Amway Products (Nutrilite)

• What is cholesterol?



• Keeping a healthy cholesterol level


• Effects of high blood cholesterol


• How to achieve a desirable cholesterol level?


• Green tea and its cholesterol-lowering effect



Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like compound that is found in many foods, in the bloodstream and the body's cells. It is a vital part of every cell structure and is needed:






to support proper brain and nerve functions.


for the formation and maintenance of cell membranes.


for the formation of sex hormones.


for the production of bile salts, which help to digest food.


for conversion into vitamin D in the skin when exposed to sunlight.


Our bodies, specifically our livers, manufacture all the cholesterol we need. After being manufactured, the cholesterol is transported via the bloodstream to the sites where it is needed. The cholesterol latches onto molecules known as lipoproteins in order to move around in the bloodstream.






There are two types of lipoproteins:


Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - the major transporters of cholesterol in the bloodstream. LDL is commonly known as ‘bad cholesterol', as they tend to encourage the deposit of cholesterol in the arteries.






High-density lipoproteins (HDL) - regarded as the ‘good cholesterol'. HDL move cholesterol that is not needed away from cells and back to the liver. This unneeded cholesterol is then broken down so that it can be removed from the body.


When your doctor takes a blood test to measure your cholesterol level, he is actually measuring the amount of circulating cholesterol in your blood or your blood cholesterol level. About 85 per cent of your blood cholesterol level is endogenous. This means that it is produced by your body. The other 15 per cent or so comes from external sources i.e. your diet.


It is recommended that you have your cholesterol level tested every one to three years to help you monitor and maintain it at a healthy level. Refer to the following table for guidelines on cholesterol levels:

Desirable Borderline Undesirable


Total cholesterol (mg/dL)


HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)


LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)


Total cholesterol/HDL


LDL/HDL


Below 200 200-240 Above 240


Above 45 35-45 Below 35


Below 130 130-160 Above 160


Below 4.5 4.5-5.5 Above 5.5


Below 3 3-5 Above 5






















Back to Top






Blood cholesterol level can become elevated if there is too much cholesterol for the HDL to transport quickly, or if there is not enough HDL to carry out the transporting job efficiently. Elevated blood cholesterol level can lead to atherosclerosis - a build-up of plaque that sticks to artery walls, and can narrow or block arteries. A blocked coronary artery can lead to a heart attack.






Furthermore, the accumulated plaque can also break off and cause a blockage in blood vessels. A stroke may occur if the blockage takes place in a blood vessel in the brain.






















Back to Top






1.


Eat less high-cholesterol food


One of the ways to achieve and maintain a healthy cholesterol level is by cutting down on your consumption of food such as eggs, dairy products, meat and shellfish, which are known to contain cholesterol. Cholesterol can be found in both high-fat and low-fat animal products. So, even if a type of food is low in fat, it may still be high in cholesterol. Examples include organ meats like liver, kidney and brain. As a guideline, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that we limit dietary cholesterol to 300mg per day or 200mg per day for those with heart disease.






2.


Eat more cholesterol-lowering food


Just a few minor alterations to your daily diet can make a difference. For instance, instead of cereals, start your day with a bowl of oatmeal. Also, substitute chips with a handful of walnuts or almonds if you feel like snacking. Oatmeal contains soluble fibre while walnuts and almonds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids - all of which are known to help in lowering blood cholesterol. You can also consider using olive oil to sauté vegetables, add to a marinade or mix with vinegar as salad dressing.






3.


Exercise regularly


Regular physical activity can help lower LDL and raise HDL levels, and have a positive effect on your heart health. Exercise is also known to help in weight management, in improving your overall well-being, easing stress and in staving off diseases such as diabetes and obesity. So, exercise regularly; just 30 minutes a day can make a difference. (Consult your health care provider before beginning any new exercise programme if you haven't been physically active for a long time.)






4.


Get regular medical check-up


Make it a point to go for a medical check-up at least once a year. It is a good way to know your blood cholesterol level and also more info regarding your physical well-being e.g. your heart function, etc. Consult your physician if your blood cholesterol level has exceeded the normal range.






5.


Include food supplements in your daily diet


You can also use food supplements to help you achieve a desirable blood cholesterol level. Salmon Omega 3 fish oil can help increase HDL level, while green tea extract has been proven to help ease blood cholesterol level due to its antioxidant property and efficacy in inhibiting bad cholesterol.


Back to Top


A sip of green tea is not only calming for your soul, it can also bring far-reaching benefits to your cardiovascular health.


The health and medicinal benefits of green tea had long been recognised in Chinese medical literature. Recent medical research in the West confirms that green tea can reduce inflammation, kill germs, regulate blood pressure and blood lipid levels, and prevent atherosclerosis.


Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer. [1]


A clinical trial of theaflavin-enriched green tea extract established that it is able to benefit heart health and provide cholesterol-lowering effect.


The result of the trial also concluded that the unique combination of catechins and theaflavins in green tea is able to prevent the cholesterol in the food we eat from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. It also encourages the liver to extract more cholesterol from the bloodstream to make bile.


Reference:


[1] "Green Tea's Cancer-fighting Allure Becomes More Potent". (http:// www.sciencedaily.com)