Showing posts with label HDL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HDL. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cholesterol Meters - Test Cholesterol at home !




A cholesterol meter (or cholesterol monitor) is a handy new tool to help. Cholesterol testing meters are an easy way to do a cholesterol check at home. A cholesterol check meter can produce results in minutes, and some are known as a glucose cholesterol meter because they can check your glucose levels too. Cholesterol meters are fast becoming a tool commonly found in the home of health conscious individuals, and are used as a part of a stay healthy regime.

Although everyone needs cholesterol to help the body build new cells and produce hormones, high cholesterol levels can be harmful. The body gets its cholesterol (a fatty substance) via the diet and the liver. While the liver produces around 80 percent, foods such as meat, fish, cheese, and animal products provide the rest.

Foods that contain saturated fats result in the body producing more cholesterol. Many people think that avoiding animal products is the answer for how to reduce cholesterol, but there are foods that don’t contain animal products but do contain trans-fats which will still lead to the body making more cholesterol.

Cholesterol travels around the bloodstream by latching on to specific proteins.
Very bad cholesterol is known as VLDL or very low density lipoprotein.
Bad cholesterol is known as LDL or low density lipoprotein.
Good cholesterol is known as HDL or high density lipoprotein.

Chylomicrons carry a small amount of cholesterol but a large amount of fat known as triglycerides. High LDL cholesterol levels is often a factor in coronary artery disease such as atherosclerosis. This sort of disease can lead to strokes and heart disease, etc. High fat diets, obesity, stress, and inactivity, are all contributing factors in raising cholesterol levels. The problem can also be hereditary. Hospitals frequently advise doing a cholesterol check on these vulnerable groups of people, and they use very similar machines to the cholesterol meters you would use at home.

Many people are unable to pay for frequent cholesterol testing and this is where a home blood cholesterol meter comes in very handy. A cholesterol monitor (such as a home cholesterol meter) allows you to see what is actually going on inside your bloodstream and make any necessary adjustments, such as trying a cholesterol diet where you introduce foods to lower cholesterol. Using a cholesterol test meter will allow you to take control of your health and you should then take steps to find out exactly how to lower LDL cholesterol.





Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Home Remedies for Reducing Cholestrol

REDUCING CHOLESTEROL

High cholesterol is one of the most dreaded health disorders. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by the liver and is essential for every cell in the body. It even enters the body through the saturated fats present in certain foods. Moreover, there are two types of cholesterol, one of which is considered "good" the other "bad."  High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or ‘good cholesterol is the one that scour the walls of blood vessels, cleaning out excess cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is considered normal, when it is anywhere between 40 and 60 mg/dL.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is termed as bad cholesterol. As the name suggests, LDL is bad for the human body and need to be eliminated, because its high content can clog the arteries, resulting in mild to severe heart attacks. There are a number of other health problems as well, which are associated with high levels of cholesterol, such as heart diseases or stroke. The situation can worsen if you are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, or overweight. Thus, to have a long and healthy life, it is important to keep the cholesterol levels low. In this article, we will help you know how to lower cholesterol.

Home Remedies for Reducing Cholesterol

To reduce blood cholesterol levels in your body, you can try some of the home remedies given below. 
  • Drink lots of water everyday. This would keep your body hydrated as well as help in the reduction of bad cholesterol.
  • Mudpack on the abdomen improves digestion, liver and kidney functioning, thus helping lower cholesterol.
  • Yoga exercises are also beneficial for lowering blood cholesterol. However, it is advisable to consult a yoga guru, regarding the same.
  • Exercise regularly, for improving the level of good cholesterol and combating the bad cholesterol.
  • Consume foods that are rich in fiber, as they will help you reduce bad cholesterol. This would include green leafy vegetables as well.
  • Boil 10 pieces of cinnamon sticks in 5 teacups of water. Now, add a tablespoon of honey and mix well. Let it cool down a bit and then drink. Do this twice daily, to stay away from the problem of high blood cholesterol.
  • Use olive oil as the cooking medium. It is highly beneficial for heart and promotes proper functioning of the body system.
  • You may include green leafy salads, coated with a very thin layer of olive oil, in your diet.
  • High cholesterol level can be reduced by consuming raw onion and the juice extracted from it, in moderation.
  • Consuming garlic clove everyday helps in reducing cholesterol level in the body. 

Foods That Lower Cholesterol

To keep your cholesterol level low, you can consume certain foods as well. Given below is a list of such foods 
  • Almonds and Walnuts
  • Fish, not fried
  • Green vegetables and fruits
  • Oat bran
  • Onion juice
  • Soy products and compounds
  • Soybeans
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Unpasteurized milk
  • Wheat germ
  • Whole grain Cereals
  • Yeasts 
Note :
Foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats, such as eggs, organ meats, cheese, butter, beef and whole milk, should be consumed less.



Warning : The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
The service is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.