Lower Cholesterol

Question: lower cholesterol? I don't exactly want a lengthy explenation, just a list of foods to avoid so i can lower my cholesterol (sp?) pleasssssse and thanks! what about cookies? and special k? are they bad?

Answer: Exercise and fiber are the best ways to lower your cholesterol naturally. I've heard if you eat oatmeal every morning for a year it will lower your cholesterol by 10 points because of the fiber in it. Here's a list of foods high in cholesterol, hope this helps. http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Foods-High-In-Cholesterol.html

Question: What are good foods to lower cholesterol? I have slightly elevated cholesterol but the doctor only told me to lower my fat intake. I want to find other effective methods to lowering cholesterol.

Answer: Less than half of your calories each day in carbs (that means less potatoes, less pasta), less than 20 gms a day of saturated fats, and my doctor also recommended this: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/330656/cholestoff_reduces_high_cholesterol.html

Question: What is the safest way to lower cholesterol without taking drugs? My lpl cholesterol was 158 my Dr. wants me to take tricor. I've read the side effects and I am leary to take it. Are there any supplements that anyone has taken to help lower their cholesterol?

Answer: When looking at cholesterol number you really have to look at both the LDL and the HDL. Even though your LDL is still considered fairly normal your doctor may have noticed that your HDL is very low and it's the ratio between the two that can make a difference. The best way to get your HDL higher is through exercise (cardio). See if you can fit 30 minutes a day of brisk walking into your daily routine as this will help. Do your parents and siblings have high cholesterol levels? If so then your doctor may be taking this into consideration. Often high cholesterol is genetic and he may be trying to stop yours from getting any higher. There are several ways that you can help lower your LDL levels and I am very surprised that your doctor did not mention them-here are just a few. Oatmeal. Oatmeal is a soluble fiber which will surround cholesterol and whisk it away so that it is removed when the oatmeal leaves your body. It doesn't absorb much each time and that is why they say in order for it to really help you need to eat it at least 5 times a week. Soy. Soy is also good in helping to lower levels. Think soy milk, soy yogurt and soy ice cream. Soy contains plant sterols which help lower levels. One thing with soy however, is that some people don't recommend that you take in a lot of soy if you have any cancer. Soy helps to product estrogen and the estrogen may affect breast cancer.There is not enough estrogen to see any difference like accenting female characteristics but the cancer thing is something to think about. Cholesterol lowering margarine type spreads. In the grocery store you will notice some newer margarines that say " will lower cholesterol " on the label, choose those over butter or standard margarine. They are a bit more expensive, but they taste the same, you can cook with them and even if they only help a bit, it's still helping. In the yogurt section you will now find Promise active shots. These are small bottles that contain some plant sterols that will again help to lower your levels. As mentioned earlier flush free niacin can also help as will cinnamon (you can find it capsules in Walmart and any other store that carries supplements. They are inexpensive. Omega oils and fish oils will again help a bit. You will notice that with most natural products they each lower your levels a small amount but if you watch what you eat and add these natural products in you should be seeing a drop. I would discuss the natural route with your doctor and let him/her know that you prefer not to take the medicine that they have mentioned and there is a good chance that they will work with you. My husband was told to go on medication but when he explained to his doctor that he would prefer not to, his doctor just told him to try the natural way first & to go back in 6 months for a follow up test. If the test showed that it was still high, then he would go on medication. However, if he was able to lower it then he would only need a blood test every 6 months to monitor it. He has been using the natural ways along with the product from the site below and there has been a major change. Since each person and each circumstance is different see what works for you.

Question: What is the best way to lower cholesterol? My boyfriend has high cholesterol and i am afraid he is going to have a heart attack and we havent taught our dog to dial 9-1-1 yet... I am gone all the time at work and school (i graduate in spring 08).. so i need to find a way to help him help himself lower his cholesterol. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Answer: To be straight it is simple to bring down your cholestrol, first of all stop worrying and taking hasty steps. 1) Physical. 2)Reduce fat in your diet. 3)MOST important is that stop taking too much of sweets. 4)Avoid red meat. 5)Physical the most important reducer of cholestrol. 6)Stress free,no smoking or alcohol. Hope answered your question, don't put him on any medication.Use Natural lemon juice, no synthetic/s.

Question: How many avocados per week to lower cholesterol? I've read that eating guacamole or avocados lower your bad cholesterol levels up to 22% in a week and increase the good cholesterol by 11%. How much guacamole or avocados should I eat each week to stay healthy?

Answer: One avocado per day is enough. You can eat 5-6 avocados per week to be healthy. It is best to eat avocado late in the day cause it could be hard for digestion. Also, do not eat avocado with any other kind of fatty or high protein food like cheese, meat, cream, nuts seeds and similar .

Question: How to lower cholesterol most effectivley? I just had bloodwork done for a physical. My overall cholesterol is 226. my LDL is 157 and HDL is 36. I know I need to raise the HDL and seriously lower the LDL. Are there any foods out there that can help this? And will excersice and dropping weight help? Im also pre-diabetic. No better motivation to work out regularly than that. Any suggestions would be great. I current'y work out sporadically but now I believe I will be doing at least 30 mins 5 days a week since Ive seen where I stand.

Answer: Cut down on red meat and other animal fat products, and try getting whole grains into your diet. One thing I like is lowfat yogurt with AllBran Buds (Buds not shreds or flakes) and yup get your exercise.

Question: What is the truth about drugs used to lower cholesterol and their side effects? Why has the bad cholesterol count gone up through the AMA? Who allowed the cholesterol number to be raised? Was this mandated by our government and the big drug companies? I am highly concerned towards taking Lipitor to lower my cholesterol, because of known and unknown side-effects.

Answer: The best way to lower your cholesterol is to drink more water. Cholesterol is produced by the body as a preventive measure to protect the arteries from damage. When you don't drink enough water, the body may take the water it needs from your blood (blood is made up of around 90% water). When it does, it leaves salt behind (the body is composed of a 75% water/salt solution). This salt can become abrasive on the inside of the arteries, causing tiny holes and weakened arterial walls. Cholesterol (or plaque) is the body's way of applying a band-aid on the damaged areas. If dehydration continues, more plaque will build up until the artery becomes blocked. To take care of this, you need to drink more water. If you're not used to drinking a lot of water, doing so may wash out important vitamins and minerals, which may create a worse condition. To learn the proper way to do it, click on the link below. The information is free.

Question: How well does oatmeal lower cholesterol? I've read that eating oatmeal every day can lower your cholesterol, but just how effective is it? Would you have to eat tons and tons of it for it to be effective? Or is it how regularly you eat it that lowers your cholesterol?

Answer: Oatmeal by itself won't lower your cholesterol drastically, but it does help. See, many people believe they can just eat one bowl of oatmeal in the morning and continue to eat all that bad-for-you stuff and it'll bring your cholesterol way down. Not true. Oatmeal is just one member of a group of foods that help -- that group being whole grain breads/cereals/pasta -- so if you REALLY want to get your cholesterol levels down you need to make major changes and eat more whole grains and more of the other foods that help, like eggs, nuts, fresh fruits/vegetables, and lean meats. You'd also have to cut back on fast food, junk food, processed flour/sugar, and saturated fat. So to answer your question: Eating a lot of oatmeal probably would bring your cholesterol levels way down, but eating it regularly and making other healthy diet choices will also lower your cholesterol.

Question: What is the most effective way to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and blood pressure without pills? What is the best natural way to lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure?

Answer: Hypertension management is often a 3-step approach. Step 1 is changes in diet, weight and lifestyle. Steps 2 & 3 involve medication in addition to Step 1. Step 1 changes mean a low-sodium, low-cholesterol/fat, balanced and healthy diet. Plenty of water. Then there's the matter of excess weight. Lose it. Changing one's lifestyle means stress management, more exercise/activity, no smoking, no alcohol. This is all natural, no pills and effective.

Question: How does garlic lower high blood pressure and cholesterol? How does garlic lower high blood pressure and cholesterol? What Biological/ Physiological mechanism does garlic have that improves High Blood Pressure and Lower Cholesterol?

Answer: Garlic is NO substitute for medical attention when it comes to high blood pressure or any other medical condition. If you suffer from or suspect you suffer from high blood pressure, it is important that you see your doctor. That said garlic has quite a reputation for helping people control blood pressure. Research shows that garlic may in fact reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure! “In a study, when people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced. Eating quantities as small as one clove of garlic a day was found to have beneficial effects on managing hypertension.”(1) Various studies on garlic have shown benefits for many other disorders such as cancer, immune problems and diabetes. Many people believe garlic is the end-all cure for just about anything including the common cold. So how does one actually consume one raw clove of garlic a day? It’s easier than you think. Here are some suggestions: Finely minced a clove and sprinkle on your salad Mix with cold pasta and vegetables Use as a dip with hot bread. Mix olive oil, spices and garlic Mix with mayo and use on your next sandwich Just use your imagination.... Of course, if you are unable to consume raw garlic you can always take the garlic pills. Although raw is always better. So what exactly does garlic do? “Garlic dilates the muscles of blood vessels, which helps in lowering blood pressure. It consists of a compound called adenosine, which helps in vasodilation and is also a muscle relaxant. Although, both raw and cooked garlic can benefit blood pressure, raw garlic is more potent and benefits faster. Garlic also interferes with the formation of blood clots and helps in reducing cholesterol. It not only helps lower the risk of colon, gastro intestinal tract and stomach cancers but also improves immunity and prevents gas formation.” (3) “It appears, according to research that the beneficial effects of garlic on blood pressure come more from the garlic sulphides than from allicin. Unlike allicin, garlic sulphides are not destroyed by cooking.”(2) A study from Stanford University casts doubt on the effectiveness of garlic to lower LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in adults with moderately high cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is widely known as "bad cholesterol," and is believed to be a leading contributor to heart disease. Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., and colleagues conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial studying whether three different formulations of garlic could lower LDL cholesterol. The study participants were randomly divided into four groups to receive raw garlic, a powdered garlic supplement, an aged extract supplement, or a placebo. The 169 participants who completed the study had their cholesterol levels checked monthly for the duration of the 6-month trial. None of the formulations of garlic had a statistically significant effect on the LDL cholesterol levels. The authors caution that these results should not be generalized for all populations or all health effects. An accompanying editorial in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine points out that LDL cholesterol levels are only one factor contributing to heart disease, and that this trial did not investigate garlic's effects on other risk factors, such as high blood pressure. You should read some articles in the medical journal and you mmight find other pertinent infomration in regards to your concern or you can ask your physician who is an even more reliable source.

Question: Cherrios claim to lower cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks. Are there other cereals that can do the same thing? Cheerios are probably the biggest and do the most advertising, and also are the first to lay claim to that. General Mills can launch a campaign solely highlighting that, while other companies probably just push to be noticed. Are there lesser known cereals, ones that are probably better for you, that has the same ingredients that lower cholesterol?

Answer: It might just be the whole oats/grains in the product. Quaker Oats makes the same claim with their products (though I don't think instant oatmeal is too healthy, though I'll eat it in a pinch), as does Kellogg's Heart Smart cereal. (Although Heart Smart has several listings of sugar, including corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils and listings of preservatives that I don't consider healthy and will not buy a product if any of these are even listed once.) I shop at Trader Joe's, which is a chain of low cost health food stores. They have a Cheerios equivalent, Joe's O's that have the same comment about cholesterols on them. In my opinion, it just helps to eat a good, healthy diet. My mother-in-law told me last month that her doctor put her on a new pill for her high cholesterol. Now, this woman eats plenty of stuff I don't even consider food. That day, I noticed she put creamy, fatty dressing on he salad (to me, those types of dressings ruin the salad), and had a nice chunk of red meat for dinner. Typical of her. I had made the diet comment, too. On the other hand, I eat real, whole, good foods and my cholesterol (as of the test I took in late spring/early summer) is low. Other than the American Heart Association site, I'm sure there are sites that offer information on lowering and maintaining good cholesterol levels, but I just can't think of any good search phrases now.

Question: How long does it take for exercise and dietary changes to lower cholesterol levels significantly? Also, how long does it take before medications lower cholesterol levels significantly?

Answer: According to my doctor, it takes at least two months of taking medication every day or two months of consistent diet change (you're allowed to be bad every once in a while) to see a change in cholesterol levels -- that's why he tests me every 90 days.

Question: Where can I find a printable diet to lower cholesterol? My cholesterol is high and I need a diet to follow to help lower it have looked but can't seem to find what i;m looking for. Would like to print it as well as an exercise program . Any suggestions would be appreciated. TY in advance.

Answer: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Reduce Cholestrol Save Heart REDUCE CHOLESTROL SAVE HEART (Dr.Saurabh Mehrotra) RISK OF HIGH LEVEL CHOLESTROL (S. Cholesterol normal range: 130-230mg %) CHOLESTROL LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ALDOSCENTS FROMHIGH RISK FAMILIES* (*IF ONE PARENT’S LEVEL IS 240mg/dL OR HIGHER OR IF A PARENT OR GRAND PARENT HAD EVIDENCE CORONARY ARTERYDISEASE B4 AGE OF 55.) CATEGORY TOTAL CHOLESTROL (mg/dL) LDL CHOLESTROL (mg/dL) ACCEPTABLE LOWER THAN 170 LOWER THAN 110 BORDERLINE 170-199 110-129 HIGH HIGHER THAN/ HIGHER THAN/ =200 =130 IF TOTAL CHOL. =300mg/dL; RISK FOR DEV. CORONARY DISEASE IS DOUBLE IF TOTAL CHOL.WERE 150mg/dL. IF TOTAL CHOL. =300mg/dL; RISK OF DYING OF CORONARY DISEASE IS 4 TIMES IF TOTAL CHOL.WERE 190mg/dL. REDUCING CHOL. BY 10% REDUCES YOUR FUTURE CORONARY RISK BY 20%. INCREASING HDL 1mg/dL REDUCES CORONARY RISK BY 2-3%. Mr.Arvind Chopra (R) 46 M successfully reduced cholestrol level from 268.9 mg% (28 Jan 09) to 190 mg% (3 Jun 09) by having treatment from Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra (L). # Issued in public interest under REDUCE CHOLESTROL SAVE HEART PROGRAM by Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra. # For more details contact : Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra ; mob - +91-9936-42-3621 ; Email : [email protected]

Question: What are some good foods to eat to lower cholesterol? My mom got her blood results back, and she needs to cut down on the cholesterol ASAP, and also has various other factors that are increasing her chances of heart problems. What can she do to better her heart and eat better to lower her levels?

Answer: Purple grape juice or 1-2 glasses of red wine Oatmeal or, even better, oat bran Anything with fiber; fruits, vegetables, etc. Fish oil supplements are very effective as well, but if she is on a blood thinner she needs her docs permission first

Question: What is the effective diet to lower cholesterol? Can fruits be considered as an effective diet to lower cholesterol?

Answer: Fruits and vegetables.

Question: How can you lower cholesterol? what foods should you eat and avoid? I went to the dr yesterday and was just told that i have very high cholesterol, including bad cholesterol (LDL) what kinds of foods should I avoid eating, and what foods should I eat to lower my cholesterol?

Answer: AHA Recommendation * Limit foods high in saturated fat, trans fat and/or cholesterol, such as whole-milk dairy products, fatty meats, tropical oils, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and egg yolks. Instead choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Here are some helpful tips: o Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. o Eat a variety of grain products, including whole grains. o Eat fish at least twice a week, particularly fatty fish. o Include fat-free and low-fat milk products, legumes (beans), skinless poultry and lean meats. o Choose fats and oils with 2 grams or less saturated fat per tablespoon, such as liquid and tub margarines, canola, corn, safflower, soy bean and olive oils. * Saturated fat intake should not exceed 7 percent of total calories each day. Trans fat intake should not exceed 1 percent of total calories each day. * Total fat intake (saturated, trans, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated) should be adjusted to fit total caloric needs. Overweight people should consume no more than 30 percent of total calories from fat.