subject: Is There A Fat Loss Program That Can Help Me Control My High Cholesterol? [print this page] "High" and "cholesterol." Together those two words can strike fear into the hearts of even the toughest customers. Many people who have high cholesterol may go on a fat loss program to lower it but still may not see the results they want.
However, cholesterol isn't the problem.
"What do you mean cholesterol isn't the problem?" some might say. "My doctor says my cholesterol numbers are through the roof!"
That may be true, but cholesterol is still not the problem. The real problems are the things that cause your cholesterol to skyrocket. Cholesterol is the symptom, not the problem. To lower your cholesterol, you have to tackle the underlying issue.
But first, what is cholesterol, and why do so many people have so much of it?
Cholesterol is Not the Problem
Cholesterol isn't the bad guy here. It is only in your blood stream trying to help. The reason that high cholesterol is an indicator of heart disease isn't because cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. Cholesterol is there because of another issue.
That issue is inflammation. Many people's bodies are in a state of inflammation. Something is triggering the body to give an inflammatory response which includes elevated cholesterol levels.
Think about what happens when you cut your finger. There is pain and bleeding. The pain stops you from the hurtful activity that caused the cut and also prevents you from putting pressure on the source of the break. Next, the body will send its repair network to fix the damage.
Part of the response is inflammation. Your skin may feel warm and turn red as more blood rushes to the area to repair the damage.
Cholesterol is part of an internal inflammatory response. When your arteries get damaged, it is there to help to help with repairs.
What Causes Inflammation?
The bad news is that many of the foods you eat may be causing inflammation in your arteries. The good news is that you can control which foods go into your body and so control your body's inflammatory response. You need only to understand which foods are causing your body so much trouble.
The foods that cause your blood sugar to spike are also the ones that can cause inflammation. This includes many refined and processed foods. So cut them out of your diet.
What else causes inflammation? How about sugar, white bread, pasta, cooking oil, soda, processed grains . . . looks like all the foods you shouldn't be eating anyway.
If you cut out the foods that cause inflammation, you may be able to reduce your cholesterol level because cholesterol will no longer be needed to repair damage.
A Proper Fat Loss Program Will also Help Reduce Inflammation
So what should you be eating instead? Anything that does not lead to a rapid spike in blood sugar and anything that does not cause inflammation.
Happily, there are plenty of foods available that fall into those two categories. Vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, chicken, fish, grass fed beef, butter, grains, coconut oil, avocadoes, blueberries, olive oil . . . the list goes on.
Basically, anything natural is good for you to eat.
As for what you should be drinking . . . stay away from the soda and pick up some water. And no, not those flavored "waters" you may find in the grocery store. Just regular, plain water. If you want to flavor it yourself, try some lemon.
You should also be sure to get in some Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Omega 3s have a list of benefits and one of them is reducing inflammation. You can find Omega 3s in wild salmon, anchovies, and sardines as well as in whole, organic eggs and in some raw nuts.
Cholesterol isn't the enemy. If you have high cholesterol, why not try a fat loss program that includes organic, healthy foods and reduces inflammation? Not only may your cholesterol go down, but you will be losing weight and looking good while it does.
