Balance your Cholesterol - the natural way

03/04/2008

Almost every day we read warnings about high cholesterol levels, yet cholesterol is essential for our bodies to work. It forms part of the outer membrane that surrounds every cell and is used to insulate nerve fibres to make nerve signals travel properly. It is also important in hormone production, because it is needed to carry chemical signals around the body. 

 

However, too much cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of coronary heart and artery diseases. The average total cholesterol level in the UK is 5.5mmol/l for men and 5.6mmol/l for women, which is above accepted normal levels.

 

Alex Shalet, Senior Nutritionist at The Nutri Centre explains that as well as cholesterol levels, lipoproteins levels and triglyceride levels are also important indicators of personal risk of heart disease. Lipoproteins are special molecules that transport cholesterol around the body. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is often known as ‘bad’ cholesterol. This carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells; if there is more than the liver needs, it can cause harmful build-up of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or ‘good’ cholesterol takes cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver where it is either broken down or excreted.

 

Elevated triglyceride levels are often seen in people who have decreased HDL cholesterol.  Triglycerides are the form in which saturated fats are transported to fat cells to be stored when excess calories consumed in a meal are not needed immediately by tissues for energy. 

 

You are in most danger of heart disease when you have high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol. Overall risk is determined by a combination of factors, many of which increase with age.

 

Men, those with a family history of heart disease, smokers, those who are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes tend to be at most risk.

There is however evidence one in 500 people who might otherwise be healthy have inherited high cholesterol due to a condition called familial hyperlipidaemia. In fact there are over 60 genes that appear related to HDL cholesterol so genetic make-up may play a bigger role that was traditionally thought.

There is some suggestion that reducing cholesterol with statins simply takes away the warning signs of heart disease. There is also some evidence that statins may have adverse effects such as a low risk of damage to muscles which has been shown in some studies to contribute to kidney failure*. In addition, statins are also known to leach the body of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) an important heart ‘energiser’.

It is important to understand the actual level of risk to an individual and manage your health actively with a good diet and exercise regime.  The first steps in treating raised cholesterol levels should always be regular physical activity and healthy eating.  Alex Shalet recommends cutting down on fats, especially trans fats which are found in processed food and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated alternatives such as olive oil and eating oily fish like mackerel, salmon and trout.

 

It is also important to introduce foods that help lower cholesterol levels such as garlic, onions, soya and oats.  The addition of a high quality Omega 3 fish oil supplement such as MorEPA will also beneficially affect cholesterol balance, and should also improve general heart health.

 

Alex recommends Lesterol, (pictured above) a dietary supplement containing Allicin which is extracted from Garlic, a recognised heart helper, as well as another naturally occurring plant sterol Beta-sitosterol. These natural plant extracts may help maintain normal cholesterol levels as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Lesterol provides plant sterols in a convenient concentrated tablet form that can be taken with meals and costs less per day than eating expensive cholesterol lowering dairy products which themselves can contribute to increasing daily fat intake.

 

 

Lesterol normally costs £14.95 for a pack of 30 capsules but is now on special offer at £11.45, a saving of £3.50 per pack

 

MorEPA Smart Fats costs £18.99 for 60 capsules
To order these products click on the link below or call 020 7436 5122 where you can also speak to a qualified nutritionist for free advice.

Relevant links

• Nutricentre (Opens a new window)