Thursday, August 1, 2013

Supplements That Can Lower Cholesterol

By Zaiden W Xavier


When dealing with high cholesterol, vitamin supplements are often a solution thought about. But before opting to go this route, one must understand that different kinds of supplements will have many different results depending on what you choose. Because of this, a health provider must be consulted in the beginning to determine what your cholesterol level is, and what supplements to purchase. It is also very important to take note that supplements will not reverse the ill effects of unhealthy habits such as cigarette smoking and a high fat diet. These supplements should only be used as what is was intended for, to help but not treat any underlying conditions. Therefore, you should only use these combined with healthy habits such as a low fat diet and an active lifestyle.

Vitamin B3 or niacin is an important nutrient that fights cholesterol. Vitamin B3 is found in vegetables, fish, eggs and milk. The problem however, is that the vitamin B3 content of these foods are not enough to control increased cholesterol in the body. A person needs between 2,000 to 3,000 mg of vitamin B3 each day to have an effect. This dosage is only available with medication. Niacin must be Consumed carefully however, too much niacin may cause gout, hot flashes, gastric distress, nausea and indigestion. Therefore, take niacin only with a doctor's prescription.

Another essential ingredient to keep cholesterol in check is soluble fiber. Foods like apples, barley, oat bran, beans, lentils and citrus fruits are rich in fiber content that also eases digestion. By binding with cholesterol, fiber helps the body expel cholesterol when it leaves the body, taking with it the bad cholesterol, and minimizing the cholesterol absorption through the intestines.

Garlic extract is yet another vital ingredient to manage cholesterol levels in the body. If taken excessively however, fiber and garlic extract can lead to bloating, gas, nausea, body odor, heartburn and vomiting. It will also absorb omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil and health supplements. Noted for their HDL elevating qualities, omega-3 fatty acids are useful in maintaining high HDL cholesterol levels in the body (this is the 'good cholesterol'). If using blood thinning drugs though, check with a health practitioner first when incorporating garlic and omega-3 fatty acids in the diet plan.

If you are searching for all-natural food supplements to regulate your cholesterol levels, flax seeds are a great choice. These kinds of whole grains are identified to lower amounts of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") and avoid it from being absorbed in the intestines. Flax seed is a flexible type of food that you can consume with cereal, yogurt or baked with bread or muffins. Be cautious of taking larger portions of flax seed if you are on blood thinning medicine.

This is just a summary of what's available out there. A health professional or your local pharmacist will be able to advice you on several other choices.




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