Nutrition for High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found throughout the body. It is vital for the production of sex and stress hormones, and for healthy cell membranes, particularly in the brain. It also makes up bile, which is necessary for the digestion of dietary, fat and helps make vitamin D.
The liver manufactures most of the cholesterol in the body, although a small remainder is obtained from food and it circulates round the body in the blood stream attached to specific proteins, called lipoproteins.
There are two types of lipoprotein: high density lipoprotein (HDL) often referred to as good cholesterol, helps prevent cholesterol building up in the arteries, by transporting it to the liver where it can be excreted, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) unfortunately labelled as bad cholesterol, responsible for transporting cholesterol around the body and depositing it in the arteries. Both are essential for healthy body function, however, what is important is to have them in the right amounts. An ideal ratio should be 2:1. HDL to LDL. You will be diagnosed with "High cholesterol" if the ratio is upset in favour of LDL.
If you have high cholesterol, known as hypercholesterolemia, then this can be associated with a higher risk of problems such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
Some symptoms of high cholesterol may include:
- Angina
- Nagging discomfort to the left side of the chest
- Breathlessness and difficulty breathing
However, more often than not there are no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages of high cholesterol.
Below are some factors that may contribute towards high cholesterol:
- A family history of heart disease and high cholesterol
- Weight gain/obesity
- Type II diabetes
- Menopause
- Gall stones
- High blood pressure
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- A stressful lifestyle
- Poor diet
- Low nutrients and general poor nutrition
- Low fibre
- Constipation
- Low levels of good gut bacteria
- Age, cholesterol levels rise gradually as we get older
- High intake of alcohol
- Systemic inflammation
- Under active thyroid
- Medication
- Stress
What Nutrition can do for High Cholesterol
You will probably have been told that you need to eat healthily to help lower high cholesterol, but what exactly does that mean?
What we will do for you here at The Nutritional Therapy Clinic is put all the information together in a programme specifically designed to meet your needs. Not only telling you what foods you need to reduce or avoid, but also advising on specific foods to increase that actively help to lower high cholesterol. The programme will show you how to put all the information together in a practical dietary plan, including recipes and how to make healthy food choices from shops and restaurants.
Call now for a no obligation free chat, to find out how nutrition can help you.
Tele: 07879 657777 or email emma@thenutritionaltherapyclinic.co.uk
