Why do we even need cholesterol anyway? Our bodies naturally produce cholesterol in the liver. We need a limited amount of cholesterol intake to function properly. The problems start when we have too much cholesterol circulating in our bodies. Where does the excess cholesterol come from? Well, we get it from foods we eat like chicken, beef, fried foods, fast foods, dairy products, eggs etc.
Cholesterol is a waxy fat like substance that our bodies use to assist in the production of hormones, vitamin D and bile acids used in our digestive track to name just a few. When you have too much cholesterol floating around in your body a number of problems will surface sooner or later. The most common is the inevitable hardening of the arteries and blood vessels. A thick plaque build up occurs and will eventually block the artery or blood vessel completely. When this happens depending where the blockage is you can experience a heart attack or stroke.
There are two different types of cholesterol that you need to be aware of. The first type we'll talk about is the bad cholesterol or LDL which stands for low density lipoproteins. The more LDL cholesterol you have circulating in your blood stream the worse off you are. It's the LDL cholesterol that builds up in the blood vessels and arteries causing all the mayhem with blockages etc..
The second type of cholesterol is the good cholesterol or HDL. HDL stands for high density lipoproteins. The more HDL that you have floating around in your blood stream the better off you are. It would be to your advantage to get a test done to see where you're at in terms of LDL to HDL balance.
So how do you go about creating more HDL and lowering the LDL? Get plenty of exercise and adjust your eating habits. Easier said than done. This is a must or you'll end up with clogged arteries and get to experience what it feel like to have a stroke or a heart attack. When diet and exercise changes are not enough to lower the LDL and increase the HDL then your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol lowering medicine such as lipitor (Brand Name = expensive), crestor (Brand Name = expensive), simvastatin (Generic = inexpensive but effective ), zocor (Brand Name = expensive), pravastatin (Generic = inexpensive but effective) etc. to help lower the LDL and increase the HDL.
Keep in mind the medicine should be used but is not the magic fix all. You must step up your discipline levels and implement strict eating habits along with plenty of exercise. For example consume primarily fruits and veggies while limiting meats such as red meats and poultry. Fast foods, fried foods, trans fats, and pastas all should be avoided. If your over weight lose the weight. Fat around the belly is more active metabolically than fat in other parts of the body.
Fasting works very well. Be sure to consult with your doctor when fasting. Fasting allows your system to clean its self up. This cleansing action happens because of the simple fact that nothing toxic is entering the body for an extended period of time. Your body say's hey the madness has stopped....let's get this bad stuff outta here while we got the chance! Drinking lots of water during fasting is a must to ensure that you stay hydrated. Water also helps the body rid its self of all the toxins that have built up over the years.
You may find that diet changes, increased exercise, and fasting is not enough to correct your high cholesterol/triglyceride condition. You might have to take the medicine that your doctor prescribes for a period of time and then be reevaluated. Something to keep in mind if you have to take a cholesterol lowering medicine is that a generic will always be significantly cheaper than a brand name medicine. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this so you don't spend a small fortune on cholesterol lowering medicines while your body is cleaning its self up.
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