Medical Spa

Maintain healthy LDL levels is considered to be one of the most important factors in reducing a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and artery disease. While most know LDL simply as bad cholesterol, LDL actually stands for low density lipoproteins. When a person’s levels of LDL are consistently high (over 130) it causes the buildup of fatty deposits inside the arteries known as plaque, narrowing the arteries and reducing blood flow to the heart. If left untreated arterial blockage will eventually occur, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Healthy levels of LDL are generally considered to be under 120 milligrams for each deciliter of blood for those with no family or personal history of heart disease. On the other hand if you have a personal or family history of heart disease, or have one or more of the other common risk factors (smoking, obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes etc…) healthy levels of LDL will be in the 90 to 100 mg/dl range.

Diet and healthy levels of LDL
There are two basic ways your body gets cholesterol: from the foods you eat and by producing it internally through the liver. The truth of the matter is that the liver produces enough cholesterol each day to supply your requirements. What this means is that any cholesterol consumed from the diet must be either used or disposed of through solid waste, otherwise it will end up in your arteries in the form of plaque.

According to the American Heart Association to maintain levels of LDL in a heart healthy range your total dietary fat intake should be no more than 30 percent of total calories consumed daily and most of that fat should be in the form of polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats; along with omega 3 fatty acids found in cold water fatty fish.

The most dangerous type of fat, as it relates to heart and artery disease, is that of saturated fat. The AMA suggest keeping saturated fat consumption below 7 percent of total calories, which equates to around 11 or 12 grams for every 1600 calories consumed.

What next? Maintaining healthy levels of LDL, in most cases, is about eating right, changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), and bring overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels. Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification and smart lifestyle choices (not smoking, staying active) a safe and effective combination worth considering.

Are you looking for ways to lower cholesterol? People these days are very conscious of their weight and their cholesterol level as well. It is not surprising to find people searching for tips and suggestions on how to lower their high cholesterol. Perhaps it is because of the health disadvantages that can result.

Several heart ailments have been connected to high cholesterol level in the body. Some people, for whom the risk of a stroke is high, should not take high cholesterol for granted.

Health is an essential aspect to a happy life, but it must be monitored. Generally, having good health means that a good diet and exercise regime is followed. What you eat plays a significant role in your cholesterol level. So it is essential that one should choose the proper food and nutrition in order to attain the right level of cholesterol that you need. Having cholesterol levels that are too high could result in ill health so lowering cholesterol levels is necessary.

There are two types of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL cholesterol. Imagine the HDL as the healthy type and the LDL as the non-healthy one. In particular, HDL can eventually aid in carrying cholesterol out of the blood vessels while the LDL permits it to be deposited inside the artery walls. But it is good news that you can do something about it.

So, let us start by discussing it. Eating hot dogs, mayonnaise, bologna and salami may be very pleasing, but these foods could easily increase your cholesterol levels. You don’t want that, so your food choice instead should be replaced with sandwiches made of lean turkey and a whole lot of fresh, green vegetables.

Restrict eating those highly processed foods and those that you know have high fat levels. As much as possible avoid trans fats, for these further raise the LDL cholesterol and advance the lowering of the beneficial HDL.

Moreover, it is advisable that you do not eat foods like shortening, margarine, and especially those which contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Furthermore, eat those foods that are rich in Omega-3. Salmon is a really good option so buy red salmon varieties, for they are fantastic sources of Omega-3. Flax seed is also rich in Omega-3. Nuts are also great alternatives to your high-fat cravings.

Try walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans. They are high in fat but they are not the kind that causes harm. You should also cut down on rich desserts. Why not try to eat other alternatives like angel food cakes, jelly, crackers or fat-free yogurts?

Fresh, green vegetables are rich in fiber and these will aid in lowering cholesterol. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, beans and oatmeal are nutritious and can trim down your cholesterol levels as well. Try to grill if you are going to eat steak or burgers for a treat. This would lower the intake of fatty grease and it tastes great too. In addition, olive oil is better to use and try to avoid bacon bits, egg yolks, and other like foods. And most of all avoid fast foods.

If you suffer from high cholesterol, you should consult your primary care physician for advice before making any changes to your diet.

Today people all over the world are suffering the problem of cholesterol levels in the body. This is the reason why it is good to know about the foods which are low in cholesterol levels so that you can take those foods and save your health. You can find a free list of low cholesterol food online. Food plays a very important role when it comes to maintaining a balance between the good and bad levels of cholesterol. We all know the fact that there are two types of cholesterol; one is good and one is bad. The relation between these should always be in a healthy proportion. Try to eat as many as fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This natural food is rich in fiber and contains nothing like cholesterol and it would be a nice supply of vitamins and minerals to your body. Garlic and blueberry are the best when it comes to combating the cholesterol of your body. Also try to eat walnut and also almond. Try to get a free list of low cholesterol food online.

We all know that oatmeal is so popular when it comes to increasing the levels of good cholesterol in your body. Make sure you take some amount of natural oatmeal every day. Fish contains omega-3 fats which play a very important role when it comes to the cholesterol levels of the body. You can get all this information in any free list of low cholesterol food online.

There is a lot of importance to free list of low cholesterol food because if you know the food to eat to lower cholesterol then you can save your life from cholesterol. It is healthier to be familiar with various details about cholesterol and how to decrease bad cholesterol in the body. This is because it has become a chief health problem all over the planet today. The way of life we lead today is entirely damaging these days and our lives are prone to many medical problems if we don’t take sufficient care in the food we take and the life we live.

You also need to keep in mind the fact that cholesterol is mostly obtained from consuming animal products. So if you boost your intake of plant products then you can decrease the risk of cholesterol. This plays a significant role in lowering cholesterol levels of the body. This way by eating the right kind of foods you can stay away from a range of risks of cholesterol. It is very important to maintain the right quantity of cholesterol in the body as there are lots of risks involved with it. You are prone to health hazards like strokes and even heart attacks. It literally means that cholesterol kills. We can’t afford to stay careless about cholesterol anymore as it may take away our lives. Gain adequate information about this topic and stay healthy. This way you can manage a good lifestyle and stay healthy with a long life.

Most have heard the term cholesterol but how many of us really understand the true importance good and bad cholesterol? It is not often that one of your friends calls, texts, or tweets us to brag about his/her good cholesterol being 60 mg/dl and his/her bad cholesterol coming in at around 100 mg/dl. Anyone who did might just be classified as a cholesterol nerd, or something of the sort. Nevertheless, these are important numbers and gaining a better understanding of what they represent in relation to your health could just save your life. Now if you have a few minutes to spare why don’t we jump right into our topic of good and bad cholesterol explained.

Did you know cholesterol doesn’t float freely in your blood? That’s right, it has to be ferried around. The body’s answer to this is good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) which are know in medical terms as lipoprotein carriers. In other words fat and cholesterol carriers. Think of our two stars as competing cab drivers in the same city both vying for that prized customer known as cholesterol who has a schizophrenic personality. When he gets into the HDL cab he is the perfect citizen just wanting to get to the airport to catch his flight home. On the other hand if he gets into the LDL cab he has the potential to become a danger to society if allowed to hang around too long.

Well, pretty corny analogy, right! Not the best way to go about defining good and bad cholesterol explained. So let’s try again, and this time let’s let the American Medical Association do the heavy fat lifting for us. According to the AMA the two most important blood fat/cholesterol carriers are low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). The levels of LDL and HDL have opposite effects on the heart. High levels of LDL, referred to as “the bad cholesterol” are associated with the buildup of plaque (fat deposits) in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease. High levels of HDL, “the good cholesterol” reduce the risk of the disease. End

So there you have it good and bad cholesterol explained. I hope you have enjoyed the ride.

What else? Lowering and maintaining good and bad cholesterol levels in a healthy range, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels). Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification a safe and effective combination worth considering.

Health problems might not be the main concern of many these days. They are more concerned with their figure. It is their beliefs that when they are slim it means they are healthier. That is a misconception. Low cholesterol foods can prevent heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as well as other body disorders.

Low cholesterol menus are already available in the market. Usually, the problem is you do not have any idea, yet, what the perfect menu is, to keep an eye on and what drugs naturally lower cholesterol level.

There are simple ways on how to lower cholesterol levels. You must have to know your limitations and choose the proper foods which are low in cholesterol. These are the kinds of food that can provide you with good health. If your goal is to have lower cholesterol levels, then you have to begin it right by your choice of low cholesterol foods.

If in addition to good food, exercise is your other option; then consider the following tips on how to lower cholesterol levels.

It is necessary for you to take a routine and dynamic exercise because you cannot achieve your desirable results overnight. Normally, it takes months if not weeks to get your target. When you are in the process of doing such an exercise, it is also important to do it with moderate intensity. See to it that the exercises you opted are enough.

For best results, exercise should be of moderate intensity. Do not overdo things. Just make your exercises enough or in a moderate extent.

Regular exercise should be for at least twenty minutes daily. However, for those who are not used to this, they can do these three to four days per week. Weight training is highly recommended to burn calories for the purpose of building your muscles and making them strong.

Like other activities you perform, you must also set your goals in doing regular exercise. Set your goals and keep a record for this. Jot down in your record book what improvement was seen in your daily exercise. This way you can monitor whether your cholesterol level is going up or going low.

If you had been a chain smoker or one addicted to alcoholic beverages or drugs, it is now time to stop these vices. These bring bad effects to the health as they reduce motor skills as well as muscular functioning. The worst is it can lead the users to death. Overnight is not enough for you to be reformed. It needs months if weeks are not enough. Diligence and perseverance are the keys to the attainment of your goal.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Type 2 diabetes represents 45 percent of all newly diagnosed cases of diabetes in children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes used to be known as “adult onset” diabetes, occurring most often in people 40 year or older. Rising childhood obesity rates in recent years have caused a corresponding increase in previously “adult only” conditions. Type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance as well as sleep apnea and gallbladder problems are found more often in overweight and obese kids than ever before. Obesity is thought to be the number one cause of childhood type 2 diabetes.

•How to Keep Your Kids Diabetes-Free
Children are considered overweight when they are in the 85th percentile or above for weight compared to other children their age. Growth charts are used by pediatricians to track a child’s height and weight. Usually measurements are taken at every yearly physical.

•Growth Charts for Kids from Keepkidshealthy.com
Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes in Children

Diagnosis of childhood type 2 diabetes can be difficult because it often develops without symptoms. The usual symptoms include increased urination, increased thirst and weight loss, but a majority of kids who have type 2 don’t show these signs. A simple urinalysis test performed at the pediatrician’s office will show increased glucose in the urine, but often will not show the elevated ketones that would be present in an adult.

•What are Ketones?
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening kids at the age of 10 who are overweight who also have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as family history, signs of insulin resistance, and ethnicity. Screening would include a fasting blood glucose test (FPG) and/or a oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Treatments and Medications

If your child has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you need to keep his blood glucose levels in the normal range.

•Normal Blood Glucose Levels for Kids from the National Diabetes Education Program
Higher than normal blood glucose levels set the stage for serious complications down the road. This damages the body’s blood vessels and can lead to blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy) and kidney failure (nephropathy). Cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and strokes can also result after many years of having diabetes.
•What is Retinopathy?
•What is Neuropathy?
•What is Nephropathy?
Weight loss and exercise are still the number one priority for helping your child manage diabetes. Fat cells are more resistant to insulin than muscle cells, so reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass enables your child to use insulin much more efficiently. This will help lower blood glucose levels and keep them as close to normal as possible.

Sometimes, kids may need medications to help lower blood glucose. Insulin is sometimes prescribed, if diet and exercise is not enough. The FDA has not approved adult oral diabetes medications for use in children as yet, but they haven’t formally disapproved them either. There are ongoing studies to research the safety and effectiveness of some oral diabetes medications in children and adolescents, and the FDA does offer a list of drugs that have been shown to be effective for pediatric use.

•List of Approved Drugs with Additional Pediatric Health Benefits – Updated 6/7/07
Your Child’s Health Care

It’s not easy to manage type 2 diabetes, even for adults, sometimes. It’s a disease that needs to be controlled on many fronts. Eating plans, exercise routines, and medications, combined with keeping track of blood glucose levels, can be overwhelming for parents and kids alike. If insulin is prescribed, then there is the issue of learning about dosing and injection techniques for both you and your child.
•How to Give an Insulin Injection
It’s important to enlist the help of a qualified pediatrician, pediatric endocrinologist or a certified diabetes educator who can help you learn how to manage the disease. A dietitian or nutritionist can help you plan your child’s meals and an exercise counselor can teach your child the tools to become more active and provide a structured exercise program.

Keeping good control of blood glucose levels means monitoring your child’s blood glucose periodically throughout the day. Many blood glucose monitors are available. Unfortunately, the only way to measure blood glucose is by pricking your child’s finger or forearm. Understandably, this can cause some apprehension for both you and your child. But keep in mind that keeping blood glucose as close to normal as possible is the only way to prevent your child from developing the complications later on.

The cholesterol scale presents us with a snapshot of cholesterol; both good and bad. Most cholesterol scales have three different categories; total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL). In this article we will present the cholesterol scale used by the American Medical Association along with brief descriptions of both LDL and HDL.

Knowing the players

In attempting to determine the outcome of a sporting event it is helpful to know the plays. Let’s look at two of the stars on the cholesterol scale.

LDL is the bad boy on the field, though he does have a few redeeming qualities. LDL is known as bad cholesterol and carries cholesterol through our arteries to our cells. The only problem is sometimes LDL leaves a little cholesterol along the walls of our arteries, thus paving the way for the development of arterial plaque obstructions which can turn deadly, especially when blood clotting is involved.

HDL on the other hand is the nice guy that always make sure to sign every autograph before he leaves the field. He tries to make up for the sour attitude of LDL, but sometimes he simply feels overwhelmed. HDL is known as good cholesterol. This molecule ferries any excess cholesterol out of the body. HDL also, when seen in sufficient numbers, reduces existing plaque deposits thus reducing the chances of heart attack, stroke, and artery disease.

Note: The cardiac risk factor ratios state that total cholesterol should be no higher than 4 times higher than HDL, and LDL should be no higher than 2.5 times higher than HDL.

Cholesterol Scale Chart – American Medical Association

>A total blood cholesterol of:

*Less than 200 ideal

*200 to 239 is borderline high

*240 or above is high

>A low density lipoprotein (LDL) level of:

*Less than 100 is ideal

*100 to 129 is slightly elevated

*130 to 159 is borderline high

*160 or above is high

>A high density lipoprotein (HDL) level of:

*60 or above is healthy

*40 to 59 is slightly low

*Less than 40 is too low

What else? Lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), and bring overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels. Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification a safe and effective combination worth considering.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present in every cell of our body. It plays an important role in hormone synthesis, producing Vitamin D and maintaining cell membranes. The human body is fully equipped to produce whatever cholesterol is required for maintaining these vital functions and extra cholesterol added through diet results in potentially dangerous high levels.

There are two types of cholesterol manufactured by your body: LDL, which is known as bad cholesterol and HDL, the good cholesterol. High levels of LDL lead to fatty deposits or plaque accumulation on arterial walls, which restrict free flow of oxygen rich blood. This increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, arteriosclerosis (hardening of arterial walls) and coronary heart disease. Healthy levels of HDL, on the other hand, work to clean cholesterol from the arteries before it has the chance of forming into plaque.

Cholesterol levels are expressed in milligrams per deciliter of blood. Total cholesterol below 200mg/dl is desirable and levels between 200 and 239 are considered to be marginal. 240 mg/dl is considered high and requires attention. Most people aim at maintaining a borderline level of LDL of 130mg/dl. However, it is risky if you have other risk factors for heart disease.

A high cholesterol diagnosis is a scary thing and should not be ignored it because of the possible implications. High cholesterol can be controlled with a healthy lifestyle and treatment. Treatment of high cholesterol includes prescription medication and natural remedies, a controlled diet and exercise. Treatment of high cholesterol is for long term and it is advisable to avoid allopathic treatment as much as possible due to its side effects.

The sad part of modern day life is that we tend to ignore the most important factor that keeps us healthy. The food that we eat is primarily responsible for high cholesterol levels. Fats may have acquired a bad name but the reality is that fats are also necessary for maintaining cell membranes, absorption of nutrients and nerve transmission.

The fats are found in animal produce and fishes. Oils are coconut and palm. Trans fats used for chemical processing of foods are also the main reasons. monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats must be taken for a balanced diet. Saturated fats must not be taken.

Foods like apples, brown rice, beans, cinnamon, garlic, grapes, oats and walnuts help in lowering and maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol. Herbs and natural ingredients such as Rooibos, Gugulipid and Red Yeast Rice can also help in reducing LDL or bad cholesterol.

Naturally maintaining cholesterol with a regular routine of exercise and a balanced diet are the key reasons. If you want to find out more check out the cholesterol guide.

Lowering cholesterol levels can prevent high blood pressure. There are two ways to lower cholesterol levels- through prescribed medications and doing it naturally. Buying doctor prescribed medicines is costly compared to lowering cholesterol through natural means.

To lower cholesterol naturally can be done by changing diets, changing lifestyles and devoting time for a physical exercise or physical activity. All of these can be done without dependence on drugs prescribed by doctors. All you need is determination after setting your goal and time to see the results.

One must be selective for foods to take with intention to lower cholesterol naturally. There are foods to be avoided and there are those to be taken. The following should be avoided- meat products especially red or ground meat, egg yolk, deep fried foods, fast foods and restaurant foods.

If you prefer to eat meat, choose lean meat or poultry. Or, instead of meat it is better to eat fish like sardines, salmon, mackerel and tuna because this is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. There is a substitute for fish and it is the flaxseeds which also can give us omega 3 fatty acids.

Although eggs can be healthy foods, too much consumption of egg yolk is bad for the health. Limit the consumption of egg yolk to one in a day.

Deep fry foods, fast and restaurant foods are bad to the health because of too much salt and seasoning which can raise cholesterol levels. It is better to go for foods cooked at home because you can control the salt mix with the cooked foods.

Saturated and Trans fats are to be avoided because they can develop high cholesterol levels in the body. Foods which contain saturated and Tran’s fats are dairy products, red meat, butter, cheese, milk, ice cream and yogurt.

Oatmeal is considered as the greatest fighter for cholesterol. This is rich in fibers like fruits and vegetables which can reduce cholesterol all the time. Fibers have the function of binding cholesterol in the colon and before it is absorbed into the blood stream, remove it out of the body.

Another natural way of lowering cholesterol level is by changing lifestyles. If one had been addicted to alcoholic beverages, cigarettes or prohibited drugs, then positive adjustment can be made by cutting these things off because it only offers bad effects to our health as well as our heart. Although cessation from these vices cannot be made abruptly, time with patience and determination to stop these are needed.

Regular exercise or physical activity is needed for the stretching of our muscles and smooth flow of blood and oxygen to our heart and brain. This can also prevent clogging of the arteries and helps in the functioning not only of the circulatory system but the central nervous, digestive and respiratory systems. If you had not been used to any of the exercise, then you can start with the easiest one which is walking or strolling. And if used to it then you can proceed with the other exercises like jogging aerobics, swimming or other sports activities.

When your doctor says your cholesterol levels are too high, and you need to start eating more cholesterol free foods, here’s the main thing you have to remember.

Cholesterol in your diet comes from the fat in animal-based foods. It does not come from plants.

So, if eating only fruits, vegetables and nuts appeals to you, you probably will never have a cholesterol problem.

However….

That’s not going to work for most people, especially Americans who love their burgers, hot dogs and chicken wings, accompanied by french fries cooked in artery-clogging animal fats.

So does this mean you have to stop eating foods you love that are tasty but raise your cholesterol levels and pose a long range danger to heart health?

Not necessarily.

It’s true that in the real world, very few people have the discipline to put a lifetime of high cholesterol eating habits behind them.

The plan that works best appears to be a combination approach: smaller portions of high cholesterol foods, larger portions of cholesterol free foods.

Common, Easily Available Cholesterol Free Foods

Here are some of the cholesterol free foods you can use to replace the high cholesterol choices you usually pile on your plate. Incidentally, cholesterol free foods also help you lose weight in addition to reducing your risk of heart disease.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes Food in these groups are cholesterol free. But remember that it’s possible to add cholesterol and fat during preparation. The best example is french fried potatoes or potato chips, which are loaded with fats that are bad for you.

Oat bran Oatmeal is one of the best foods you can eat. It’s not only cholesterol free, but it provides a lot of fiber, which is good for colon health. Besides eating it in cereal form with some fruit, you can also make it into pancakes.

Olive Oil and Canola Oil These are among the foods that have become known as “good cholesterol” sources because they actually help clear “bad cholesterol” (the type that sticks to your ateries) out of your bloodstream. Olive oil, of course, is often used on salads. Many restaurants serve it along with bread.

Beans There are dozens of different kinds of beans. Many of them (like garbanzo beans or chick peas) are not only cholesterol free, but are also high in protein.

Carrots Not many people know about this one, but a recent study disclosed that eating one raw carrot around breakfast time can bring down your total cholesterol count as much as 11 percent.

A Few Final Thoughts About Cholesterol Free Foods

Besides lowering your cholesterol levels and reducing your risk of heart disease, eating cholesterol free foods is a great way to lose weight. But there are some points about weight loss to remember.

Foods like pasta, rice, cereals and breads have a lot of starch in them. Although they contain little or no cholesterol (depending again on how they’re prepared), they contain carbohydrates. As you probably know, a lot of “carbs” from such starchy foods will make you gain weight rather than losing it.

Similarly, many types of nuts contain no cholesterol, but are high in calories. When eaten in small portions, they help keep your cholesterol down. But if you eat a lot of them, you’re more likely to gain weight rather than lose it. Read labels carefully when buying them.

A great alternative to high cholesterol meats and animal based foods is anything that contains an essential fatty acid known as omega 3. Fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, and are relatively low in calories.