| CholesterolHigh blood cholesterol can lead to plaque in the arteries, so that blood flow to the heart, brain, kidneys, genitals and extremities is impeded. High cholesterol is implicated in gallstones, high blood pressure, mental sluggishness and impotence. When you get checked for cholesterol levels, make sure you also get checked for HDL, LDL, triglycerides and homocysteine levels, at the very least. There are some other markers your doctor may test you for also to give a more complete picture. Individual results are less meaningful than ratios of one to another. Simply put, HDL should be high enough, LDL low enough, and homocysteine levels should not be raised.
Health supplements that may help include red sterol, garlic, lecithin, Chromium.
Consider the following nutrition guidelines:
Even though about 80% of your cholesterol is manufactured in the liver, whilst only 20% comes from dietary sources, cholesterol levels are still influenced by diet. Diets high in cholesterol, saturated fat and heated oils (except olive oil and coconut oil) increase levels of cholesterol, whilst a good vegetarian diet plus a few supplements and the addition of exercise can lower cholesterol. People of Blood Type O might benefit from adding lean/low fat meat. - Eat plenty of vegetables, especially raw carrots, garlic and onion. Also apples.
- Eat cold water fish and oily fish. Wild and organic if at all possible.
- Use olive oil and coconut butter instead of butter or margarine.
- Fibre is very important, especially oat bran and brown rice bran, but also dried beans, brown rice, glucomannan and guar gum.
- Consider buying a juicer and a recipe book on juicing, and enjoy some carrot, celery and beet juice every day.
- Avoid hydrogenated vegetable oils, all margarines, lard and butter.
- Avoid sugar, refined carbohydrates such as white flour, white rice, ice cream, puddings, cakes and soft drinks, and coffee.
In short, a Mediterranean style diet is preferable. |
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