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Heart disease is the leading cause of death to men and women in the United states today. Heart disease includes conditions affecting the heart such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease.

Keys to the prevention of heart disease include quitting smoking, lowering your cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy diet thru the use of proper nutrition and exercising on a regular basis.

Coronary artery disease is Americas number one killer affecting more than 13 million people. A heart healthy diet is one the most important steps to controlling and preventing heart disease. By following a nutrition rich diet the affects and prevention of heart disease can be drastically reversed.

As an example a diet rich in peanuts and peanut butter is better for your heart than a low fat diet. A six month study at Penn State university snacked on peanuts and used peanut butter instead of butter. The result was a reduction in their risk of heart disease by 21% the low fat diet resulted in a 12% reduction in risk of heart disease.

Your heart is the most important muscle you have. It works constanly pumping nutrient rich blood and oxygen throughout your body to sustain life.Your heart pumps 100,000 times a day to properly maintain it's function. Your heart is a muscle and to do that kind of work everyday it needs to be in top condition.

A sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and stress are the top contributing factors of heart disease. Vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes should be staples in your daily diet.

Cardio training and weight training programs should become a daily part of your life. Exercise combined with a nutrition rich diet will keep your heart functioning to full capacity.

Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program and making drastic changes to your diet.

Heart disease is no joke; your life depends on it.

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Huge topic. I can write a book on this but best not yet! Two more years of med school yet and by then I'll be even more versed in how to lower cholesterol naturally.

First: What is cholesterol?

According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, cholesterol is "the most abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gall stones, and present in food, especially rich in animal fats, circulates in plasma complexed to proteins of various densities and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atheroma formation in arteries."

What is pathogenesis of atheroma? It is the beginning stage of atherosclerosis which is the building of lipid [cholesterol] plaques within the structure of arteries. These plaques narrow the vessel wall thereby limiting the flow of blood. Limiting the flow of blood causes turbulence which causes further deposition of plaque. The slowed speed of blood through the arteries helps lay down more plaque as well.

Ways to lower cholesterol naturally:

1. Exercise: damn. How many times do you have to hear it - everyone says it. Because it works better than any drug out there. Why does it work? Simple biochemistry and physiology. Exercise requires energy. Energy comes from sugars, fats and proteins. When the sugars and proteins are burned, fats must be converted into useable forms of energy. The liver steps up by making good cholesterol, HDL. HDL goes around and picks up bad cholesterol, LDL. It converts this into useable energy. So, by exercising, your energy requirements increase thereby lowering cholesterol naturally. Exercise 30 minutes a day as often as you can in a week. Try one day a week and build up. You'll become addicted to it. Better that than statins.
2. Eat soluble fiber: Where can you find that? In beans and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber actually binds to cholesterol removing it from your body. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stools making you more regular - which is extremely vital as well.
3. Limit animal fat foods: damn again. Even Stedman's Medical Dictionary said cholesterol is the most abundant steroid in animal tissues. They didn't say plant tissues. I'm not saying avoid it completely. Just keep an eye on it - don't chomp down endless roast beef sandwhiches with mayo and four kinds of cheese.
4. Inositol: This is time-released niacin in the no-flush form. Niacin is a main player in cellular metabolism. If one is low in niacin, then the energy reactions do not go forward. If they do not go forward, lipids accumulate which is directly tied to high levels of choleterol. A study on time-released niacin shows its effectiveness. The study I found used pharmaceutical time-released niacin but I believe these two are very similar - with the natural form being superior. The bottom line of the study: "The results show that niacin ER [extended release] produces a beneficial effect on lipoprotein subclasses, specifically decreasing the more atherogenic small, dense LDL particles and enhancing the cardioprotective large HDL particles." Remember what I said about bad LDL and good HDL? The inositol sounds pretty good now doesn't it?
5. Red Yeast Rice: This is what the pharmaceutical companies make some statin drugs from - directly! So why not take it in its natural state? It works quite well. It works by limiting the cholesterol reaction from going forward. This means that cholesterol's production is slowed down thereby lowering cholesterol naturally. I have found a great research article on PubMed for Red Yeast Rice. The research was done by the Center for Human Nutrition and is not biased by a natural supplement company. Here is another study about the cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement.
6. Policosanol: This is sugar wax. Sound safe? It is. It does not turn off the cholesterol forming reaction as strongly as statin drugs. Our bodies need some cholesterol formed. Without it, numerous hormones would not be made and we would be dead. Thus, it is better to moderately limit production rather than severly limit. Policosanol has also shown to increase the levels of HDL. Do statin drugs do this? No. There is a good study on Policosanol that I found on PubMed. You'll notice it is not a study made by a natural supplement company or with biased interests. The title of the study is: Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol with atorvastatin in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia.
7. Bio Lipotrol:

Bio-Lipotrol has been shown to naturally lower cholesterol. Bio Lipotrol has Red Yeast Rice, Inositol, Policosanol and Guggal Gum extract. I have visited with physician after physician that have used Bio Lipotrol and the results are seen within a few weeks. Now this doesn't mean you can sit on your couch eating hamburgers and pizza while popping Bio Lipotrol capsules. I have already stated that exercise is the best medicine - along with the limitation of animal fats and an increase in soluble fiber. I did not know about Bio Lipotrol until a classmate kept buying it. I found her in the hall one day and asked her what it is. She told me it is working very well on her grandmother's high cholesterol levels. Then I became more interested. The benefits of being in med school - you find what works and what doesn't.

What are the dangers of Statin drugs?

I don't know all of the dangers but I know one that is not often addressed. Statin drugs give the false impression that the one taking them does not have to be proactive in lowering cholesterol. If a drug is lowering cholesterol without them doing anything, why not chomp on fatty foods? I'll tell you why. Statin drugs limit the production of cholesterol. They do not limit the intake of cholesterol. You do.

Also - statin drugs seriously limit the production of Coenzyme Q10. This is a major energy source for the human heart and electron transport chain. So if you are on statin drugs, take CoQ10. I believe statin drugs also limit the conversion of active Vitamin D. This I need to check on but it makes sense if following the reactions down from HMG-CoA, which is the limiting step in cholesterol synthesis.

If you want to lower cholesterol naturally, these steps will no doubt help you. I recommend having a sit-down chat with your physician. Most docs will listen to you and be supportive and knowledgable about this arena. If not, find a licensed and qualified naturopathic physician who will listen to you.

This information is not telling you to stop taking your statin drugs. It is merely information. Do not stop your statin drugs without consulting with your physician. Only then, under their direction, stop the meds if you implement other means.

If you are not on statin drugs and you don't have money to see a doctor, these steps may help you lower cholestrol naturally. But as I am not a doctor yet, I am not prescribing any of this information to you. It is up to you.

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So What is Oral Chelation

Oral chelation is the solubilization of a metal salt by forming a chemical complex or sequestering. One way of doing this is with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) salts, which have a multidentate spiral ligand form that can surround metallic and other ions.

The term "oral" simply refers to "mouth." When you take something "orally," you take it into the mouth. Hence, the word oral chelation. This word can be contrasted with "intravenous" which is a word that means that something enters your body through a vein rather than through your mouth.

"Intravenous" actions (including IV Chelation) are generally done by a doctor or a nurse who sticks a needle in a vein, often in your wrist.

The word "chelation" starts with the Greek Root of this word - chele. Chele, in Greek, means the claw part of a crab or lobster. So, "chele" refers to a grabbing action. When combined, getting "chelation" you simply have a word that means the "grabbing action" of some substance. Oral chelation is dispelling substances by taking the preparation orally.

The ingredients which make oral chelation "work" are Cysteine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine and EDTA. These compounds work to help detox your body of unwanted heavy metals.

EDTA is an important ingredient in oral chelation. It has a chemical and physical characteristic that it is attracted to heavy particles. It is not quite like a magnetic attraction, but in any event when there is EDTA in your blood stream, and some heavy particle (such as a particle of lead, mercury, iron, etc.), the EDTA and the heavy particle come together such that the heavy particle is coated with the EDTA, and passed out by your system

EDTA is an artificial amino acid, and since the body regards it as a foreign substance, the body eliminates the entire particle - the heavy particle coated with EDTA.

The body can't tell that underneath the coating is some material (iron mixed with carbon, perhaps) which the body might be willing to keep even though it is harmful to the body. So, this coated EDTA particle gets sent to the kidney and you urinate it out into the toilet. You just got rid of some heavy particles.

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a common sequestrant and antioxidant which is a part of oral chelation. This oral chelation is added to foods, body care, and household products.

The chelation element also occurs as disodium calcium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, and disodium dihydrogen EDTA. As a sequestrant, this chelator binds trace minerals such as copper, iron and nickel that may be in the product. If not inactivated, these minerals will lead to discoloration, rancidity and textural breakdown. When added as an antioxidant, EDTA prevents oxygen from causing color changes and rancidity.

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You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease.

Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fatlike substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.

Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.

Diabetes

Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.

Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease

Stop Smoking

The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.

Get Active

Routine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Limit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.

Watch What You Eat

Eat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.

Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.

Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.

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Cholesterol has been a hot topic in the past ten years. People draw conclusions that if you have cholesterol you have a poor diet and have poor health, people also want to get rid of cholesterol without understanding what it is or how it affects your body.

People need to learn that there are in fact two types of cholesterol bad cholesterol (known as low density or LDL) and good cholesterol (known as high density or HDL). People do not realize that cholesterol is an essential substance in the human body but it depends on the levels that you have. If you were to choose a cholesterol free diet it could be very harmful to your wellbeing, HDL cholesterol are really extremely vital to certain bodily functions such as constructing and repairing cell walls. New research shows and even suggests that HDL cholesterol acts as a crude antioxidant.

You do not need to have a cholesterol free diet if there have been signs you or your family have had a history of heart problems or cardiovascular disease. Instead, understand what bad cholesterol you need to avoid and maintain the beneficial cholesterol in your diet. LDL cholesterol can certainly be challenging, as it has been associated with heart attacks as well as strokes, but it doesn't require a lot of effort to methodically eliminate it from your diet. Instead of trying to keeping away from cholesterol overall, steer clear of a cholesterol free diet and as a substitute look for foods that are low in LDL cholesterol and high in HDL cholesterol.

Is A Cholesterol Free Diet The Best Choice?

To find foods which are good for your health is not as hard a task as you may think as long as you know what you are looking for. Foods such as lean meat and fish are both good meat choices, and are also high in protein. Also choose low-fat dairy products and be sure to keep up with your grains, vegetable and fruit intake. A good diet to control or reduce your cholesterol would be around six servings of grains each day, three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruits.

This diet is not a hard one to follow and if your keep this strategy in place when shopping then you will be avoiding the products which contain the harmful LDL cholesterol. Remember to reduce your fat in take especially fats that have saturated fat as they tend to raise blood cholesterol levels. Avoid eating fried foods as well, choosing grilled, broiled and baked foods as a healthy alternative.

So the question of what is a cholesterol free diet and is it good for me is answered. A cholesterol free diet may not be the right decision if you want to keep your heart and body strong. By simply choosing a balanced diet will help you to weed out the bad cholesterol and keep the good cholesterol.

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If your level of cholesterol is high, lowering is important business. Because when your body has too much cholesterol, it builds up in the walls of your arteries and can in time cause severe medical problems like heart attacks. With a good nutrition and some exercise you have the key to lowering your cholesterol. In that way you can lower cholesterol levels in your body without drugs. You will be amazed at how much you can actually accomplish without drugs but you have to make an effort.

Also the food you eat can give you a high cholesterol level, but there are a lot that can actually help to lower your LDL cholesterol levels and increase your HDL cholesterol, also known as the good cholesterol. In a several studies it has been shown that participants who ate four or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day had significantly lower levels of LDL cholesterol than those who ate fewer servings.

In another study it was evident that men who ate the oat bran cookies reduced their LDL, which is the so called bad cholesterol, to levels 23 to 26 percent lower. Now more researchers also are discovering the vital necessity of high fiber foods and their effectiveness in controlling high cholesterol levels. In the category of cholesterol containing foods, there are parts that are cholesterol high foods and some that contain lesser amounts of cholesterol.

For persons with high levels of cholesterol it is important to learn which foods are good and bad. You should actually load up on the best foods for human health and fitness that are choked full of the superior nutrition, little fat, no cholesterol, and fewer calories for natural and easy weight loss. If you like butter and are trying to lose weight or lower the cholesterol, the best products to get a hint of butter taste are the spray oils or the butter buds. The fact that cholesterol is in maximum amounts in animal products should be taken into consideration with every meat serving. You can also eat meat without the skin as this is also a great way to go as it reduces the cholesterol consumption.

To lower the cholesterol significantly you should eat grapes and their products. There are a lot of other products to use, for example free range eggs tend to be lower in cholesterol and higher in some vitamins than commercially produced eggs. The reason should be a better quality of the feed for the free range hens. Apples are rich in both pectin and fiber and have powerful antioxidants and they also help to lower bad cholesterol. At the same time apples help raising the good kind. The pectin in apples helps draw cholesterol out of the system. You can also learn more about beans and legumes as they contain soluble fiber which helps to increase your HDL cholesterol and reduce your LDL cholesterol. The intake of vitamin E is also important.

Persons who are already at risk for coronary heart disease and heart attack, physicians recommend the reduction in the intake of cholesterol. The blood cholesterol is a major factor in the risk of suffering from heart disease. A high level can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries, which is bad as it narrows/clogs them giving a greater chance of heart disease. Age is a factor and checking the level of cholesterol become more and more important. The annual check up will give you an answer to these questions.

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The world and its environment is becoming increasingly full of toxic substances that are introduced by man-made processes. Our bodies are not capable of handling these environmental burdens on their own, so outside medical intervention is required to maintain the proper chemical balances and levels within the human body. Heavy metals are major body pollutants that most people come in contact with, and they can be deadly. Chelation therapy is important because it is a way to remove these body pollutants.

Although the removal of unnatural levels of heavy metals is vital for maintaining health, the medical system has not yet accepted chelation therapy as a standard medical practice. Because of this, most insurance plans will not pay the cost of chelation therapy. A complete run of the therapy consists of around 30 sessions, and each one can cost $100. The entire treatment, therefore, costs up to $3,000. Without the help of insurance, consumers are left to look for alternative, affordable methods to reduce buildups of heavy metals in the body.

An interesting, completely natural method for removing heavy metals uses a common herb: cilantro. This plant can be purchased at most grocery stores for just a few dollars and it can easily be grown at home. This makes it a very low cost alternative to expensive treatments. Cilantro has been shown to be a chelating agent for lead, and it can help prevent lead poisoning in individuals exposed to unnaturally high levels of lead in their environments. It has been conclusively shown through scientific experiments to reduce kidney damage due to lead, and to decrease lead deposits. However, the herb has not been shown to be effective on other heavy metals that commonly pollute human bodies, such as mercury.

In addition, many herbal wellness stores sell various chelation agents for home use. These will be more expensive than the simple use of cilantro, but they may also be more effective. A full detoxification kit that claims to complete the chelation process can sell for $500 to $800 at various stores. Although this is an expensive investment, it is still more affordable than hospital treatments. The down side, however, is that home chelation treatments are not regulated for effectiveness. Consumers should be very careful and deal with reputable companies only. When possible, the consumer should talk to a company representative when buying to ask questions about the product and learn how to use it most effectively.

Finally, getting an insurance company to pay for this kind of alternative treatment is not out of the question entirely. Some plans do offer a limited amount of expenses for such treatments. People choosing to get hospital sessions for chelation therapy should contact their insurance company to find out if such expenses are covered and if switching plans could lead to better coverage. This will make the treatments more affordable, even if the high-cost treatments are used.

One of the most popular and reportedly ways of treating yourself at home is by the use of Advance Oral Chelation which is taken in tablet form, and costs from $39 or so for a month's course.

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