 Healthy Cholesterol
Byron J. Richards, CCN - Nutrition plays a pivotal role in how your body processes all of its cholesterol-related tasks. Nutritional deficiencies place unnecessary stress on healthy cholesterol metabolism. Cholesterol fitness can be naturally supported in multiple ways. These five products are my top choices:
Also see the LeptiCardio Pack™ for comprehensive blood pressure and cholesterol support nutrition.* A brief description of each of these products is listed next, followed by more in depth information about how they work. I then explain how various other dietary supplements can support cholesterol fitness. Read more Best Cholesterol Health Supplements:
Learn more about Cholesterol:The Basic Approach to Cholesterol FitnessMore about Leptinal® More about Pantethine More about Daily Super E™ More about Niacin Plus™ More About PoliBlue™ More Options for Cholesterol Health Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™, Homocysteine, and Cholesterol Fiber Helper™, Oat Beta Glucan, and Heart Health Daily Protein Plus™, Breakfast, and Cholesterol Thyroid Helper® and Cholesterol The Basic Approach to Cholesterol FitnessDiet, exercise, weight management, and dietary supplements form a terrific approach to healthfully managing your cholesterol fitness. The new science shows that keeping your cholesterol levels in a healthy range requires that you properly manage the entire subject of fat. This includes triglyceride metabolism, weight management, the condition of your stored fat, leptin function, and thyroid function. There is no short cut or quick fix to being healthy. The good news is that getting and staying healthy can be done! It is very important to follow the Five Rules of The Leptin Diet as failing to do so excessively elevates blood fats between meals (triglycerides) which reduce the ability of leptin to get into your brain correctly. This problem (leptin resistance) sets a whole series of cholesterol and heart-related stressors into motion. Do your cholesterol levels a favor and eat in harmony with leptin. If you are trying to manage your cholesterol level and you do not know how leptin works in your body then it is vital to get a copy of the The Leptin Diet so you can understand how your body actually works. Moving in the right direction on weight management is essential for proper cholesterol fitness. Exercise is important because it turns on gene signals throughout your body that enable your body to use cholesterol properly, rather than have it pile up in your blood. If you don't have an active life or you don't exercise consistently you have little chance of maintaining cholesterol fitness or optimal health. It isn't even an option, so make it a priority. Nutrients that support cholesterol fitness work best in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise. Your goal is to keep your cholesterol numbers looking good because you are healthy. Nutrients have no adverse side effects and are great tools to support normal cholesterol metabolism. You actually have many options, ranging from the basic choices I explain first and going into other options that may also be relevant for some.* More About Leptinal®Leptinal® supports cholesterol fitness in a variety of novel ways. Fat cells within stored fat use small fragments of cholesterol to stabilize the structure of their cell membranes. When a person gains weight these fat cells expand in size, stressing the actual structure of the fat cell. The stressed fat cells send out a call to the liver for more cholesterol to help stabilize their cell membranes. Thus, fat cells that are too large contribute to cholesterol unfitness. Losing weight helps this problem. The DHA in Leptinal® has been show to help shrink fat cells, in turn helping to promote cholesterol fitness.* It is now well known that DHA helps lower triglyceride levels, especially when combined with weight management. This helps leptin enter your brain in a more normal manner, in turn promoting normal brain signals to the liver for optimal cholesterol synthesis. By contrast, if leptin is not getting into your brain properly then your body switches to a perceived famine mode -- which naturally elevates cholesterol while turning down metabolic rate. This combination is an evolutionary strategy to survive a real famine, but is not very helpful for daily living or general weight loss efforts. Leptinal® helps prevent this cholesterol-related issue by supporting optimal triglyceride metabolism.* DHA and GLA are also known to help the formation of HDL cholesterol, the "good" type that helps your body naturally take LDL out of your blood and back to your liver to be recycled.* Leptinal® also contains Sytrinol®, a standardized and clinically tested combination of citrus-derived polymethoxylated flavones (tangeretin and nobiletin) and tocotrienols. Four human clinical trials support the effectiveness of this natural compound to aid cholesterol fitness.* The highest quality pomegranate extract (standardized for punicalagins) rounds out the Leptinal® formula. Punicalagins are potent antioxidants that work very well in the circulatory system. Research on pomegranate and cholesterol also shows favorable support for cholesterol fitness.* At the same time Leptinal® is supporting healthy cholesterol function it is also helping promote healthy blood pressure, healthy arteries, and direct heart nutrition -- making it our top cardiovascular support health product.*
More About PantethinePantethine is the biologically active form of vitamin B5. Plain vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is rapidly washed out of your body. The unique structure of pantethine enables it to stay in your body for up to 16 hours helping to support energy production and cholesterol fitness. Pantethine is used by your liver to assist healthy metabolism of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, as well as helping to form HDL cholesterol. Pantethine even helps your liver naturally clear out a build up of any extra fat. Pantethine and its support of cholesterol fitness have been extensively studied in human trials for the past three decades.* Pantethine is the precursor to Co-Enzyme A (CoA), a pivotal nutrient in at least 70 metabolic pathways relating to the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein. This is one reason pantethine helps offset fatigue. If you think of pieces of fat or cholesterol as box cars of a train, then imagine pantethine as the engine. It provides the energy to move nutrients in metabolic processes -- directly promoting fitness by helping your body use nutrition the way it wants to. This is a superior and energizing way to support healthy metabolism.*
More About Daily Super E™Tocotrienols differ from regular vitamin E because they have a short, flexible, and biologically active side chain or "tail" (an isoprenoid called farnesol). By comparison, regular vitamin E has a long and stiff tail that is not useful. In some cases this means that tocotrienols are superior to plain E in basic vitamin E chores, such as antioxidant capacity.* Indeed, tocotrienols directly modulate the most powerful gene switch, NF-kappaB, which is intimately involved in inflammation and consequent free radical formation. Thus, not only are tocotrienols a more effective antioxidant they also help reduce the amount of free radicals formed in the first place. The short tail of tocotrienol E also enables it to readily move into cells and participate in biological processes in novel ways, in many cases helping to perform functions that plain vitamin E does not do. Such is the case with natural cholesterol support.* Gamma tocotrienol communicates with the primary enzyme involved with cholesterol metabolism, HMG-CoA reductase. In normal cholesterol metabolism, the production of cholesterol is self regulating. This is similar to a person at the end of a production line making a phone call back to the person at the front of the line, telling them enough widgets have been made. In cholesterol metabolism this occurs through the production of isoprenoids in one of the branch pathways of normal cholesterol production. Isoprenoids communicate back to the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme and tell it to "go home from work for the day, you are no longer needed." As it turns out, the tail of gamma tocotrienol is an isoprenoid that assists in modulating cholesterol production in a natural manner. Human and animal studies have shown that tocotrienols are an excellent tool to support healthy cholesterol metabolism and fitness.*
More About Niacin Plus™Niacin has been extensively used for the past fifty years to support healthy lipid metabolism and circulation. It helps widen your blood vessels which helps your arteries to naturally relax. Many forms of niacin have an undesirable flushing effect. In our product we use a safe and effective non-flushing form of niacin called inositol hexanicotinate (IHN). This enables you to get the benefits of niacin without the irritating flushing.* Your cellular engines (mitochondria) convert food to energy (ATP) through a complex process of many steps, similar to a production line in a factory. When someone on the production line is not functioning up to par it affects everything else down the line. Niacin is the backbone of two key enzymes (workers on the production line) known as NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) who perform an important role in how your cells make energy. They are also team players, helping as many as 200 other energy-related enzymes do their work. The ability of your body to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins and use them to make energy is dependent on having adequate niacin.* These niacin-containing enzymes play many other roles in your body, including assisting your DNA to repair itself. Niacin is especially active in your circulatory system. Niacin can assist with fatigue, weakness, skin irritations, appetite, mood, and some types of mild headaches.* Niacin is best known for its role in supporting HDL cholesterol metabolism, helping maintain healthy levels of HDL and its very important component, ApoA1. Niacin also helps your body metabolize triglycerides in a healthy way.* Overall, niacin is an excellent cardiovascular support nutrient. In general, a dose from 1200 mg 1800 mg a day is likely to help circulation and support HDL cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism.*
More About PoliBlue™Policosanol is a mixture of eight waxy substances derived from sugarcane wax. The most important one is octacosanol which is typically 60% of the mixture. Policosanol supports normal cholesterol function by boosting the activity of an enzyme called AMP-kinase, which in turn naturally modulates HMG-CoA reductase activity (the main enzyme of natural cholesterol synthesis).* Policosanol also supports healthy circulation in a variety of ways, including arterial health as well as promoting normal platelet function. It has a positive effect on oxygen utilization and aerobic performance, including circulation in the legs.* The deep blue pigment of blueberries contains an antioxidant called anthocyanidins, which help to neutralize free radicals. Blueberries are one of the very best fruits providing this type of antioxidant protection. Blueberries, like policosanol, have a favorable influence on healthy circulation, promoting healthy function of the lining of arteries and platelets.* Recently, Agnes Rimando, a researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified a new compound in blueberries called pterostilbene (pronounced "tero-STILL-bean"). Rimando's research shows that pterostilbene has a powerful ability to influence the metabolism of cholesterol and the synthesis of triglycerides. It does this by binding to a very specific receptor in the nucleus of a cell that is vital to the metabolism of fat. This receptor is called PPARa (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha). Thus, pterostilbene is guiding a cell's use of cholesterol and triglycerides, supporting healthy metabolism. Our product is standardized for pterostilbenes, ensuring you get a predictable amount of this important nutrient.*
More Options for Cholesterol HealthCholesterol fitness is a subject with many variables. Cholesterol is found in every cell of your body and is vital for survival and longevity. LDL cholesterol has been labeled "bad" because once it is damaged it can accumulate in plaque that lines arteries. However, the proper function of LDL cholesterol is vital to your health and the normal function of your body. Getting your LDL to work properly is a key to your health. The reason your body makes LDL cholesterol is so that you can transport fat-soluble nutrition to your cells. LDL cholesterol is a very large molecule made primarily of cholesterol and protein. Think of LDL as a UPS truck, delivering packages. Fat soluble nutrition does not "float" in the watery solution that is your blood. Fat soluble nutrients like vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10 must get from your liver to your cells otherwise your cells will run short of antioxidants. The way they get there is by transporting on the UPS truck known as LDL (which floats nicely through the blood and then travels out to cells all around your body). Once LDL does its job HDL helps escort it back to your liver where it can be re-loaded with more packages and sent back out this is the normal function of LDL. The dietary fat you consume as well as fragments of cholesterol (brick size pieces) are also transported to cells in the same way, on the UPS delivery truck. Thus, managing LDL cholesterol fitness is tied directly to the overall nutritional and antioxidant status of every cell in your body. All of the nutritional products discussed so far (Leptinal®, Pantethine, Daily Super E™, and PoliBlue™) directly enhance the function of LDL in this fitness format as well as helping to protect LDL from damage while it is trying to do its job.* Other dietary supplements may also be useful based on unique personal needs and existing diet. Various additional and synergistic options are discussed next. Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™, Homocysteine, and CholesterolHomocysteine is a natural byproduct of protein metabolism in your liver. In a healthy situation homocysteine is naturally metabolized into other compounds with the help of folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. If you are lacking B vitamins, which are typically used up by stress, then you may not have enough B vitamins to support the normal metabolism of homocysteine.* When homocysteine levels elevate they act as a stressful irritant in your blood, capable of damaging LDL cholesterol. This problem is simple to avoid by having an adequate supply of high quality B vitamins. In Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™ we place high amounts of the important B vitamins in their most biologically active co-enzyme forms. For example, we never use the cheap form of vitamin B12, cyanacobalamin, which produces cyanide as it is metabolized (one more toxin your body has to clear).* Since every person should have a fine quality multiple vitamin, Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin is a great choice. It is specially designed to combat fatigue and boost mood, as well as providing enough of the important B vitamins that are needed for healthy homocysteine metabolism. Many multiple vitamins on the market today do not have enough of these nutrients to support healthy homocysteine metabolism, meaning you are stuck buying an additional B vitamin product because you are using a wimpy multiple vitamin with inferior ingredients. At Wellness Resources we ensure that you get what you need from your basic supplements.*
Fiber Helper™, Oat Beta Glucan, and Heart HealthAdequate dietary fiber is needed to naturally clear cholesterol, help eliminate toxins, help bowel regularity, and promote more stable blood sugar levels between meals. Many Americans lack adequate fiber for basic cardiovascular health. Also, people who are dieting tend to cut back on dietary fiber when they reduce carbohydrates, which can readily bring weight loss efforts to a screeching halt within a week.* Your liver produces bile, which stores in your gall balder, and is released into your digestive tract to help digest fat. In your body's eloquent system of economy fat soluble toxins and extra cholesterol are also added to bile and sent into your digestive tract. Once there, dietary fiber binds up the waste products and extra cholesterol for excretion in your bowel movements. If you don't have adequate fiber both toxins and extra cholesterol can be reabsorbed, causing problems.* Adequate dietary fiber ensures a more healthy relationship between your liver, digestion, and cholesterol. This strategy is one aspect of cholesterol fitness, and not the be-all and end-all approach to the subject. Your liver can easily make as much cholesterol as it wants, regardless of how much fiber you ingest or cholesterol you don't eat. The goal is to keep your liver happy. Thus, if your liver has decided it wants to secrete some extra cholesterol into your digestive tract it is your job to make sure there is adequate fiber to promote its natural clearance.* I have tested numerous fiber products over the years. Most of them are either hard to mix, taste awful, or are loaded with sweeteners of one kind or another. My Fiber Helper™ supplement solves all these problems. I use no sweeteners of any kind, yet the product has a mild oat flavor when mixed in water. I use three different kinds of fiber. Our oat beta glucan is designed to have a smooth mouth feel. Our small particle psyllium does not immediately form a large blob in your glass. And the arabinogalactan fiber completely dissolves and does not promote any gas formation. The result is an easy to use fiber product that mixes readily in water or the beverage of your choice. I often mix a heaping tablespoon in a protein drink for breakfast.* The FDA recognizes the importance of adequate dietary fiber in the natural clearance of cholesterol and prevention of heart disease and so allows the following health claim on our Fiber Helper product: "Soluble fiber from foods such as oats and psyllium, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of Fiber Helper supplies .75 grams of the needed 3 grams of oat beta glucan soluble fiber from oats and 3.5 grams of the needed 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium necessary per day to have this affect. Thus, 1 serving provides 75% of the soluble fiber per day for this FDA approved health claim.
Daily Protein Plus™, Breakfast, and CholesterolGetting your day started on the right foot is very important to keeping your metabolism functioning properly as the day goes along -- which significantly impacts your ability to metabolize cholesterol correctly. Many individuals do not eat adequate dietary protein at breakfast -- or even worse tend to skip breakfast because they are in a hurry. This tends to result in extra cravings for food later in the day and/or a poor energy level that requires extra stimulates and food just to "keep going. Adequate protein at breakfast is the foundation of healthy metabolism.* To compensate for this common problem I designed Daily Protein Plus™ to provide the finest whey protein, a cholesterol-friendly serving of oat beta glucan, and a serving of the potent antioxidant fruit called Mangosteen. This is a great way to start the day and can even be mixed with extra fiber (described above) as desired. The FDA allows the following health claim for Daily Protein Plus™: "Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 3 grams of soluble fiber per day from oat beta glucan may reduce risk of heart disease. One serving of Daily Protein Plus™ provides 0.75 grams of this soluble fiber.
Thyroid Helper® and CholesterolProper thyroid function is another important aspect of cholesterol fitness. Every cell in your body uses small fragments of cholesterol for needed metabolic functions, including the support system to maintain the three-dimensional structure of the cell itself. The rate that cholesterol is used is governed by thyroid hormone. If thyroid function is sluggish then the natural cellular use of cholesterol is reduced.* While any cell can make its own cholesterol if needed, it is a common practice for a cell to post a sign on its outer surface that tells the LDL cholesterol-carrying UPS truck to stop and drop off some cholesterol. On the other hand, if cell function is going too slow based on sluggish thyroid then extras cholesterol may start to pile up inside the cell. When this happens the cell posts a call tag on its surface, wanting LDL to pick up rather than drop off cholesterol.* Thyroid Helper® is designed to activate thyroid hormone at the cellular level to naturally support optimal rate of basic cell functions and consequently the use of cholesterol. Exercise also conditions thyroid hormone to work better in cells. These strategies help cholesterol flow to where it is needed, rather than pile up as an unneeded surplus. This concept is another important aspect of cholesterol fitness and is especially important for any person who has sluggish thyroid function.*
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