Educate Children on Healthy Behaviors to Reduce Heart Disease Risk
At the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session in March of 2012, information was presented from the University of Michigan Systems showing that children understand the effect of healthy behaviors on overall health.
Project Health Schools, which is a community-University of Michigan System project, measured risk factors for heart disease in middle school children. Measured risk factors included lipid profiles and physical activity before and after receiving education on healthy behaviors. They found that after receiving education the middle school students showed positive behaviors towards improving lipid profiles, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. This indicates middle school children are not too young to understand the impact of healthy behaviors and they have the ability to implement changes.
This implementation of healthy behaviors at an early age is critical to lifelong health and reduced risk for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 17% of children and teens are overweight or obese. This is triple the rate one generation ago and puts children at increased risk for health complications just as excess weight impacts adults.
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Heart Disease Risk and Cholesterol Levels
Do you take statin medication? If so, when did your doctor recommend you being statins? Was it when your lab results found your LDL cholesterol levels to be elevated?
LDL cholesterol has been the measure used to determine when lipid lowering therapy is needed…and statins are often the therapy started.
Research is beginning to question if LDL is the best measure for knowing if cholesterol treatment is warranted to reduce heart disease risk.
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Why is HDL Cholesterol Considered to be ‘Good’?
There are some very interesting questions coming out regarding the benefits of HDL cholesterol.
High HDL cholesterol has always been encouraged because people with higher HDL cholesterol levels have a reduced risk for heart disease. If you have low HDL cholesterol levels it’s likely that your doctor recommended you to boost levels through diet and exercise or by taking niacin supplements. This is due to the long held belief that HDL cholesterol reduces heart disease risk by “picking up” artery clogging cholesterol from circulation.
A new study utilizing modern genetic testing is challenging this theory, finding that there may not be a direct cause-and-effect relationship between reduced heart disease risk and high HDL cholesterol levels. Study findings indicate the high HDL levels themselves may not be protective on their own. These high HDL levels may be an indicator of something else reducing heart disease risk.
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Phytosterols, Red Yeast Rice, and Cholesterol
Phytosterols (plant sterols) are similar in structure to cholesterol. Consuming phytosterols as part of your diet can decrease total cholesterol because molecularly they are very similar to cholesterol. As you digest phytosterols they can prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the bloodstream and therefore the cholesterol that is not absorbed is removed from the system as waste.
Red yeast rice is a fermented product where red yeast has grown on rice. It acts as a natural statin drug in that it forms monacolins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) that lower cholesterol levels. Red yeast rice contains isoflavones, sterols, and monounsaturated fats that also promote lower cholesterol levels.
A study published April 2012 in the Journal of Dietary Supplements studied 18 individuals with high cholesterol. Daily for six weeks the 18 participants received a combination of phytosterols and red yeast rice.
Study results found the supplement combination decreased total cholesterol 19% and LDL Cholesterol 33%. No changes were seen in triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, or liver function.
For comparison, a 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found statins to reduce LDL Cholesterol 28%.
Granted, this wasn’t a large study, but it does show there is likely a way to achieve the results of statins (or even better results) without needing the medication and the potential side effects.
Explore all your options with your doctor.
Keep in mind that even though red yeast rice is naturally occurring, it can deplete coenzyme Q10 levels just like statin drugs. Coenyzme Q10 plays a key role within every cell for energy production. Some coenzyme Q10 deficiency symptoms include aches/pains, fatigue, sore muscles, weakness, and shortness of breath. Be sure to supplement coenzyme Q10 if taking red yeast rice or statin medications.
Access the free e-course How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps at http://lowercholesterolwithlisa.com.
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Heart Health Made Easy: Master the Basics to Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol for a Longer, Healthier Life
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Spices – 4 Natural Health Remedies in Your Kitchen
You don’t necessarily need mega doses of specific vitamins and minerals in pill form to treat an illness. Fruits and vegetables are one natural source high in both vitamins and minerals.
Today let’s discuss four spices linked to health benefits and why.
Cloves
Cloves are a natural way to reduce blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels. This was clearly supported by a published 2006 placebo-controlled study that divided diabetics into four groups. Group 1 received a placebo supplement, group 3 received 1 gram of cloves daily, group 3 received 2 grams of cloves daily, and group 4 received 3 grams of cloves daily. All groups continued their daily supplement for 30 days. All participants receiving some level of cloves experienced improvements.
Cloves are rich in phenolic compounds that interfere with the artery clogging oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
Curry (Turmeric)
Curry is a powerful antioxidant and works to eliminate free radicals and inflammation. This means curry can be an effective tool for treating arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.
Raspberries to Reduce Inflammation and Lower Cholesterol
Berries of all kinds are a wonderful addition to any diet. Let’s look specifically at the nutrient dense raspberry.
A one cup serving contains just 64 calories, 8 grams of dietary fiber, and 54% of your daily vitamin C needs.
A diet high in fiber promotes lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Studies have found for every 1-2 grams of soluble fiber each day lowers LDL cholesterol 1%. A 1 cup serving of raspberries provides 1 gram of soluble fiber.
Raspberries are low in fat and high in antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that boosts our immune system, increases nitric oxide, promotes wound healing, lowers triglycerides, and prevents free radical damage associated with LDL cholesterol. (Vitamin C plays many more roles in our health than what I’ve listed.)
