It has not been done without cause. Heart disease takes the life of one of every two in this country. Cholesterol is an integral part of the atherosclerotic plaque and major studies such as the federally supported Framingham (Mass.) Heart Study following thousands of subjects since 1948 show significant correlations between cholesterol and heart disease.

Simply lowering blood cholesterol is not a panacea, however. If the diet were totally depleted of cholesterol, the body would be forced to produce that which is necessary to sustain life. If blood cholesterol is unusually low (less than 160 mg/dl) the risk of stroke increases three fold and the risk of cancer increases two fold.21, 22 Thus dietary cholesterol, although perhaps a contributing factor to disease, is not likely a “poison” in its natural food form. The body has elaborate biochemical systems designed to synthesize approximately 80% of the cholesterol found within normal tissue. The body evidently thinks cholesterol is important. Cholesterol synthesis uses foods such as sugar, alcohol and starch to form the precursor acetate. A host of enzymes specifically designed to assure cholesterol availability then builds the complex molecule from acetate.

Cholesterol has been a part of the diet since the beginning of life yet cholesterol-linked disease is recent, reportedly being of significant consequence only since about the 1930′s. The Masai in Tanzania consume up to 2,000 mg of cholesterol per day yet their serum levels remain low, 115-145 mg/dl.23 A study of South African egg farm workers who consume large numbers of eggs resulting in a cholesterol intake of 1,200 mg per day have serum cholesterol levels of 180 mg/dl.

So why would cholesterol cause cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in many developed nations, when:
1. Cholesterol has been a part of the natural diet of humans and animals for millennia:
2. Cardiovascular disease is not significant in many so societies consuming high levels of cholesterol:
3. As cardiovascular disease increased, cholesterol and saturated fat levels have remained relatively constant: (Fig. 24) and,
4. As deaths from heart attacks decreased by 42% from 1963 to 1986, average cholesterol levels decreased only 3%.24

Some argue that the apparent paradox of increased cardiovascular disease is a result of increased life span creating an older population naturally more given to degenerative diseases. But contrary to popular belief, life span (the length of life one can expect to live, life potential) has not increased significantly since actuarial data has been reliably tabulated. Life expectancy (the average length of life of a population), on the other hand, has increased (47 years in 1900, 73 years today) due to decreased infant mortality resulting from better public hygiene and food distribution. Thus although at birth our chance of survival to a natural old-age death is increased, our age at the time of a natural death has not increased over that of our distant ancestors.25 Increased cardiovascular disease rates are therefore not simply a function of the increasing average age of our population.

The evidence is, however, quite convincing that cardiovascular disease is linked to diet in some way. Additionally, atherosclerotic plaques in vessel walls (particularly carotid and coronary) do indeed contain cholesterol although it may be difficult to prove that cholesterol’s presence is a cause rather than a result of atherosclerosis. The issue is not closed. There is evidence that cardiovascular disease is ancient and that genetics and the stresses of modern living. particularly. may be more important than diet.26

It is likely that atherosclerosis is a consequence of the influence of a variety of modern factors. These include but are not limited to sedentary living, stress, environmental pollution and diet. Looking only at diet, correlations between cardiovascular disease and increased consumption of proinflammatory omega-6 oils, processed (hydrogenated, oxidized) polyunsaturated fatty acids found in manufactured margarines and a wide range of other commercial processed products and oxidized cholesterol are far more logically convincing as etiologic factors than natural cholesterol or saturated fats.

[ The Cause Of Cardiovascular Disease Image ]

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The early 1900′s, marking a seemingly rapid rise in cardiovascular disease, also marked the rise in the consumption of the fabricated, fractionated processed diet.27-30 (Fig. 23) Cholesterol as a part of raw, whole, natural foods (natural here would also mean food animals in the wild, not factory farmed) has not been demonstrated to be linked to any disease conditions. The putative relationship between cholesterol and disease confuses definitions. The cholesterol referred to and shown through metanalysis, retrospective studies and prospective controlled clinical trials to be positively associated with atherosclerosis is not “natural” cholesterol. For example, in animal studies which induce atherosclerosis, an oxidized (“activated”) cholesterol is used.31,32 Additionally, human studies measure the effects of processed fats and oils as they occur in processed foods, not lipids as they occur in raw, natural, whole, fresh foods. Cholesterol in a homogenized, pasteurized butter, scrambled egg, fastfood burger or a grilled steak is a whole different creature than the cholesterol found in the living tissue of a wild antelope. (Fig.24)

Not only is the form of the cholesterol different (there are over 60 different cholesterol oxide species alone) but its context is totally different. The value of food is not only determined by its individual components, but by the company kept, the kind and relative amounts of neighbors — its synergonic nature. Processed foods are made from fractionated ingredients which are modified and then reassembled to create taste, shelf life and profit. Afresh, raw, natural food is entirely different, it is a complex milieu of interrelationships. It is a whole more than an assemblage of parts. A real food is no more X% protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates than a novel is X% ink, cellulose and glue.

Although experiments have yet to be devised to measure the effects of natural cholesterol by means of an all raw diet, the results are predictable. The grandest experiment of all, that of the development and sustenance of life on the planet prior to the roller mill, extruder, solvent extractor and hydrogenator, has already given the answer. Life owes its very existence to the presence of whole raw natural food. Such food is not the cause of disease, it is the cause of life.

[ Cholesterol Forms Image ]

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Natural food was the only food available until the technological era. The new food, the new cholesterol, hydrogenated and oxidized fatty acids and their new artificial combinations, were born out of technology. Also, it is argued, born at that time was the plaque of atherosclerosis. Thus the relationship of “cholesterol” and “saturated fats” to atherosclerosis is an indictment of food processing and not true food cholesterol as a part of whole, raw, natural foods.

REGULATING BLOOD LIPIDS
The level of cholesterol in the blood is regulated by a wide array of feedback mechanisms. If there is an excessive amount of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, receptors in the liver responsible for taking up these transport units will become saturated. When high blood levels of LDL are reached, the liver cells decrease the number of LDL receptors thus decreasing the liver’s ability to clear the blood of cholesterol. Thus when the liver is saturated with cholesterol and it needs no more, it simply shuts down the production of LDL receptors. At the same time, cholesterol excretion of bile acids would be increased to capacity. If the diet is low in fiber, or digestive tract microflora are out of balance, much of this cholesterol would be reabsorbed thus contributing to escalating blood levels of cholesterol. The cycle perpetuates itself continuing to build higher and higher blood levels of cholesterol. A familial hyperlipidemic condition whereby receptors for taking up LDL are defective can also contribute to exaggerated blood levels of cholesterol in some individuals.33 (Fig. 25)

High blood cholesterol and saturated fat levels and unfavorable lipoprotein ratios are a reality for many individuals and may place them at risk of life threatening disease. Improvements in lifestyle can decrease the absorption of cholesterol, increase its excretion, and change the ratio of LDL’s to HDL’s resulting in blood levels which are more conducive to

[ Cholesterol Metabolism Image ]

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the healthy state. Such improvements include: (1) increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and: (2) consuming a variety of high fiber foods containing various sterols which compete for uptake of cholesterol in the intestinal tract combined with: (3) a lower consumption level of processed cholesterol combined with: (4) increased exercise: (5) and perhaps increased consumption of omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acid containing foods. Omega-3′s are extremely effective in mixed hyperlipidemias, and omega-9′s are reported to have the ability to decrease LDL’s while increasing HDL’s.34-37 Decreasing saturated fat consumption also may help since saturated triglycerides are hydrophobic and encourage the formation of the higher fat and cholesterol carrying LDL’s and VLDL’s and retard cholesterol uptake by HDL’s.

Additionally, certain drugs (Probucol, Cholestyramine, Colestipol, Clofibrate, Gemfibrozil, Lovastatin and others) have been devised to decrease the hepatic synthesis of cholesterol and decrease the amount of cholesterol that is intestinally absorbed or reabsorbed from bile into the enterohepatic circulation which may be required if more natural modifications are not effective. (These are not without significant dangers, however.) 38-42

Diet modification and lifestyle changes are sensible tools to improve health and will offer the greatest chance of optimizing health and preventing disease. Careless hedonistic living based on the presumption that early diagnosis and heroic invasive procedures, such as transplants, angioplasty, bypasses, or drugs will provide forgiveness is a poor second to thoughtful preventive practices.

References available within book text, click the following link to view this article on wysong.net:

http://www.wysong.net/articles/lipid/07_article_lipid_chapter_seven_lipid_transport.shtml

For further reading, or for more information about, Dr Wysong and the Wysong Corporation please visit www.wysong.net or write to wysong@wysong.net. For resources on healthier foods for people including snacks, and breakfast cereals please visit www.cerealwysong.com.

Nac Effect On Cholesterol

Cholesterol. You must have heard it from your parent or grand parent that they are suffering from bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is a sterol that is a combination of steroids and alcohol. It is a lipid that is found in cell membranes inside all body tissues. Researchers first found cholesterol in solid form in form of gallstones. It fetches its name from Greek terminology, where ‘chole’ meaning bile, ‘stereos’ meaning solid and ‘ol’ from the chemical suffix of alcohol.

Mostly cholesterol is not dietary in nature; it is also formed inside the body. It is present in much larger concentrations in tissues, which either produce more or have more densely packed membranes. It plays a central role in many biochemical processes inside the body and hence is of vital importance. Though a little amount is fine, but excess of everything is bad. It is the case with cholesterol, if in excess can cause major complications. It is best known for the originator for cardiovascular disease.

NAC or N-AcetyleCysteine is the amino acid L-Cysteine plus an acetyl group attached to the amino (NH2) group. It helps to speed absorption and distribution on orally ingested Cysteine. Cysteine is primarily an amino acid, which is present in proteins. N-Acetyle Cysteine is a derivative of Cysteine and is commonly found in food and is synthesized by the body. NAC is also available as a supplement and performs very important functions. These functions include breaking down mucus, producing Glutathione – an important antioxidant, and protecting the body from acetaminophen toxicity.

NAC helps in controlling cholesterol levels. In combination with nitroglycerin, it is a drug that dilates blood vessels, helps decrease the rate of acute heart attacks in patients with angina pectoris i.e. pain in the center of chest. The primary dietary sources that can provide NAC include wheat germ, granola, oat flakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, pork, sausage meat, chicken, turkey, etc.

Normally the quantity of NAC is maintained in the body through the intake of these primary resources, but sometimes due to some bioprocesses, this level reduces and can induce cholesterol related diseases. When a person is suffering from cholesterol related disease or in other terms ‘bad cholesterol’ he is advised a dosage of around 1200 to 3600 mg per day. This quantity differs from patient to patient and is dependent upon the how bad the situation actually is. Persons of all age group can suffer from cholesterol related problems, but it is most common in the 35- 50 age group.

So, the next time you hear your parents or friends talking to the doctor about bad cholesterol, you know that they are talking about low-density lipoprotein or LDL as it is commonly called. Thus, you can now tell your parents or friends or any person suffering from bad cholesterol, about NAC and its advantages in curing such health related concerns.

Cancer Natural Cures: Arum Maculatum on Spotlight

Cancer is considered as one of humanity’s problems. They see this disease as unwanted and should be wiped out completely. Just how tough is this disease? You only need to check out the literature about the disease online to know how critical this disease is. From many online resources, you will learn that this is a chronic immune and a metabolic disorder that is often associated with the abnormal growth of the cells of many tissues. And this in turn can destroy the surrounding tissues in good health. Because of the severity of the challenge that can be posed by this disease, the medical community is looking for ways to combat this disease. And we see the results now; there are a number of medications and treatments that were discovered meant to address cancer. These are the legit and the proven treatment. But there are other treatment options as well, and these are called alternative cures and treatments. These are considered due to their cheapness, and perfect examples of this are the use of herbal medicines. Consider the use of herbs and plants like Arum Maculatum as one.

When you say cancer natural cures, Arum Maculatum will enter the picture. Well this is not your typical herb or plant that is often used to treat cancer. When you say herbal treatments to cancer, some of the herbs that are often associated to this include Chaparral, Mistletoe, Shitake and even Red Clover. But due to the wants of many to discover other treatment options by going natural and alternative, other herbs are being considered including this herb. For cancer natural cures, Arum Maculatum is a new entry. But even though this is late in the game, this herb is starting to get the attention of cancer patients.

Here is a little background about on the plant. This is a woodland plant, and most common in temperate areas of Europe and known by many names like Bobbins and Starch-Root. The development of this plant starts with the appearance of the leaves, often in spring. Then the flowers of the plant soon follow. Just on top of the male flowers are rings of hair that are used to trap insects. The woodland plant may be striking, but take note that this woodland plant can be toxic and poisonous. But toxicity aside, it is the promise of the plant that makes it interesting. There are a number of medical uses for Arum Maculatum, and these are the reasons why this is considered for cancer. Here are some of the common medicinal uses of this plant;

• The plant can be used to alleviate the pains caused by sore throats, and best to lessen the swollen membranes.
• This woodland plant can be used as a diuretic and a stimulant.
• And when topically applied, this can be used for rheumatism.

These are some of the benefits of Arum Maculatum, and perhaps the reasons why this plant is considered as cancer natural cures. Arum Maculatum- is now the perfect time to consider this as an option to cancer treatment? Well, it’s still a wait-and-see game.