How is High Cholesterol a Symptom of Something Else?

High cholesterol is something to be avoided, or so we are told through magazine and TV commercials espousing the benefits of the latest cholesterol reducing drug. Unfortunately these advertisements are correct in that having high levels of this fatty lipid in our bodies can be dangerous, and in many cases fatally so.

High cholesterol itself does not normally cause any symptoms but high levels of it in the blood stream can signify and increased risk for other life threatening health problems. This means that most people have no idea as to what their cholesterol levels are until they have a blood test. In fact even healthy and active people can have high cholesterol levels because of their genetic pre-disposition, which points out why it is important that everyone have their levels tested at least once a year.
Much like hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol is a very large and invisible danger to those who have it. Here's why.
High cholesterol itself is not a disease but having abnormal amounts in the blood causes the accumulation and formation of plaque deposits in your arteries. These plaques are comprised primarily of cholesterol, fatty deposits, fibrous tissues, and calcium. This build up of plaque in your arteries lead to atherosclerosis which is a hardening and obstruction of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of heart disease and increases the risk of stroke. As the arteries become blocked the heart has to work harder, raising blood pressure and increasing the chances of a heart attack. These plaques can also break loose and lodge in the smaller veins and arteries of the brain causing a stroke.
High cholesterol is not something that should be ignored. If you are found to have high levels it is important to make some serious lifestyle changes to bring those levels down. This can include diet, exercise, and in extreme cases prescription medications. High cholesterol is a symptom of something else, something that may have a far more deadly effect on your life. Don't let high cholesterol be a silent killer, take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
For more information about how to reduce cholesterol please visit the website Lowering Cholesterol by clicking here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bicknell

Foods to Lower Cholesterol - How I Lower Total Cholesterol Naturally From 376 Mg/DL to 121 Mg/DL

Foods to lower cholesterol do exist, and I am a living proof that they can do miraculous things to drop your cholesterol numbers from abnormally high level to a fully safe level in comparatively short time. It's simply a matter of persistence to stick with the right kind of natural diet.
But first, let's cover the basics. The purpose of your diet should be to reach ideal cholesterol measurement, which means lower your LDL level (bad cholesterol) in your blood to be under 100 mg/dL, and to raise your HDL level (good cholesterol) to be higher than 60 mg/dL. Also, your ratio of HDL compared to LDL should be lower than 4.4:1. After your numbers are within these ranges, you should constantly monitor and control your levels to be within this restrictions as much as possible.
Now that you know the goals, let me tell you about my little story of how I lower my total cholesterol level from 376 to 121 in only 2 months.
Back in 2008, my first ever medical check up result was shown to me by my doctor. The horror hit me when he gave me that serious look and said "this 376 mg/dL total is abnormally high cholesterol reading, you know.. I have to put you on medication right away to make it low in order to reach a healthy level". He then mumbled something about this medicine called Zocor, and how I should be taking it daily for a month (my dose was 20 mg per day).
Just imagine my shock! I could feel my jaw dropped and hit the floor in disbelieve...
Prior to that moment, I have always felt that I was in perfectly normal health. My physical condition was okay compared to my friends', and I've never had any serious disease.
But then I realized that it was real... I know the Zocor my doctor prescribed me was not the solution. I found out from the medicine's own website that even on a treatment with a dose 4 times what my doctor was giving me, a drop of 100 points in total cholesterol is very rare. What I needed was a drop of more than 200 points. I just knew that Zocor (or Lipitor, or Lescol, or drugs like them) was not the answer to my problem.
I started to do an extensive research for information on the internet, and soon I find out that cholesterol lowering can be done by eating the right kind of food. I still took the Zocor daily at that time, but then I also started doing all these:
- I stopped eating all kinds of meat, fat and poultry for 2 months straight (these kinds of food causes the heart to produce more bad cholesterol)
- I stopped all kinds of soda drinks and sugary drink (yes, that includes tea and coffee)
- I stopped consuming all kinds of dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, chocolate - sigh..)
- I started eating more vegetables in all my three meals a day
- I added fruit into all my three meals every day
- I eat fish frequently, with every meal when possible (they are good to increase HDL because of Omega-3 oil in them)
- I stopped eating white bread and switch to whole grain bread
- I started taking daily dose of vitamins and supplements daily
- I started eating cereal after each meal
- On the sports side, I started jogging 4 miles weekly on every Saturday
After two months of doing this religiously, I visited the lab again to test my cholesterol level again...
And the result was a big victory for me! My new total cholesterol count was now 121 mg/dL!
I was very excited, knowing that I've found the "secret" of lowering cholesterol, and that I can now kiss goodbye to heart disease risk.
As a closing note, let me tell you the truth: what kind of vegetables, fruits and vitamins I took was the most important key in my success. Eat the wrong kind of them, and you won't be reducing your cholesterol levels at all.
To find out exactly what kind of diets will produce my kind of result, check out the guidelines on this website: Good Cholesterol Foods. On this site you will also find a free booklet on cholesterol management and a cholesterol chart to help tracking your cholesterol level progress.
Do not wait.. you can start reducing your cholesterol level today. Act Now! Visit the website mentioned above and find the ways how you can copy my method to reduce your total cholesterol by as much as 255 points naturally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Hearts

Effective Diet For High Cholesterol - What's In & Out For Reduced Cholesterol Levels?

If your doctor has recently recommended that you switch to a diet for high cholesterol, learning which foods are in and which are out when it comes to this type of diet plan is essential. The reason high cholesterol presents a problem for your health is its relationship to the clogging of the arteries. As your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels go up, the narrower your arteries become, the less blood is flowing freely into your heart, and the greater your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Obviously, the sooner you can start following a diet for high cholesterol the better! Just by adopting a diet for high cholesterol you can lower your cholesterol, prevent heart disease, and even turn around any clogged arteries that may already be occurring inside your body.
For those with more advanced heart disease, it is essential to follow a diet for high cholesterol to prevent further deterioration of the heart. The fastest way to adopt an eating plan in line with cholesterol reducing health benefits is to learn which foods are out and which foods are in when it comes to the health of your heart.
What's In
Whole Grains: The high fiber content in 100% whole grain products is good for much more than just regulating bowel movements and increasing energy levels during the day. It turns out getting adequate amounts of fiber in your daily diet can also help lower LDL, which is the "bad" cholesterol which contributes to heart disease.
Fresh Produce: Fresh fruits and vegetables are low calorie, nutrient rich options that help take off excess weight that contributes to high cholesterol and heart disease. They also contribute valuable antioxidants and fiber which will help control cholesterol levels and improve overall health.
Monounsaturated Fat Sources: You need some fat in your diet to maintain healthy body functioning, but you must choose sparingly from sources of monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil or nuts. You get some dietary fat through your regular foods, so anything extra should be limited to what is needed for basic cooking purposes, reasonable snacks, and for seasoning.
Omega3 Fatty Acids: Taking pure fish oil or omega3 supplements on a daily basis can go a long way toward controlling cholesterol as well as weight and other health problems that commonly lead to high cholesterol. You can include fatty fish such as salmon in your diet, but you will need to eat it at least 3 times a week in order to take in enough omega3 to get the full health benefits. Plant sources such as flaxseed can also be used, but taking a supplement makes it easier to ensure you get adequate amounts.
Exercise: This isn't necessarily a dietary measure, but when combined with a good diet for high cholesterol it will help increase HDL, which is the good cholesterol that supports a healthy body. You don't have to workout intensely every night of the week. Just make sure you are consistent with the plan.
What's Out
Saturated Fats: Anything high in saturated fat should be avoided as much as possible when following a diet for high cholesterol. This includes margarines and many oils as well as fatty beef. This is the type of fat that clogs arteries and causes heart disease. You can substitute soy products and vegetable based "fake" meat products some of the time to cut back on meat consumption, or simply use extra lean ground turkey in the place of hamburger meat and eat chicken sandwiches in place of burgers.
Trans Fats: It can be very difficult to eliminate trans fats from your diet since they are now included in virtually all prepackaged foods, but they are just as harmful to your heart and your cholesterol levels as saturated fats and should be avoided as much as possible while following a diet for high cholesterol.
Cholesterol: Foods that are high in cholesterol are absolutely out of the question on a good diet for high cholesterol. It makes no sense to put something in your body while trying to eliminate it from your body. The good news is the simple carbohydrates and fatty slices of beef which contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats also contain lots of cholesterol. This makes it easier to determine which foods need to be eliminated or replaced by lower fat and cholesterol foods.
Staying away from the foods that are out and picking up more of the foods that are in will help you design a diet for high cholesterol tailored to your tastes buds and preferences!

Read more about diet for high cholesterol and other diet plans written by Ellen Smith, a nutritional advisory, on http://www.lowfatdietplan.net and also on http://www.squidoo.com/lowcarbdietmenu for various ideas on menus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_L_Smith