Think of HDL as your very own lean mean cholesterol fighting machine that when given the chance will reduce both overall cholesterol levels and bad cholesterol levels. HDL also has the unique gift of being able to reduce preexisting arterial plaque which is ultimately the root cause of many cardiovascular diseases.
HDL stands for high density lipoprotein. These are tiny molecules which transport cholesterol around the body. They are very dense, made of primarily protein, and since they can’t get into the arteries will eventually take their payload of fat right out the door, in the form of solid waste.
But sometimes even this titan of healthy cholesterol can’t keep up with the demands placed on him. He simply has too much cholesterol floating around and some of it will ultimately end up deposited in the arteries. Over time this buildup will lead to a hardening of the arteries. Once arteries start to lose their pliability narrowing begins, and blood flow to the heart is slowed or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart , and if your heart is deprived of oxygen such common coronary warning signs as chest pain and shortness of breath occur.
So now we know a little more about the reasons why we should find a food that increase HDL but most of us can’t take off work long enough to go searching through the jungle to find that magic potion that will skyrocket our high density lipoprotein count. So we will have to settle for a safari to our local market or supermarket free from the lions and tigers. So you can take the kids!
The good news is that there is actually a food that increases HDL cholesterol; the apple. Scientists have yet to determine whether it is the pectins and/or flavonoids that cause HDL levels to rise, LDL (bad cholesterol) to decrease, and produce an overall decrease in blood cholesterol. Nevertheless, it appears that our grandmothers were right again when they told us that an apple a day will keep the cardiologist away.
Note: Most experts studying food that increase HDL cholesterol believe that pears produce similar results. So if apples aren’t your thing, try a pear.
What Next? 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). 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 an alternative treatment combination worth considering.
R.D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living with over 10 years
experience in the field.
Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at
Purchase Remedies.com
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