Nigerian foods that lower cholesterol, Natural ways to reduce cholesterol in Nigeria.
CONTROL YOUR CHOLESTEROL: YOU NEED IT BUT TOO MUCH IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH:
Cholesterol has a bad reputation and some fear the word high cholesterol. To fully explain cholesterol, you need to realize that it’s also vital to your health and well-being. We all need a little cholesterol but too much is not good. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in every cell in your body. You need cholesterol to help your brain, skin, and other organs do their jobs. Cholesterol helps your body build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones. Your body also needs some cholesterol to make, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods and also help to build stronger bones. In our body, the liver makes all the cholesterol it needs. But cholesterol also enters your body from foods you eat . But having high blood cholesterol is bad for your health and puts you at risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol floats around in your blood and can get into the walls of the blood vessels. This can cause the blood vessels to get stiffer, narrower, or clogged. If the clogging gets worse over many years, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
We have often heard that there are two main types of cholesterol the bad cholesterol (LDL )and good cholesterol (HDL ). Cholesterol in the blood doesn’t move through the body on its own. It combines with proteins to travel through the bloodstream. Cholesterol and protein travelling together are called lipoproteins. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or “bad cholesterol,” carries cholesterol from the liver into the bloodstream, where it can stick to the blood vessels. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or “good cholesterol,” carries the cholesterol in the blood back to the liver, where it is broken down. LDL is the main source of artery-clogging plaque. HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood.
Due to our heredity, our genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes.
Unfortunately, high blood cholesterol can run in some families. If your screening tests say that you have high cholesterol, there’s no need to buy special products to lower your cholesterol. For most of us, the first way to tackle high cholesterol is by making changes to your diet, and being physically active. You can do more than you thought and more easily than you imagined! It is more important than ever to make the right choice before medications. If lifestyle changes do not help adequately you can combine it with medicine. “STATINS ” are medicines that can help lower your cholesterol.
Natural ways to reduce cholesterol in Nigeria
Since a variety of factors can affect your cholesterol levels a few changes in your lifestyle and diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health:
*Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol.
*Eliminate trans fats. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
*Increase soluble fibre. Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
*Limit drinks and foods that have a lot of fat or sugar, like sugary drinks, treats, and fried foods.
*Get plenty of exercises. Being overweight can also increase your cholesterol.Losing weight can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol levels, and raise your HDL.
Culled by www.nimedhealth.com.ng from Dr Emmanuel Peiris
