Lower Cholesterol Levels Breaking News

Lower Cholesterol Levels

Ground Breaking News To Lower Cholesterol Levels :- If you have elevated cholesterol levels and are on medication, here is some great news for you. No, it's not about a magic cure - medical conditions like high cholesterol levels are not that easy to do away with. Rather this latest news involves some path breaking results derived from painstaking research on people with cholesterol, and can help you get in control of your lifestyle along with your cholesterol levels. It's great news and it's breaking, and here it is:

Routine and periodic fasting lowers blood cholesterol levels!

Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute have conclusively proved that routine and periodic fasting lowers blood cholesterol levels. The research started in 2007 and its scope was later expanded as the results got more exciting. Results of the new expanded research also prove that fasting also reduces blood sugar levels, triglycerides and weight.
The research was comprehensive as it recorded the response of the body's biological system during the fasting. The researchers observed that both the bad cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol or LDL-C) and the good cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol or HDL-C) increased by 14% and 6% respectively actually increased during the fasting period, leading to raised cholesterol levels during the fasting period!

This was because fasting led to hunger or stress and, in response, the body released more cholesterol. This allowed the body to use fat as a fuel source in place of glucose. And, as the body burned fat, the fat cells in the body decreased.
The test involved people drinking only water and eating nothing during a 24-hour period. However, doctors say that it is not advisable to jump into a fasting diet immediately. They advocate waiting for more studies to confirm this result, but they are also unanimous in their opinion that fasting will one day be prescribed as a treatment for heart disease.

Bad Cholesterol is not as bad as you think it is

A study conducted by the Texas A  M  University says that Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), which is popularly known as bad cholesterol, is not as evil as it is perceived to be. The University conducted a novel survey: it observed 52 adults, aged between 62 and 69, all in good health, none physically active, and none wanting to enroll into a training program.
The subjects were made to exercise vigorously, and it was observed that LDL levels shot up in people who gained the most lean muscle mass! This surprised the researchers who decided to dig in further. The results of the research went something like this:

1.  The popular understanding about cholesterol is: LDL is considered as bad cholesterol because it builds up on arteries' walls causing a slowdown of the blood flow, and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is considered good because it often removes cholesterol from the arteries' walls, reversing what LDL just did.
2. . Because of this perception of cholesterol, people are in a hurry to get rid of their LDL and pump up their HDL. This research states that this is a wrong thing to do and getting rid of all LDL could result in death.
3.  The research explains that LDL serves three important purposes:  One, all tissues need cholesterol and LDL delivers it - HDL merely cleans up the LDL after the LDL does its job;  Two, LDL's elevated levels warn that something is wrong with the body and that the body should be investigated to find out what is wrong - LDL merely rushes to the arteries because they need cholesterol - LDL is not the cause of the body's problems; Three, The higher the level of LDL, the better will your muscle-building be (if you work out).
4. The study concludes that LDL should not be looked upon as a villain - it is present in the body to fulfill a purpose. Its elevated levels must be considered as a symptom, and the body must be investigated to find out what is wrong.
5. Dietary and Lifestyle Changes can Meaningfully Reduce Triglycerides.
6. A statement issued by the American Heart Association, states that major tweaks made to diet and lifestyle can help reduce triglycerides by up to 50%. This statement is published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. So, what are these helpful changes that can help people reduce their high cholesterol and high triglycerides levels?

Here you go:

1. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats helps cut down triglyceride levels. Examples of food items that contain saturated fats are: cheese, butter, lard, tallow, alcohol, fatty meats, cream, junk food, fried food and chocolates. Sources of unsaturated fats include nuts and vegetable oils.

2. Calories derived from sugar must not exceed 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men.

3. The study admits that many people cannot stay away from saturated fats. So, if you consume saturated fats, ensure that no more than 7% of total calories required are derived from it. Calories derived from trans fats should not exceed 1% of total calories required.

4. No more than 36 ounces of sweetened beverages must be consumed during a week, assuming your diet involves consuming 2,000 calories daily.

5. Vegetables and fruits with lesser amounts of fructose (cantaloupes, peaches, strawberries, bananas), whole-grains, fish (salmon, sardines, lake trout) should be consumed in a higher proportion.

6. Brisk-Walking for just 150 minutes every week can lower triglycerides by up to 30%. A more rigorous workout will enhance the triglycerides reduction percentage.

These findings were based on an analysis of over 500 international studies that were conducted over the past 30 years. The researchers conclude that triglycerides are an important indicator of metabolic rate - A high metabolic rate will burn fats faster leading to a lower triglyceride level, and vice versa. So, when a patient has a high triglyceride level, it's time to get into action mode and follow the steps outlined above.