High Blood Cholesterol
Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of
the essential ingredients of the body. Although it is essential to life, it has
a bad reputation, being a major villain in heart disease. Every person with a
high blood cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attack, a
stroke or high blood pressure. Cholesterol is a building block of the outer
membrane of cells. It is the principal ingredient in the digestive juice bile,
in the fatty sheaths that insulate nerves and in sex hormones, namely, estrogen
and androgen. It performs several functions such as transportation of fat,
providing defense mechanism, protecting red blood cells and muscular membrane
of the body.
Most of the cholesterol found in the body is produced
in the liver. However, about 20 to 30 percent generally comes from the foods we
eat. Some cholesterol is also secreted into the intestinal tract in bile and
becomes mixed with the dietary cholesterol. The percentage of ingested
cholesterol absorbed seemed to average 40 to 50 percent of the intake. The body
excretes extra cholesterol from the system through bowels and kidneys. The
amount of cholesterol is measured in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood.
Normal level of cholesterol varies between 150-250 mg. per 100 ml. Persons with
atherosclerosis have uniformly high blood cholesterol usually above 250 mg. per
100 ml. In blood, cholesterol is bound to certain proteins - lipoproteins which
have an affinity for blood fats, known as lipids. There are two main types of
lipoproteins: a low density one (LDL) and a high density one (HDL). The low
density lipoprotein is the one which is considered harmful and is associated
with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels. The higher the ratio of LDL to the
total cholesterol, the greater the risk of arterial damage and heart disease.
The HDL on the other hand plays a salutary role by helping remove cholesterol
from circulation and thereby reduce the risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol has been the subject of extensive study
by researchers since 1769, when French chemist, Polutier de La Salle purified
the soapy-looking yellowish substance. The results of the most comprehensive
research study, commissioned by the National Heart and Lung Institute of the U.S.A. were
announced about four years ago. The 10-year study, considered most elaborate and
most expensive research project in medical history, indicates that heart disease
is directly linked to the level of cholesterol in the blood and that lowering
cholesterol significantly reduces the incidence of heart attacks. It has been
estimated that for every one per cent reduction in cholesterol, there is a
decrease in the risk of heart attack by two per cent.
Causes
Hypercholesterolaemia or increase in cholesterol is
mainly a digestive problem caused by rich foods such as fried foods, excessive
consumption of milk and its products like ghee, butter and cream, white flour,
sugar, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, ice cream as well as non-vegetarian foods
like meat, fish and eggs. Other causes of increase in cholesterol are
irregularity in habits, smoking and drinking alcohol. Stress has been found to
be a major cause of increased level of cholesterol. Adrenaline and cortisone
are both released in the body under stress. This, in turn, produces a fat metabolizing
reaction. Adrenal glands of executive type aggressive persons produce more
adrenaline than the easy going men. Consequently they suffer six to eight times
more heart attacks than the relaxed men.
The Treatment
To reduce the risk of heart disease, it is essential
to lower the level of LDL and increase the level of HDL. This can be achieved
by improving the diet and changing the life style. Diet is the most important
factor. As a first step, foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats, which
lead to increase in LDL level, should be reduced to the minimum. Cholesterol-rich foods are eggs, organ meats and most cheese, butter, bacon, beef, whole
milk, virtually all foods of animal origin as well as two vegetable oils,
namely coconut and palm, are high in saturated fats and these should be
replaced by polyunsaturated fats such as corn, safflower, soybeans and sesame
oils which tend to lower the level of LDL. There are monounsaturated fats such
as olive and peanut oils which have more or less neutral effect on the LDL
level.
The American Heart Association recommends that men
should restrict themselves to 300 mg. of cholesterol a day and women to 275 mg.
It also prescribes that fat should not make up more than 30 per cent of the
diet and not more than one third of this should be saturated. The Association,
however, urges a somewhat strict regimen for those who already have elevated levels
of cholesterol.
The amount of fiber in the diet also influences the
cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol can be lowered by taking diets rich in
fibers. The most significant sources of dietary fiber are unprocessed wheat bran,
whole cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, rye; legumes such as potato, carrot,
beet and turnips; fruits like mango and guava and green vegetables such as cabbage,
lady’s finger, lettuce and celery. Oat bran is especially beneficial in
lowering LDL cholesterol.
Lecithin, also a fatty food substance and the most
abundant of the phospholipids, is highly beneficial in case of increase in
cholesterol level. It has the ability to break up cholesterol into small
particles which can be easily handled by the system. With sufficient intake of
lecithin, cholesterol cannot build up against the walls of the arteries and
veins. It also increases the production of bile acids made from cholesterol,
thereby reducing its amount in the blood. Egg yolk, vegetable oils, whole grain
cereals, soybeans and unpasteurised milk are rich sources of lecithin. The
cells of the body are also capable of synthesizing it as needed, if several of
the B vitamins are present.
Diets high in vitamin B6, cholin and inositol
supplied by wheat germ, yeast, or B vitamins extracted from bran have been
particularly effective in reducing blood cholesterol. Sometimes vitamin E
elevates blood lecithin and reduces cholesterol presumably by preventing the
essential fatty acids from being destroyed by oxygen.
Persons with high blood cholesterol level should
drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water every day as regular drinking of
water stimulates the excretory activity of the skin and kidneys. This in turn
facilitates elimination of excessive cholesterol from the system. Regularly
drinking of coriander (dhania) water also helps lower blood cholesterol as it
is a good diuretic and stimulates the kidneys. It is prepared by boiling dry
seeds of coriander and straining the decoction after cooling.
Regular exercise also plays an important role in
lowering LDL cholesterol and in raising the level of protective HDL. It also
promotes circulation and helps maintain the blood flow to every part of the
body. Jogging or brisk walking, swimming, bicycling and playing badminton are
excellent forms of exercise.
Yoga asnas are highly beneficial as they help
increase perspiratory activity and stimulate sebaceous glands to effectively
secrete accumulated or excess cholesterol from the muscular tissue. Asanas like
ardhamatsyaendrasana, shalabhasana, padmasanaand vajrasana are useful in
lowering blood cholesterol by increasing systemic activity.
Hydrotherapy can be successfully employed in reducing excess
cholesterol. Cold hip baths for 10 minutes taken twice every day have proved
beneficial. Steam baths are also helpful except in patients suffering from
hypertension and other circulatory disorders. Mud packs, applied over the abdomen
improve digestion and assimilation. They improve the functioning of the liver
and other digestive organs and activate kidneys and the intestines to promote
better excretion.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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