subject: What Causes High Cholesterol and What You Can Do About it Now [print this page] There seems to be some difference of opinion about what causes high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and what lowers it. When people are in a hospital-like environment and their diets are carefully monitored, it has been possible to lower their total triglycerides and balance the ratio HDL to LDL particles.
In the real world, eating real food, diets seem to have very little effect on triglycerides or HDL/LDL particles. The mainstream idea is still to avoid foods that contain cholesterol. Cheese, egg yolks, beef, pork and poultry contain a complex mixture of fats, cholesterol and nutrients.
The best dietary recommendation is to eat foods that contain lots of nutrients. Avoid the empty calories. So, avoiding foods that contain cholesterol could mean that you eat a lot fewer empty calories.
People sometimes go to extremes with their diets. The latest research indicates that a lot of simple carbohydrates in the diet might be what causes high cholesterol in the bloodstream. The simple carbs include white sugar, white bread, white rice and other polished grains, white potatoes and other foods that have a high glycemic index.
Complex carbs are fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grains. They contain a complex mixture of nutrients, fats and fiber. Many of the plant foods contain cholesterol-like substances called Phytosterols, as well as antioxidants that prevent the oxidation of fats in the bloodstream, which is the big danger.
But, not all of the HDL and LDL particles are there because of the food that we eat. Some is produced by the body. Instead of being discarded when it is not used, a great deal is re-absorbed through the intestinal walls and back into the bloodstream.
So, what causes high cholesterol could be too much absorption, too much production or too much intake. Changing our diet is obviously what to do about intake. But, what do we do about the other factors?
Phytosterols prevent the re-absorption of the particles through the intestinal walls. Lecithin, a fatty substance found in some plants, also protects against re-absorption. Rice bran oil, probably because of the Phytosterols, lipids and amino acids found in it, further reduces cholesterol absorption.
When it comes to production, that is the target of statin drugs. But by inhibiting production of cholesterol, they also inhibit the production of coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant essential for cellular life.
Assuming that production is what causes high cholesterol in the bloodstream in the majority of cases, statins are often recommended to treat the problem. But there are too many risks, including pain in the muscles and muscle death.
Policosanol, a compound found in raw sugar cane, has been shown to inhibit cholesterol production without inhibiting COQ10 production. Some studies say that policosanol is just as effective as statin drugs, but there are no risks. The compound does not even raise blood sugar levels.
Now you know what causes high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. The easiest and safest thing to do is to find a good dietary supplement that contains the beneficial nutrients mentioned here.
What Causes High Cholesterol and What You Can Do About it Now
