By Jim Morham
What if I told you lowering cholesterol naturally is safer than drugs?
The question of how to lower bad cholesterol has been asked for decades. I can remember first hearing about bad cholesterol (LDL) back when I was a teenager. Bad cholesterol is a waxy substance made by your liver. Diet also contributes to the formation of this substance. Stress has also been associated with cholesterol production from the liver as well. LDL which stands for low density lipoprotein is the worst of the lipids. As measured by the health care industry, LDL cholesterol should be measured in your blood at no more than 0-99 mg/dl which stands for milligrams per deciliter.
How to determine cholesterol levels
When your primary care physician gives you your annual checkup he or she will order a blood work up as part of your physical. This is standard operating procedure since other than scans and ultra sounds the blood tells just about everything about you physical condition. When your doctor determines how to lower your bad cholesterol it will be based on the blood work that is called a Lipid Panel. The Lipid Panel will show the three types of cholesterol that the body makes. The three legs to the stool are LDL, HDL or good cholesterol referred to as High Density Lipoproteins and Triglycerides. The three combined should yield a total panel of 199 mg/dl or less according to the (NIH) or National Institutes of Health. HDL, the good cholesterol should 39mg/dl or better. This number is better for your body the higher it gets. My own doctor told me of a patient who had an HDL in excess of 190mg/dl. I can only imagine what she did for a living. Obviously no stress and she must have been on a very special diet.
Options for treatment
Assuming you test results come back and you have a LDL of over 99mg/dl my guess is your doctor is going to prescribe a drug regimen to show you how to lower your bad cholesterol. The most widely prescribed family of drugs to combat bad cholesterol is referred to as Statins. Statin drugs control and inhibit an enzyme that has to do with the production of cholesterol in the liver. Most of these drugs have commonly known names like Lescol, Zocor and Lipitor. Studies have shown these drugs to have a positive effect at lowering LDL in the blood stream. When your health care provider is determining how to lower your bad cholesterol he or she should look very closely at what other kinds of medication you are currently taking because side effects are common with these types of drugs. The most common side effects can be manifested in elevated liver enzymes. There are schools of thought that believe that over time and with the wrong dosage, the side effects could result in liver failure. If you are taking these types of medication, it's highly recommended that you abstain from alcohol and have your blood tested several times a year in order to detect any potential problems.
Alternatives to Statins
Many patients are now opting for natural cholesterol remedies like Omega 3 fish oil. Omega 3 acts as a lubricant to your arteries and is easily digested and poses no threat to you liver. Many studies have shown the positive effects of a diet high in Omega 3 and the results of lower instances of coronary heart disease and instance of stroke. Most importantly, if you and your doctor are trying different programs based on how to lower your bad cholesterol the doctor most likely will recommend a regimen that includes all natural Omega 3 fish oil.
Conclusion
If you are trying to figure out how to lower your bad cholesterol in order to improve the overall quality of your health and avoid the possibility of coronary heart disease, consider the natural way to lower cholesterol. Your liver will love you!
What if I told you lowering cholesterol naturally is safer than drugs?
The question of how to lower bad cholesterol has been asked for decades. I can remember first hearing about bad cholesterol (LDL) back when I was a teenager. Bad cholesterol is a waxy substance made by your liver. Diet also contributes to the formation of this substance. Stress has also been associated with cholesterol production from the liver as well. LDL which stands for low density lipoprotein is the worst of the lipids. As measured by the health care industry, LDL cholesterol should be measured in your blood at no more than 0-99 mg/dl which stands for milligrams per deciliter.
How to determine cholesterol levels
When your primary care physician gives you your annual checkup he or she will order a blood work up as part of your physical. This is standard operating procedure since other than scans and ultra sounds the blood tells just about everything about you physical condition. When your doctor determines how to lower your bad cholesterol it will be based on the blood work that is called a Lipid Panel. The Lipid Panel will show the three types of cholesterol that the body makes. The three legs to the stool are LDL, HDL or good cholesterol referred to as High Density Lipoproteins and Triglycerides. The three combined should yield a total panel of 199 mg/dl or less according to the (NIH) or National Institutes of Health. HDL, the good cholesterol should 39mg/dl or better. This number is better for your body the higher it gets. My own doctor told me of a patient who had an HDL in excess of 190mg/dl. I can only imagine what she did for a living. Obviously no stress and she must have been on a very special diet.
Options for treatment
Assuming you test results come back and you have a LDL of over 99mg/dl my guess is your doctor is going to prescribe a drug regimen to show you how to lower your bad cholesterol. The most widely prescribed family of drugs to combat bad cholesterol is referred to as Statins. Statin drugs control and inhibit an enzyme that has to do with the production of cholesterol in the liver. Most of these drugs have commonly known names like Lescol, Zocor and Lipitor. Studies have shown these drugs to have a positive effect at lowering LDL in the blood stream. When your health care provider is determining how to lower your bad cholesterol he or she should look very closely at what other kinds of medication you are currently taking because side effects are common with these types of drugs. The most common side effects can be manifested in elevated liver enzymes. There are schools of thought that believe that over time and with the wrong dosage, the side effects could result in liver failure. If you are taking these types of medication, it's highly recommended that you abstain from alcohol and have your blood tested several times a year in order to detect any potential problems.
Alternatives to Statins
Many patients are now opting for natural cholesterol remedies like Omega 3 fish oil. Omega 3 acts as a lubricant to your arteries and is easily digested and poses no threat to you liver. Many studies have shown the positive effects of a diet high in Omega 3 and the results of lower instances of coronary heart disease and instance of stroke. Most importantly, if you and your doctor are trying different programs based on how to lower your bad cholesterol the doctor most likely will recommend a regimen that includes all natural Omega 3 fish oil.
Conclusion
If you are trying to figure out how to lower your bad cholesterol in order to improve the overall quality of your health and avoid the possibility of coronary heart disease, consider the natural way to lower cholesterol. Your liver will love you!
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