Sunday, April 14, 2013

The Best Supplements to Include in Your Low-Cholesterol Diet

By Zaiden W Xavier


A common solution to help lower cholesterol levels in the blood are vitamin supplements. However, it is important that you talk to your doctor about these supplements since not all have the same effects on the body. For this reason, it becomes even more important that cholesterol levels are monitored and the proper vitamin supplements chosen to find the best health benefit. When considering vitamin supplements, it is important to keep in mind that these will not negate any unhealthy habits such as a high fat diet, smoking or lack of exercise. Supplements that lower cholesterol should only be used as part of, and not in lieu of, a healthy diet and exercise.

One nutrient that fights cholesterol is niacin or vitamin B3. It is found in milk, vegetables, eggs and fish. But the concentration of niacin in these foods are not adequate to lower cholesterol. The body's daily need to fight cholesterol would be around 2,000-3,000 mg and can be supplied with medication. However, consuming niacin must be done carefully, since too much can cause hot flashes, nausea, gout, indigestion, and gastric problems. For this reason, you should only consume niacin with a doctor's prescription.

Another ingredient in maintaining low cholesterol is soluble fiber. Apples, barley, oat bran, beans, lentils and citrus fruits are natural foods that are known for the fiber content that eases digestion as well as to control cholesterol. Soluble fiber binds with existing cholesterol in the body. When this happens, cholesterol is flushed away with it when soluble fiber is expelled from the body through fecal waste, thus minimizing cholesterol absorption through the intestines.

One additional important ingredient to regulate cholesterol levels in the body is garlic extract. But if used excessively, garlic extract can result in stomach gas, bloating, body odor, nausea, heartburn and vomiting. It will also break down omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and health supplements. Well-known for its HDL-increasing attributes, omega-3 fatty acids are efficient in boosting HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels in your body. Note that if you are taking blood thinning medicine, you must seek advice from a physician prior to integrating garlic and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet program.

If trying to find all-natural food supplements to manage your cholesterol levels, flax seeds are an outstanding solution. These particular whole grains are noted to lower amounts of LDL (bad cholesterol) as it minimizes LDL cholesterol from being absorbed through the intestines. Flax seed is a flexible ingredient of which you can consume with cereal, yogurt or baked with bread or muffins. Be mindful of having excessive amounts of flax seed if you are on blood thinning prescription medication.

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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