Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that is found in every cell of the body. It is involved in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, and other tissues in the body. It also insulates nerves. Cholesterol is produced in the liver, but we also get cholesterol from our diet. The amount of cholesterol in the body depends on factors such as the rate of cholesterol production in the liver, the rate of cholesterol clearance from the body, the amount of dietary fat (particularly saturated fat) and to a lesser extent, cholesterol consumed. The excess cholesterol in our body circulates in the bloodstream. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can clog blood vessels and increase the risk fro heart disease and stroke. Different types of Cholesterol Low-Density Lipoprotein (or LDL) cholesterol is a bad type of cholesterol that is most likely to clog blood vessels, increasing you risk for heart disease. High-Density Lipoprotein (or HDL) cholesterol is a good type of cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps clear the LDL cholesterol out of the blood and reduces your risk for heart disease. Cholesterol & Heart Disease High cholesterol is one of the major contributors to heart disease. Research strongly indicates that lowering of cholesterol leads to a drop in the occurrence of heart disease. The main reason for this is because with less blood cholesterol, there is less plaque formation within the arterial walls. This will reduce the chances or an artery becoming blocked and causing a heart attack or stroke. Also, blood will flow through arteries with greater ease and this can lower blood pressure. Reasons which lead to a Rise in Cholesterol: Poor eating habits Smoking Excess weight or Obesity Heredity factor Daily Stress Over Alcohol consumption Ways to control or lessen Cholesterol: Good eating habits It is very important to follow good eating habits in order to lower your cholesterol. Regular exercising Experts recommend at least 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week for at least 12 weeks for significant cholesterol reduction. Weight loss and maintaining it You can lower your LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and elevate your HDL (“good cholesterol”) just by dropping some pounds.
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Keeping one’s self thoroughly clean does not only entail the outside part of the body. Although it is most commonly presumed that when we should stay clean, we should take regular washing and bathing. Bathing and washing have become synonymous with being clean and healthy. One more thing we need to know is that it is not only the outer part of the body that needs cleaning. Many people still do not know that flushing waste and other toxins from the body is also a form of cleaning. Most people who are uninformed of this suffer from indigestion, constipation and other internal diseases that usually land them in a hospital. Most people, though they claim to be health conscious, tend to overlook the internal cleanliness of the body. Most of the time, we hear people going to the gyms and spas to refresh, relax, and to be clean. That’s what health spas, health salons and gyms are around for, to offer physical and external clean-up and tone-up. Then what about the internal cleanliness? How do we really get to clean our internal selves? A lot of people have normal waste flushing early in the morning. Yet there are more who have problems in waste flushing or disposal. It is not enough to wait when “nature calls” to dispose of our internal wastes. There are actually ways in which we, ourselves, could initiate the process of waste disposal of our internal system. When a part of our external body gets dirty, the first thing we do is to wipe it off or wash it with soap and water to be clean again. That is basic instinct. However, in the case of our internal system, we do not really notice when a part gets “dirty”. Or do we ever think they get dirty at all? Most of the time we don’t, but in reality, they do. And once a part of the internal system gets dirty, they usually lead from minor to major diseases that can cause us our health. It is time we learn how to clean our internal system. There is a process in cleansing and stimulating the alimentary canal or the passage of the food. Physically, digestion starts in the mouth. We know that the mouth gets dirty after every meal and so we brush our teeth. Same goes for the passage of the food in the internal system. Once it gets dirty, however, we do not usually do something to clean it up. We do wait for when “nature calls” and then we go to the bathroom. Now, we can “start” cleaning up our internal alimentary canal by flushing out the toxins and not wait for nature to call. The first thing in the morning, right after waking up, we should drink plain hot water just hot enough to drink down rapidly. Take note that it is not coffee or tea but plain water from one to two quarts or more a day or two cups to be taken at a five-minute interval so as not to burn the passage. Along with the water intake are some exercises that could help prompt the flushing of the wastes. This process will certainly ensure the flushing of toxins and other wastes from the body; thus preventing constipation, diarrhea and other impurities from accumulating inside the body. This is not a cure but a prevention which is more important. A cure is an attempt to heal the already existing disease whereas prevention is stopping the disease from taking place; thus keeping the systems inside the body to do their regular function. In the end, a clean internal system results to proper bodily functions, smoother skin, clearer voice and more balanced health. Waste disposal is not necessarily through the restroom when “nature calls”. The skin is also one passage of flushing of the waste inside the body. Therefore, right after cleaning the internal system, we should not forget to clean the outer body part, most especially the skin. The pores could be clogged by sweat, dead cells and other toxins flushed out from the inside. And clogged pores can prevent needed nutrients from getting inside of the body to help with the proper function of the internal systems. As mentioned earlier, this problem has been looked into that is why there are a lot of health spas, health salons and gyms to help with the cleansing of the outer body parts most especially the skin. For example, a dirty and clogged face causes acne and pimples – a very unsightly dilemma especially for the teens and adolescents. And so there are dermatologists who help clean and remove these problems through “facial cleaning”. The first and foremost technique is to use plenty of soap and warm water in washing up first thing in the morning, last thing in the evening and any time during the day. There are also other paraphernalia that can help remove and loosen unwanted dirt such as sponges, towels and pumice stones. Bathing in lukewarm water is not only relaxing as they help ease the knots of tiredness at the end of the day. Tepid water could not cause shock from too much cold therefore there is no need to fear chills. Too hot water is also not advisable as it can burn and cause stinging. The water should be about the same temperature of the body and bathing should include friction through rubbing and massaging not only to remove unwanted dirt and but to ease up knotted and tired muscles as well.
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People with high blood cholesterol levels are very exposed to developing heart disease. High cholesterol levels are common to people with ages over 50, people with weight problems, people with gastro-intestinal disorders and people with diabetes. High blood cholesterol levels can be the result of either overproduction of the substance (due to liver dysfunctions) or the inability of the body to eliminate it. However, apart from physiological factors that enable the accumulation of cholesterol inside the organism, there are also many other external factors that contribute to cholesterol build up: inappropriate diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol abuse. Although the body is able to produce the amount of cholesterol it needs for sustaining its normal activity, a high-cholesterol diet can significantly increase blood cholesterol levels. Foods of animal origin are rich in cholesterol and saturated fats that are very harmful to the organism when they are consumed in large amounts. You should replace meats and dairy products with vegetables, cereals and fruits in order to maintain normal cholesterol levels. Simple carbohydrates (sweets) also enable cholesterol to build up inside the body and therefore should be avoided. Proper physical exercise is very important for keeping your blood cholesterol levels in check. Regular physical exercise improves blood circulation and helps in the elimination of excess cholesterol. Exercise frequently and you will be able to maintain normal cholesterol levels and lose extra weight. Smoking is considered to be a major factor of risk in heart disease. Smoking facilitates cholesterol to deposit inside arteries, where they can cause blockage, perturbing the normal blood flow. If you have high blood cholesterol levels and you are a smoker, it is advised to stop smoking. Alcohol also contributes to the accumulation of cholesterol in the bloodstream and therefore it should be avoided. Within normal limits, cholesterol is very important to the organism. The liver produces cholesterol (a waxy, viscous substance) in small amounts, as it is required in certain physiological processes. Without cholesterol, the body is unable to produce hormones (testosterone and estrogen), vitamin D (fortifies bone tissues) and bile (a very important substance used in digesting fat). While in small quantities cholesterol is benefic for the organism, in excess it can cause a lot of harm. Cholesterol is not soluble in blood and therefore it accumulates and deposits inside arteries, slowing down the normal blood circulation. High cholesterol levels considerably increase the risk of cardio-vascular diseases and even heart failure. It is very important to know that there are several types of cholesterol. When you have your cholesterol levels checked, you are usually told the total cholesterol level. Total cholesterol level consists of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Low-density lipoprotein is also known as “bad cholesterol” and this substance can be harmful to the human body when it accumulates in excess. Bad cholesterol (LDL) accumulates inside arteries and perturbs normal blood circulation. Good cholesterol (HDL) is benign to the organism, as it collects low-density lipoprotein from the bloodstream and brings it back to the liver. By keeping a healthy diet and by exercising regularly, you will be able to raise your good cholesterol levels, while reducing bad cholesterol levels. By making improvements in your lifestyle, you will be able to maintain your total cholesterol levels in check.
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The body is a wondrous machine and is designed to take massive abuse before it fails. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always give clear signs of abuse until it’s too late. So many people believe heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and obesity are just part of the natural aging process. However, it’s our lack of exercise and terrible diet, which accelerates our aging and causes us to fall ill before our time. Despite progress we always have those among us who believe the “old fashioned” ways or products are better. It has to be said that in some instances they are correct. Sadly, with each passing generation, some of this old fashioned wisdom disappears. Progress is so contemporary and so closely a part of our daily lives that we sometimes fail to recognize that we, ourselves, may fail to keep up with what is happening. Things that we would have considered very modern because we witnessed their creation only a few years ago may already be “old fashioned” to high school students. In the medical world, treatment that might have been popular for a disease in 1986 may be completely outmoded in 2006. Even medical discoveries of the 1990’s may be old fashioned today. However, over the years, and for generation after generation, a great number of home remedies for many illnesses have managed to stay alive. They have been passed down from elders to youngsters in each country throughout the world. Many of them are strikingly similar although they may have originated on separate continents among completely alien peoples. This area of medicine is commonly called “folk medicine.” Few people will have failed to have come into contact with this term at one time or another. Usually folk medicines are the “old fashioned remedies, the cure that “Grandma used”; the wisdom of the oldster who remembers when “My old friend Betty would have died if they hadn’t used that old remedy! Yes sir, even the doctor had to admit it worked.” Periodically there seems to be a revival in folk medicine. We appear to be now experiencing such a time as more people are becoming concerned, not only about the high cost of medicine, but also the increasing discoveries of side effects. Nature has given us many natural remedies, with little or no side effects. Basically most folk medicine is closely associated with herbs, food, oils, minerals and components found in any household. Techniques and methodology of folk medicine are especially adaptable to home use. It is not difficult to understand how many of these medicines and treatments originated and why they were popular. Among pioneers and peoples where doctors were few and far between, or nonexistent, medical aids were the products of experience and necessity. People used what they had at hand. Sometimes what they “had at hand” are still used by our most modern medical experts. Many people accept herbal medications as safe because they are ‘natural’, but this is not necessarily so. Many plants are poisonous, or may have serious side effects or give allergic reactions when taken by susceptible individuals. One such case is bee pollen. Just as you can be allergic to bee stings without knowing it (if you’ve never been stung) so an allergy to bee pollen may also be present. While many herbal concoctions can be useful, We suggest finding a Homeopathic Doctor that balances the need for medication with a change in lifestyle and diet as a part of your overall game plan to get back on the road to better health. To get more information on revolutionary whole food based therapeutic supplements to nutritionally support the body, get our FREE BOOK… “Curing Illness” – Backed By Over 500 Scientific Studies
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Losing weight doesn’t have to be boring when you focus on living foods. What does this mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a range of colours, you’ll naturally create more balanced and healthful menus complete with a range of living foods. What are living foods? They are re live, colourful, fresh and raw – fruits, vegetables and salads! Let’s Look At The Positives 1. Colourful foods have no preservatives and no added colour! 2. Provide an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibre, water and trace elements. 3. Have a high water content – an excellent source of hydration for the body. 4. Are visually appetising. 5. Their firm textures demand a good chew, so we eat them more slowly and feel full afterwards. 6. Are quickly and easily processed and assimilated by the body – less work for the digestive system. 7. Are safer – contain less undesirable man-made chemicals. 8. Are as nature intended (unlike processed, pre-packaged modern fast foods!) 9. Are pure energy – living food. Consuming Cooked Foods 1. Heat destroys the vitalising nutrients in colourful foods. So much so that sometimes, you may as well be eating cardboard for all the good it does your body! 2. The effectiveness of fibre in cooked fresh foods is reduced – vegetables that are floppy and overcooked pass through the body with a reduced ‘cleansing’ action. 3. If you cook vegetables, always steam them lightly and aim to retain their ‘crunch’! 4. Cooked vegetables tend to turn out soft and therefore require less chewing, which means they are usually eaten more quickly, so are less satisfying. 5. Heat also destroys the enzymes in fresh foods, which are essential for digestion. This means the body has to tap into its own precious supply of enzymes to support the digestive process. 6. Heat also destroys the enzymes in fresh foods, which are essential for digestion. This means the body has to tap into its own precious supply of enzymes to support the digestive process.
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Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the essential part of the outer membranes of human body cells, and it circulates in the blood. Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources. About three-quarters of the body’s total cholesterol is produced within the body, while only one-quarter comes from cholesterol in food. Higher concentrations of cholesterol are present in body tissues which have more densely packed membranes – i.e. the liver, spinal cord, brain, atheroma, adrenal glands and reproductive organs. The liver is the most important site of cholesterol biosynthesis. It is secreted from the liver in the form of an acidic secretion known as ‘bile’. Diets rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products are a rich source of dietary cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are extremely rich in cholesterol content, but foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol. High cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions. Recent studies have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes called lipoproteins, are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels. Cholesterol gets attached to these lipoproteins. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream for excretion, while the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries it back into the system for use by various body cells. LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol, because elevated levels of it are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL deposits cholesterol on the artery walls which leads to the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. The levels of both HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol may also determine risk for heart disease; however current medical opinion is that the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol is much more important than the level of cholesterol. Methods to control your cholesterol levels: Lower your consumption of foods containing saturated fats – fried fast foods, butter, cream, cheese, and fat on meat – to help reduce cholesterol. Add more plant foods to your diet – vegetable oils, nuts, legumes, breads, cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. A low cholesterol diet, combined with regular exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol levels. Medications can also help lower cholesterol levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, ‘Statins’, such as lovastatin (Mevacor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are the most effective and widely used medications to lower LDL cholesterol. Other medications include nicotinic acid (niacin), fibrates such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), resins such as cholestyramine (Questran), and ezetimibe, Zetia. These medications should be taken after consulting the experts.