Health

Detox Diet and Your Health

Multitudes of people continue to flock towards the trend of detox dieting. Some claim miracles while others see dismal results. However, many medical experts are now coming together in the conclusion that these so-called diets are a waste of time and can even be dangerous to your health.

Detox diets are meant to encourage, and allow your body to cleanse itself of impurities, thus becoming healthier and losing weight. They claim that our bodies need this time of a certain fasting in order to overcome the intake of pollutants, chemicals, additives, and other “bad” things. These are the toxins they believe are being flushed out during the diet.

Some of the most popular of the detox diets are:

The Master Cleanse – Solid foods are not allowed. You live on lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne pepper. This is the basis of the Lemon Detox Diet made popular by stars such as Beyonce. This supposedly has been around since the 1970’s, but due to her success with it this detox diet rapidly gained attention.

Raw Foodism – Uncooked and unprocessed foods are the basis of this diet.

Food Combining – This detox diet is not primarily concerned with what you eat, but the manner in which you eat them. Certain foods are claimed to be best eaten with other specific foods, and vice versa. Food combining is abiding by guidelines of when you should eat what.

While each detox diet seems to have a very legit foundation for its reasoning, leading health experts aren’t so convinced. Each one claims a different explanation as to why and how we need to cleanse our bodies, and differ in their approach to do so. However, our bodies are naturally built to combat these impurities. Our kidneys and liver are the best examples of this, as they work everyday to filter what our body needs and what it doesn’t.

Most detox diets include some benefits, but they are not restricted within the dieting regimen. For instance, if it calls for drinking a lot of water… well that is good. That is something that you should be doing anyways, and of course it is good for the body. Eating fruits and vegetables i.e. common raw foods is another prime example.

Restricting the body to only a handful of foods and sources of nutrients can be detrimental to your health though. Although some very healthy people may be able to endure these detox diets for a period of time, many will experience headaches and malnutrition. The weight lost is typically gained right back.

Some detox diets require that you use a laxative of some kind as a strict part of the diet. Thankfully, this is usually combined with drinking an abundance of liquid. However, it would not be hard to become severely dehydrated from using the laxative consistently. Colon damage can also result from this.

There are many risks associated with detox diets, and you should look closely at what the diet is asking you to do. Speak to your doctor, ask experts online, and do all the research you can do before deciding to embark one of these miracle detox diets.

What are the Causes of High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol in the blood consists of 3 main components namely low density lipoproteins (LDL), High density lipoproteins (HDL) and Triglycerides. When there are excess levels of cholesterol in the blood then it is known as high cholesterol. Let us see the causes of cholesterol in this article.

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

Inherited risk factors and a high-fat diet are the main causes of high cholesterol. More often, unhealthy levels of cholesterol are linked to physical inactivity, poor diet, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, age, stress, sex, heredity and various other causes. Now let us see these causes in detail.

Poor Diet

Foods like saturated fats and transfatty acids are unhealthy and are most likely to increase the LDL level in the blood. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as pork, beef, whole milk, cheeses, ice cream, egg yolk and foods that are made out of these products. Transfatty acids are found in margarines, commercial baked goods and in processed and fried foods. People having high cholesterol must eat a lot of fibers particularly soluble fibers.

Physical Inactivity

Lack of physical exercise is one of the important causes of high cholesterol. On the other hand, regular physical exercise may raise HDL cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides levels.

Being Overweight

Being overweight can increase your LDL cholesterol level modestly. If you are obese and have high LDL cholesterol level then losing weight can help you in lowering the level of LDL. More over weight loss can aid in raising HDL cholesterol levels.

Age and Sex

Prior to menopause, women generally have lower total cholesterol levels than that of men of the same age. However after 50 years of age, women usually have greater total cholesterol levels than men. As men and women age, the blood cholesterol levels would raise until about 60 to 65 years old.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Moderate (around 1-2 drinks everyday) alcohol intake raises HDL or good cholesterol level but does not reduce LDL or bad cholesterol level. Doctors are not certain about whether alcohol lowers the risk of heart disease. Heavy intake of alcohol may damage the heart and liver muscle, cause high blood pressure and increase triglyceride levels.

Stress

Several researches show that stress increases the cholesterol levels in the blood over the long span. Stress does this by affecting your habits. For example, some people when they are under stress, console themselves by eating unhealthy foods (fatty foods). The cholesterol and saturated fat in these foods will increase the levels of blood cholesterol.

Heredity

Heredity is one of the uncontrollable factors. Your genes influence the LDL or bad cholesterol level by affecting the speed in which LDL is made and removed from the blood. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a specific form of inherited high cholesterol. It affects 1 in 500 people and often leads to early heart disease. Even if you don’t have such a specific genetic form of high cholesterol, genes play an influencing role in determining LDL cholesterol level.

Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease through Lowering Cholesterol

Cholesterol can help your body to build new cells and hormones. Cholesterol enters your body from your diet. The major contributors of high cholesterol diets are animal foods, milk, eggs and meat. High level of cholesterol in your body is a risk factor for heart disease.

Can high cholesterol cause heart disease?

Higher levels of cholesterol in your blood can build up its parts in the walls of your arteries, causing atherosclerosis. This makes your arteries narrowed and blood flow to the heart is blocked. If enough blood cannot reach your heart, you may suffer and the result will be a heart attack.

There are two forms of cholesterol. They are Low-density lipoprotein (LDL known as “bad” cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL known as “good” cholesterol.) Low-density lipoprotein – LDL is the main source of artery clogging. HDL helps to clear the cholesterol from the blood. Triglycerides are also fat content in our blood. Higher levels of triglycerides can also cause heart disease.

How can you reduce your risk of heart disease?

You need to control high blood pressure if you are suffering from it and stop smoking habits. A low saturated fat diet and low cholesterol eating plan will be very helpful. Maintain a desirable weight and participate in regular physical activity. Some of the drugs which are used to treat high cholesterol are as follows: fibric acid derivatives, niacin, bile-acid resins and statins. Avoid grapefruit juice while taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, because it can interfere with the liver’s function.

Can exercise and diet help to lower cholesterol?

Cholesterol-lowering medicine can be effective if they are combined with a low-cholesterol diet and regular exercise. There are some food items that can reduce your cholesterol level. They include herbals and vitamins.

Fruits and Vegetables are very needful. Citrus fruit, apples, berries, carrots and cabbage are having soluble fiber and pectin. These fresh fruits and vegetables are good for your health and you can also prevent many disorders. Nuts such as almonds and walnuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat which helps to lower your cholesterol level. Eating the almonds with the skins is beneficial if you have elevated cholesterol.

You can avoid eating egg yolks. However you can eat egg white. Try the soy and rice milks and skim milk for better health. Fish with omega3 acids can prevent blood clotting and lower your blood cholesterol. Olive Oil can also lower blood cholesterol. You can use olive oil instead of animal fats to lower your cholesterol and improve your health. Oats and Barley have a soluble fiber to lower your cholesterol. So, you can consume two to four cups of oats and barley everyday to reduce the cholesterol level.

Will you get any side effects due to cholesterol-lowering drugs?

There are some side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs. They are as follows: abnormal liver function, skin rashes, abdominal pain, heartburn, decreased sexual desire, dizziness and constipation

Good Cholesterol Can Help You to Keep Your Health Better

The cholesterol in a person’s blood originates from two major sources; food consumption and liver production. Cholesterol can’t dissolve in the blood. Cholesterol is divided into two types- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is also known as “bad” cholesterol where as High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as “good” cholesterol.

Why is high-density lipoprotein called as good cholesterol?

HDL or high-density lipoprotein is known as good cholesterol because it helps the body to eliminate the bad cholesterol (LDL) and thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, the more bad cholesterol a person has, the more HDL cholesterol is needed. About 25-30 percent of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. It helps to remove excess cholesterol from arteries and thus prevents the formation of blocks. High levels of HDL are considered as beneficial because it attaches LDL to it as it passes through the arteries. When the LDL is attached to the HDL, it is carried along with the blood and it is passed into the liver where it is broken down and eliminated. HDL cholesterol levels can be raised by following a healthy diet and taking necessary medications and supplements.

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. It is better to think high, incase of HDL cholesterol i.e., 60 mg/dL or above. An HDL level below 40 mg/dL increases the risk of heart related problems. The average amount of HDL required for a normal person is 40 to 50 mg/dL.
Keeping HDL level of 60 mg/dL or above is considered a “negative risk factor” and will reduce the 10-year risk of suffering a heart attack and strokes. Researches found out that women are at increased risk of heart attack. Thus studies have proven that an HDL level of 60 mg/dL or above can improve the function of brain cells and protect against strokes and mental decline.

What are the steps to improve HDL cholesterol level in your body?

High HDL cholesterol helps to increase your lifespan. There are many methods available to improve HDL cholesterol level in your body. This includes dietary and lifestyle changes, regular exercise and Fenobrate therapy to attain desired level of HDL cholesterol. I have given some of the tips to improve your HDL cholesterol level as follows:

• Maintaining a healthy weight helps to increase the HDL cholesterol level. If you are over weight, try to reduce your weight. For every 2 pounds you lose, your HDL may increase by .35 mg/dL.

• Try to engage in more physical activity as it helps to increase the HDL cholesterol level by 3 percent to 9 percent.

• Use only foods that contain healthier fats. Try to avoid those foods that contain Trans fat, which raises LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats which are found in canola, peanut and olive oils are healthier.

• Drink alcohol only in moderate amount. Moderate use of alcohol particularly red wine has the capability to increase the level of HDL cholesterol. Smoking lowers the level of HDL cholesterol and leads to the formation of blocks in arteries. So, avoid smoking if you are having the habit of smoking.

What are the food items that can promote HDL level in your body?

Foods such as fish, Soya products, fiber rich foods, beans, oat bran and onions help to increase the HDL level in your body. Fruits such as orange, apple, grape and citrus foods and also red wine can promote HDL level in your body. Use oils such as olive oil, cashews, peanuts, avocado, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, fish etc in your food to promote HDL level in your body.

Do You Keep Bad Cholesterol Under Your Control?

There are 2 main types of blood cholesterol – LDL also known as Bad cholesterol and HDL also known as Good cholesterol.

What is the impact of excess LDL in your body?

Majority of the body’s cholesterol is converted as LDL. This is mostly made up of small amount of protein and fat. The presence of too much LDL cholesterol in the blood may result in building of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries. More and more plaques will narrow the arteries and may eventually block the flow of blood and thus resulting in heart attacks and strokes. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular diseases caused by LDL cholesterol kills 16.7 million persons in a year through out the world.

What are the benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol?

Lowering LDL cholesterol involves exercising regularly, losing excess weight, and following a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Reducing the level of LDL cholesterol is the first step in preventing atherosclerosis and heart attacks. The benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol are as follows:

• Prevents or reduces the formation of new cholesterol plaques on the artery walls.
• It reduces the existing cholesterol plaques on the arteries.
• It helps to widen the narrowed arteries.
• It decreases the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
• It helps to prevent the rupture of cholesterol plaques that initiates blood clot formation.

What are the causes for high LDL cholesterol levels?

The factors which are responsible for high LDL cholesterol levels are:

Genetics – If any of your family members have cholesterol problems or heart disease, you are at a higher risk for having problems.
Excess weight – Over weight results in the increase of LDL cholesterol levels.
Food habits – Avoid food items that are high in cholesterol, and food items that are high in trans and saturated fat. These foods items increase the bad cholesterol level and also increase the risk of developing heart disease.
Age factor – The risk of bad cholesterol increases as you become older.
Physical activity – Lack of physical activity increase the LDL levels, which increases your risk of developing heart diseases.

What is the optimal level of LDL Cholesterol?

It is good to check the cholesterol level at least once in every five years. A cholesterol test is known as a lipid profile test. These tests are usually done in connection with a routine physical exam. The Optimal level of LDL cholesterol is below 100mg/dL. If your LDL Cholesterol level is 160 mg/dL, then you are at the risk of bad cholesterol.

What are the treatments for increased LDL cholesterol?

Treatment for cholesterol is aimed at lowering the LDL cholesterol, lowering triglyceride levels, and increasing HDL cholesterol. Reducing LDL cholesterol by 1% decreases the risk of heart disease by 2% and on the other hand, a decrease in HDL cholesterol by 1%, increase in the risk of heart disease to 2 to 3%.

A low cholesterol diet and regular exercise are essential to reduce bad cholesterol level. A drug therapy is often recommended to lower bad cholesterol, in addition with proper diet and regular exercise. The decision to treat a patient with drug therapy or dietary therapy is usually based on a patient’s LDL level, presence of heart disease and other risk factors.

Maintain Lipoproteins in Your Blood for a Healthy Living

Lipoproteins are molecules that consists proteins and fat. Lipoprotein can transport cholesterol through the blood. Lipoproteins circulate in the blood and contain cholesterol, fat and protein in varying levels according to the need of your body.

How can you classify lipoproteins?

There are five classifications of lipoproteins. The good lipoprotein refers to High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and bad lipoprotein refers to Low Density Lipoproteins, called as LDL. Lipoproteins differ in their level of proteins and lipids. High Density Lipoproteins, Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL), Intermediate Density Lipoproteins (IDL), Chylomicrons, Low Density Lipoproteins and Lipoprotein (a) are the main kind of the lipoproteins.

What are the risk factors of lipoprotein?

Atherosclerosis, heart attack, angina, stroke, aneurysm are some of the risk factors. Abnormalities in the levels of lipoproteins can cause the risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is hardening of the arteries which can lead to heart attack, angina and stroke. Lipoprotein (a) is similar to low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Both are rich in cholesterol and their higher level can cause atherosclerosis. A blood test can help to find out lipoprotein-a, and its risks for heart problems.

Blood accumulating under the skin (hematoma), fainting and excessive bleeding are some of the other risk factors apart from heart disorders. Atherosclerosis can harden the arteries; make cholesterol deposition and blockage in the arteries. Smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure can also be risk factors of the atherosclerosis.

What are the recommended levels of lipoproteins in blood?

The desirable total cholesterol level is- minimum 200 mg/dl and the maximum should be 240 mg/dl. But the patients with atherosclerotic disease should maintain around 200 mg/dl. A minimum level of triglecerides is 200 mg/dl and the maximum level is 400 mg/dl. Minimum level of Low density lipoproteins (LDL) is 130 mg/dl and the maximum level is 160 mg/dl. But for the atherosclerotic patients 100 mg/dl is recommended. Less than 35 mg/dl of HDL cholesterol level is considered to be low. The average level of HDL cholesterol is 45 mg/dl to 55 mg/dl. The higher level of HDL cholesterol can cause atherosclerotic disease. However, low cholesterol levels of triglycerides, LDL and HDL will increase the risk of atherosclerotic disease.

How are lipoproteins levels managed?

Low density lipoproteins

If the LDL cholesterol is higher than desirable level, that can be reduced by eating low fat diet. Weight loss and the intake of soluble fiber such as oatmeal, beans and psyllium products can also help. Drug treatment is needed if you have very high LDL cholesterol levels with risk factors of atherosclerotic disorder.

High density lipoproteins (HDL)

Low HDL cholesterol should be raised by exercise. If you are having the habit of smoking, then by quitting your smoking, you can improve HDL level. Medications are rarely used in the treatment of low HDL.

Triglyceride

High triglyceride levels can be controlled by weight loss, reducing alcohol intake and minimizing estrogen-containing pills. If you are a diabetic patient, control of diabetes can help. You can use medications for very high triglyceride levels.