Cholesterol
is present in the diet of all people, and it can be absorbed slowly
from the gastrointestinal tract into the intestinal lymph. It is highly
fat soluble but only slightly soluble in water and is capable of
forming esters with fatty acids. Food rich in nucleic acids and
nucleoprotein e.g. meat, fish, organ meats also should be avoided.
Cooking in olive oil, safflower, sunflower is good for people with high
cholesterol.
Factors
that affect plasma cholesterol concentration. The important factors
that affect plasma cholesterol concentration are as follows:
1. An increase in the amount of cholesterol ingested each day increases the plasma concentration slightly.
1. A highly saturated fat diet increases blood cholesterol concentration 15 to 20 percent
1. Ingestion
of fat containing highly unsaturated fatty acids usually depresses the
blood cholesterol concentration in slight to moderate amount.
1. Lack
of insulin or thyroid hormone increases the blood cholesterol
concentration, whereas excess thyroid hormone decreases the
concentration.
2.
Normal
blood cholesterol varies between 150 –200 mgm per 100 ml, which is
equally distributed between plasma and cells. But in the cells it is
present chiefly in the free form, while in the plasma the major part
remains occurs in the combined form as esters. The rise of blood
cholesterol is associated with the rise in bile cholesterol. There is
also rise in blood cholesterol when cholesterol rich diet is not
ingested which indicates that this is due to increased absorption of
cholesterol derived from bile.
Arteriosclerosis
or atherosclerosis are the results of diet containing high cholesterol.
In hypothyroidism blood cholesterol rises. In diabetes mellitus and
atherosclerosis, blood cholesterol is often found to be high
The most important factor in causing atherosclerosis is a high blood plasma concentration of cholesterol
in the form of low-density lipoproteins. The plasma concentration of
these high cholesterol low-density lipoproteins is directly increased
by increased saturated fat in the daily diet. To a lesser extent, it is
also increased by increased cholesterol in the diet. Therefore, both or
either of these dietary factors can contribute to the development of
atherosclerosis.
Familial
hypercholesterolemi a is a hereditary disease in which the person
inherits defective genes for the formation of low-density lipoproteins
receptors on the membrane surfaces of the body cells. In the absence of
these receptors, the liver cannot reabsorb either the intermediate
density lipoproteins or the low-density lipoproteins.
HOME REMEDIES FOR CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT
* Walking
also helps to reduce cholesterol levels to a great extent. Moreover it
also helps to increase the good cholesterol, which helps to prevent the
heart disease. Regular physical exercise also plays an important role
in lowering LDL cholesterol and in raising the level of protective HDL.
* Prepare a mixture of 1 tsp. of roasted chicory root, 1 tsp. of lime
flowers, ½ tsp. of fenugreek seeds,½ tsp. of ginger rhizome, 1 quart of
water. Boil all ingredients, let it cool, strain. Drink 2 cups a day.
* Chromium also helps in the formation of cholesterol, fats and protein.
Chromium maintains stable blood sugar levels through proper insulin
utilization and can be helpful for people with diabetes and/or
hypoglycemia.
* Ginger reduces cholesterol and thins the blood and thus improves the circulation.
* Guggul decreases LDL by 35% increases HDL by 20 % in 12 weeks, and helps to prevent arteriosclerosis.
* Take 2-3 cloves of garlic daily to reduce the cholesterol. This is an effective home remedy for cholesterol treatment .
* Take finely chopped small onion and mix it with 1-cup buttermilk along with 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper powder and drink.
* Fenugreek seeds help to control high serum cholesterol.
* Turmeric
helps by lowering serum cholesterol and by preventing the formation of
the internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart
disease and stroke.
* Onion juice can be taken as cholesterol diet to reduce cholesterol, clean the blood, and regulate the heart.
* Mix a teaspoon of powdered methi seeds in a glass of water and take in the morning on an empty stomach for a month.
* Bran cereals are a very good source to reduce cholesterol. Eat some bran after each meal.
* Lecithin
is a fatty food substance and is found mostly in the phospholipids, is
beneficial in case of increase in cholesterol level. It breaks up
cholesterol into small particles, which can be easily digested by the
body. With sufficient intake of lecithin, cholesterol cannot build up
against the walls of the arteries and veins.
* Vitamins
B6, choline, and inositol are effective in reducing the level of blood
cholesterol. The patient should take sufficient quantities of vitamin
E-rich foods such as sunflower seeds, safflower, soyabean oils, butter,
and sprouted seed and grains.
* Regular drinking of a decoction of coriander seeds helps lower blood cholesterol.
* Ishabgul has been found vary useful in the treatment of high cholesterol level.
* Persons with high blood cholesterol level should drink at least eight to ten glasses of water every day.
* Another home remedy for cholesterol treatment
is -prepare a mixture of a glass of water & 1-2 gms of powdered
cinnamon. Filter this mixture & add a spoon of honey to it. Drink
this solution once a day for 15-25 days. This would control cholesterol.
* Prepare a solution by adding cactus and lemon and garlic. Drink one cup every day in the morning and in one-month cholesterol will go down.
was at an INSEAD friend's wedding this weekend. Had a lovely time with friends coming from all over the world - Spain, France, Turkey, Australia, Canada and of course here. Fabulous venues and great music provided for an amazing time. Some pics below :
