Tips To Manage Cholesterol Naturally

People at risk for heart disease because of too much LDL (the bad cholesterol) in the system are often prescribed such drugs as Lipitor, Plavix, Crestor or any other available statin drug on the market. While these drugs can reduce cholesterol the side effects which include muscle weakness and at worse kidney failure are not to be taken lightly. Manage cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found all through the body. It is the key building block of all human life. Because of a complicated bio-transportation system called lipoproteins cholesterol is able to reach all parts of the body. These lipoproteins come in different sizes with various functions. The two most important classes of lipoproteins in understanding the nature of heart disease are High-Density (HDL) and Low Density (LDL).

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) move cholesterol from the cells to the liver taking out the cholesterol not needed. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) does the opposite. They deliver cholesterol from the liver to the body's cells. Working together there is a balanced circulation of cholesterol throughout the entire system. Besides the body making its own cholesterol the other source is from the foods we eat. Foods high in cholesterol such as meat, poultry, fish, whole-milk dairy products and egg yolks must be eaten in moderation so as not to upset the balance of cholesterol in the body. Too much cholesterol in the diet can make the levels rise too high thereby increasing the amount of LDL. Manage cholesterol naturally.

One way to counteract the effects of LDL is to include plant sterols in one's diet. Plant sterols are naturally occurring compounds found in vegetables, nuts and seeds. Before European explorers colonized their lands aboriginal cultures lived and thrived in Australia, Asia and the Americas. With little else in common one thing stood out with these diverse people. Even though all subsisted on a diet rich in meat and vegetables there was virtually no heart disease among them. Scientists, intrigued by this finding, studied 12 aboriginal groups that still exist today and discovered that even with a diet containing more fat and meat than is considered healthy these aborigines had strong cardiovascular systems. Manage cholesterol naturally.

Statin drugs are the fastest growing class of prescription medicines in the world. With the promise of reducing LDL, the bad cholesterol, and improving the levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, there is increasing evidence that these drugs may do more harm than good.

Health Canada requires manufacturers of statin drugs to issue warnings and information about the potential for muscle damage on patient information sheets. General muscle pain is the number one complaint of patients on statin drugs. In the United States millions were prescribed statin drugs in 2001. Pharmacists filled over 57 million prescriptions for Lipitor, the most popular drug on the market. Of course doctors are going to continue to prescribe moneymaking statin drugs around the world posing a great health risk to those who take them. But as more information about the risks of statin drugs reaches those who need it perhaps more people will say no to these drugs and learn how to manage cholesterol naturally.