Supplements for Cholesterol: What Works? – Cholesterol – Health.com

Supplements for Cholesterol: What Works? – Cholesterol – Health.com.

Harvard names 11 cholesterol cutting foods

Harvard names 11 cholesterol cutting foods

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Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

7 Causes Of High Cholesterol – Do you have high cholesterol? – Health.com

7 Causes Of High Cholesterol – Do you have high cholesterol? – Health.com

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Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

Preventable Health Problems

The United States spent about $2.2 trillion on healthcare in 2007. This accounts for 16 percent of our gross domestic product, and that’s projected to rise to 20 percent by 2017. Much of this healthcare spending can be tied to preventable health problems.

Here are some examples of preventable health problems:

The largest numbers of deaths in the United States are caused by two preventable causes – tobacco smoking and high blood pressure – killing an estimated 467,000 and 395,000 people respectively in 2005. Currently, one in three American adults (about 73 million people) has high blood pressure; one in every six Americans age 20 or older has high cholesterol. Anyone suffering from high cholesterol or hypertension is at heightened risk for heart disease, according to HealthBeat, a Harvard Publication. Heart disease is projected to cost more than $304.6 billion in 2009, including health care services, medications, and lost productivity (CDC).

Case for obesity: Excess weight is a significant factor in four of the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Obesity has fueled a 45 percent rise in diabetes over the past 20 years; someone born in 2000 has a 1 in 3 chance of developing the disease (US News Jan’09).
Obesity increases a person’s risk of illness and death due to diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, and kidney and gallbladder disease. Obesity may increase the risk for some types of cancer. It is also a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis and sleep apnea (NY Times June’08)

Case for colon cancer: Statistics show that although the death rate from colon cancer has dropped in recent years – likely mostly because of screening efforts – colorectal cancer still strikes almost 150,000 Americans every year and kills about 50,000.
Disease prevention is a key part of health care reform and the U.S. needs to do a better job preventing deaths through improved screening technology and ensuring more people have access to the tests, such as colonoscopies, says gastroenterologist Dr. Jon LaPook. He has his own colonoscopy recorded (see video, courtesy of CBS NEWS) to remind people of the importance of regular screenings.

Here are some simple preventive measures:

Low-risk factors for hypertension include a Body mass Index (BMI) of less than 25; an average of 30 minutes exercise per day; a good diet as measured by the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) or a Mediterranean-style diet centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish instead of red meat and processed foods. Also beneficial is an anti-inflammatory diet that is focused on reducing saturated fat and trans fats and eating more foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid—like flax seed, walnuts, and canola oil—and omega-3 fats.

Lifestyle therapies are considered first-line interventions for managing both long- and short-term risks, including fat loss, increased physical activity, and adopting a healthy diet, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and lean protein, and low-fat dairy, fiber supplements; reduced intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Many experts agree that whole grains are notably beneficial for maintaining vital markers of cardiovascular health like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, homocysteine levels and inflammation, in addition to aiding weight management.

Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

Fish oil plus red yeast rice compared to statins in cholesterol lowering

Natural supplements health news: A combination of fish oils, red yeast rice coupled with lifestyle changes reduced cholesterol levels by the same amount as a daily statin pill, according to a randomized-trial research findings from the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

David Becker, MD, and coworkers at UPenn recruited 74 people with hypercholesterolaemia and randomly assigned them to receive a daily statin dose of simvastatin (40 mg/d) or the fish oil (EPA 2106 mg/d, DHA 1680 mg/d, N3 Oceanic) and red yeast rice (N3 Oceanic). The red yeast rice contained a total monacolin content of 5.3 mg, with 2.53 mg in the form of monacolin K (lovastatin). After 12 weeks of intervention, the researchers found statistically significant LDL reductions in both groups, but no difference between the groups. LDL-cholesterol levels were reduced by 42.4 per cent following consumption of the fish oil and red yeast rice combination, compared to reductions of 39.6 per cent in the statin group.

In addition to the LDL reduction, the fish oil/ red yeast rice combination also produced significant reductions in triglyceride levels of 29 per cent, compared to a non-significant nine per cent reduction in the statin group. The researchers attributed the triglyceride-lowering effects to the fish oil based on other reports pointing to similar effect.

Highlights about Red Yeast Rice (RYR):

• RYR is the product of yeast grown on rice; a dietary staple in some Asian countries.
• RYR reportedly contains several compounds that inhibit cholesterol production.
• Speculating on a mode of action of their findings, Becker and co-workers indicated that RYR contains naturally occurring lovastatin and nine different substances called monacolins that could inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase.
• The dose of RYR in the study (2.4-3.6 g/d) was equivalent to a daily lovastatin dose of 10 to 15 mg, less than the established therapeutic dose (20-40 mg).

“Lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL-C in proportions similar to standard therapy with simvastatin,” the researchers conclude.

The full text is published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Reference: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, P.B. Morris, J. Yorko, Y.J. Gordon, M. Li, N. Iqbal, “Simvastatin vs Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes and Supplements: Randomized Primary Prevention Trial”; Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2008, Vol. 83 (7) Pages 758-764.

Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

How do walnuts and fish compare in protecting against heart disease?

Lifelong Supplements™ health news! High blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels are risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). It is well known that increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the question consumers often ask is whether plant- and marine-derived omega-3 fats work similarly in prevention of CHD.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that including walnuts and fatty fish in a healthy diet lowered serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, respectively, which affects CHD risk favorably. These findings show that walnut (a rich source of plant-derived omega-3) and fatty fish (a rich source of marine-derived omega-3), although both types are cadio-protective, target different risk factors when consumed in amounts recommended for primary prevention of CHD.
Here is a brief description of the study. In a randomized crossover feeding trial, 25 normal to mildly hyperlipidemic adults consumed 3 isoenergetic diets (about 30% total fat and <10% saturated fat) for 4 weeks each: a control diet (no nuts or fish), a walnut diet (1.5 oz walnuts/day), or a fish diet (4 oz salmon, twice/week). Fasting blood was drawn at baseline and at the end of each diet period and analyzed for serum lipids. The results showed that the participants who followed the walnut diet had a 5.3% lower serum total cholesterol level and a 9.5% lower LDL (bad) cholesterol level when compared to the control diet. Those who followed the fish diet decreased their triglyceride levels by 10.7%, and increased their HDL (good) cholesterol by 3.4% compared to the control diet. The reference for the study is: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 89, pages 1657S-1663S, 2009.
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Lifelong Fiber Supplement Improves Digestive Health

Lifelong Supplements™: Are you getting enough fiber? Think about a host of chronic disorders connected to digestive health. Lifelong fiber supplements benefit metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, constipation or inability to empty the large bowel (colon). Consider fiber supplements, exercise, and fluid intake to control bowel irregularity and associated disorders.

Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

Cholesterol Control: Reduce LDL, Boost HDL, Lifelong Supplements™

Cholesterol makes vital contributions to health, a major component of all human cell membranes and a building block of steroid hormones, including cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone.  However, high levels of cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”), have a long association with many diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death in the world. CVD are diseases of the heart and blood vessels that can cause heart attacks and stroke.  More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol.

High levels of LDL cholesterol dramatically increase the risk for heart attacks, angina, peripheral artery disease, and stroke. Excess LDL cholesterol accumulation in artery walls may lead to chemical changes, including oxidation; the body interprets these changes as “danger” and responds by drawing inflammatory compounds into arteries.  This process ultimately leads to both the build-up of plaque in the artery walls and chronic inflammation. Thus lowering LDL cholesterol, boosting HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”) and protecting cholesterol from oxidation are effective ways to maintain a healthy heart and reduce risk of heart disease.

According to recent Harvard HealthBeat report, for healthy people, an LDL of 160 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) was once considered acceptable; now 130 mg/dL is okay, and 100 mg/dL, ideal. For people with stable coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, or other major cardiovascular risk factors, the targets are more stringent still: 100 mg/dL is okay, 70 mg/dL or less, ideal. And for patients with unstable coronary heart disease, it’s 70 mg/dL or bust.

Diet, weight control, and exercise are essential for lowering blood cholesterol. When diet and exercise alone are not enough to reduce cholesterol to goal levels, doctors often prescribe medication, the most prominent being the statins (FDA Consumer Health Information). 

Dietary approaches to lower blood cholesterol and CVD risk include consuming diets low in saturated fats and trans fats and high in heart-healthy ingredients such as fish oil omega-3, soluble dietary fiber (e.g., beta-glucan rich oats and barley), soy protein, plant sterols, dietary antioxidants, etc.  Botanical-based products such as cocoa, green tea and fruits contain heart-healthy flavonoids and other polyphenols that minimize oxidative stress.  These heart-healthy ingredients are also commercially available in concentrated forms as nutritional supplements (powder, capsules, and tablets). 

Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.

Heart Disease Concern

53% of Americans list heart disease as their top health concern according to IFIC, Washington DC.  Heart disease is the direct cause of 500,000 deaths in the U.S. each year and kills 7 million worldwide.  Fish oil supplements and plant sterols supplements help to reduce risks of heart disease and are backed by solid science and by FDA. 

Give your health a boost with safe lifelong supplements™! Helpful health and wellness tips from: lifelonghp.com, blog.lifelong supplements and health bulletin.