TACKLING HIGH CHOLESTEROL FROM EVERY ANGLE

Eat lots of fat and your arteries will become clogged - that's what many doctors say. Don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, don't do this or that - they also command. But do they actually provide you with the necessary advice for keeping your cholesterol levels safe other than prescribing atorvastatin, the world's top-selling drug? If you ask your doctor what sort of foods you are allowed to eat he will probably say vegetables. Lucky you if he recommends specific foods that actually decrease your LDL cholesterol and which are not hard to incorporate to your diet! Whether you have sky-high cholesterol or you just want to stay healthy, bear in mind Hippocrates's phrase "be thy food be thy medicine and be thy medicine be thy food". 

GOOD CHOLESTEROL VS BAD CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol is necessary for our body. Some of it comes from diet and some is made by the liver. As it is not soluble in the blood, it needs to be carried by proteins called lipoproteins. When they have a high density (HDL) they rich the liver easily, but if their density is low (LDL) they do not manage to travel long distances and start accumulating in the walls of arteries. Thus, the immune system attacks them and LDL particles become oxidized, which is rather toxic for the body.  This attracts even more white blood cells to LDL deposits triggering inflammation, creating plaques, and ultimately leading to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the treatment for high cholesterol levels should be focused on lowering LDL cholesterol, reducing oxidation, fighting inflammation, and preventing plaques. 

These five foods are proven to decrease blood cholesterol and protect the body from the complications of high cholesterol from all different angles:

GARLIC

Add delicious garlic to your daily meals - salads, sauces and fish. Although it tastes and smells very strong, use either fresh or powdered garlic, but never swallow it as a pill! The amazing effects of garlic are due to a molecule called allicin that is produced when garlic is cut and crushed. A statistical analysis of 22 clinical studies showed that garlic powder is effective for reducing LDL cholesterol as well as other factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. 

ALMONDS

Almonds and other nuts contain unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, fiber and other compounds that make them so effective for reducing LDL cholesterol. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that consuming 1.5 ounces of almonds (42 grams) a day is enough for lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing body fat. This works amazingly if you substitute almonds for a high carbohydrate snack. 

AVOCADO

Use avocado as a very important ingredient for your salads and accompanying vegetables. If you definetely cannot stop eating chips, dip them in a delicious guacamole. A study with 45 overweight and obese participants with high LDL cholesterol showed that eating an avocado a day is effective for lowering LDL cholesterol as well as the size and number of LDL particles! On average, one avocado contains 115 mg of plant sterols, mainly β‐sitosterol which along with the unsaturated fatty acids, fiber and vitamins decreases cardiovascular disease risk. 

OLIVE OIL

Largely used in the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is an excellent source of healthy fats and other nutrients. (Extra)virgin oil is full of polyphenols that are proven to elevate HDL cholesterol and decrease the plaques and lesions of arteries' walls (antiatherogenic effect). Extravirgin olive oil contains an antioxidant compound called hydroxytyrosol that prevents LDL oxidation and cancer. Do not hesitate in adding it to your salads, however stop using it for cooking because it may produce harmful carcinogens. There is still some controversy about this fact, but in the meantime be safe! 

OATMEAL

Oat cereals are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that has very powerful cholesterol-lowering effect. Make sure you consume oatmeal and oat bran regularly to reduce your cholesterol levels by 5% to 10%. Oatmeal is not only good for high cholesterol but also prevents peaks in your blood sugar, which are a concern for diabetics. Also, oat has anti-inflammatory compounds and loads of fiber that can help you alleviate irritable bowel syndrome and lose weight.

EGCG - THE KING MOLECULE OF GREEN TEA

Green tea is a beverage made from the plant Camellia sinensis that has excellent health-promoting properties. It is traditionally consumed in Asiatic countries such as China and Japan, and its use has become popular in the West in the last decades. The Japanese book called Kitcha-Yojoki, written by a Zen priest in 1211, describes a number of medical effects of its prolonged intake. Another book titled Yojokun, published in the Tokugawa period (17th-19th century), recommends long-term drinking of green tea for a lean body. Today, it is well known that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the major compound present in green tea which is responsible for its amazing health benefits. 

Some of the scientifically proven effects of EGCG are:       

• Cancer prevention, anti-cancer and anti-metastatic activities
• Liver protection
• Enhances insulin activity and sensitivity - excellent for diabetes!
• Reduction of body fat
• Prevention of cardiovascular disease
• Cholesterol lowering effects
• Neuroprotective
• Antibacterial and antiviral activities

The different catechins present in green tea

EGCG belongs to a family of molecules called catechins that are found in many plants. The catechins epicatechin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin gallate are also present in green tea and they all collaborate for the therapeutic activities. This is called synergistic effect and it is perhaps the most important reason for consuming green tea or green tea extract instead of a purified form of EGCG. The king cannot work by himself; he needs his page-boys! In addition, the king molecules of different foods work together to promote health. 

EGCG, normal and cancer cells

EGCG plays a very interesting role in aiding cells to stay healthy. Normal cells have an impressive molecular system that controls their growth and division. They reproduce only when and where needed, sticking together to form tissues encapsulated in membranes. Also, they become mature cells and as their cycle is over their program sends specific death signals to themselves. More interestingly, healthy cells have the ability to repair their DNA which could be damaged for a variety of reasons. On the contrary when such molecular system fails, cells grow and reproduce uncontrollably, forming a tumor. They separate from their normal tissue and invade other places - a process called metastasis - spreading their malignancy throughout the body. Moreover, cancer cells are not able to repair themselves, so they accumulate a tremendous number of mutations including resistance to drugs.

Several cells and animal experiments have shown that EGCG can positively modulate normal and cancer cell functions. It is able to prevent cells from escaping their original tissue, which is an anti-metastasic activity. It also stops cell growth and triggers tumor cell death by inhibiting and activating specific proteins involved in both processes. Furthermore, green tea components are able to mitigate cellular damage arising due to oxidative stress. Although most of the effects of EGCG have been shown in cells and animal studies, clinical trials are further needed to verify its efficacy in human beings. Epidemiological studies are another source of valuable data and they have shown the protective effects of green tea against cancer in specific populations that consume green tea for a prolonged time. Therefore green tea has a great potential for preventing and fighting cancer. We should seriously start drinking green tea now! Three or four cups of green tea a day can help us keep healthy. 

More blog posts will be dedicated to explain the benefits of green tea for cancer and other diseases. Please look at the following sources for a deeper scientific explanation of the different pharmaceutical effects of green tea:

1. Sozuki Y, Miyoshi N, Isemura M. Health-promoting effects of green tea. The Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B. 88 (2012). 

2. Butt MS, Sultan MT. Green tea: nature's defense against malignancies. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2009 May;49(5):463-73. 

The Best Allies for our Health

Centuries ago, people did not have medicines; they used herbs to fight disease. Shamans and ancient physicians empirically knew about the healing properties of different plants and used them across the different regions and cultures in the world. With the rise of modern science and technology, chemical compounds were identified as responsible for the many biological activities of herbs, so they were obtained for drug production. Then, as chemical synthesis replaced infusions and extraction methods, a new era of medicine was born phasing out the use and credibility of herbal preparations.

It is important to note, nevertheless, that modern science has proved the many benefits of phytochemicals - the active molecules present in plants - for promoting health and preventing disease. It is amazing how ancient humans were pretty aware of the therapeutic effect of herbs without the modern sophisticated tools that are available today. It is also interesting to understand the major drawbacks of ancient herbal medicine:

1. Although medicinal plants were widely used, the existence of some plant varieties was limited to certain communities and regions. Globalization is a relatively new thing that has overcome this barrier.

2. Those who used herbs did not think in terms of pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, which are essential for determining the exact dose of a medicine. Hence, herbs' potential for curing a disease was perhaps not fulfilled.

3. Medical texts were lost and recovered over and over - in fact ancient pieces of medical treatises are still being discovered! 

The good news is that modern society and medical science are now perfectly capable of overcoming such barriers to phytomedicine. The molecules that mother nature provides are the best allies for preserving and boosting our health. The human body uses phytochemicals wisely for the following purposes:

http://www.phytoconcentrates.com/gymnema-sylvestre.htm

•  Neutralizing free oxygen radicals
•  DNA repair
•  Ensuring correct cell division
•  Burning fat

•  Improving insulin sensitivity
•  Fighting inflammation
•  Boosting the immune system


Finally, in this blog you will find valuable information on how to use and obtain phytochemicals from different practical sources. I will also provide interesting explanations of the compounds and their roles for preventing or aiding diabetes, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, brain disorders, autoimmune diseases, HIV, cancer and other chronic and degenerative diseases. Please note that this information is not intended to encourage people to substitute or quit their treatments. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician before using any product discussed here.

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