Certain Foods Elevate Good Cholesterol (HDL)

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Foods that Elevate Good Cholesterol (HDL)

JoAnn Guest

Apr 28, 2003 20:50 PDT

 

" Food Your Miracle Medicine "

 

Some components of cholesterol are dangerous to arteries, while

others are more beneficial.

Furthermore, what you eat may actually " detoxify " detrimental

cholesterol so it cannot harm arteries.

 

Regardless of cholesterol's complexities, one thing is undeniable:

What you eat can put a striking dent in dangerous cholesterol

and more spectacularly, according to new findings,change its

character so its not so deadly!

 

This radical way of controlling cholesterol by *detoxifying* it,

according to new research, promises to dramatically slow the

progression of atherosclerosis by 50 to 70 percent and even help

reverse existing artery clogging by

 

shrinking the clumps of plaque on artery walls, says

leading researcher Daniel Steinberg, M.D., at the University of

California School of Medicine in San Diego.

 

" We can now attack the disease at the artery wall as well by simply

lowering LDL cholesterol.

It's very exciting, " he says.

 

HOW YOU CAN USE FOOD TO CONTROL CHOLESTEROL

 

Essentially, you should eat in a way to lower one type of

cholesterol, called LDL (low-density lipoprotein),

and boost another type,

known as HDL (high density lipoprotein).

 

That's because the LDLs are " bad-guys " that serve as

raw material to " clog " arteries.

 

In contrast, the good-guy HDLs eat up the damaging LDL

" villains " and cart them to the liver,

where they are eventually annihilated!

 

Obviously, the more HDL and the less LDL you have in your blood,

the safer your arteries.

 

Certain foods help bring this about by destroying detrimental LDLs

and creating beneficial HDLs.

 

Now enters an exciting new theory that promises to make it possible

to control cholesterol with food

in ways unimagined even a few years ago.

 

According to that new theory put forth by Dr. Steinberg and many

others, here's how arteries get clogged:

 

Special forms of oxygen known as *free radicals* in the blood

collide

with fatty *LDL* cholesterol molecules, *oxidizing* them.

The LDL then turns rancid, much as unrefrigerated butter does.

 

In this altered form it is quickly gobbled up by cells called

macrophages. Stuffed with fat globules, the macrophages enlarge into

dreaded " foam cells " which insinuate themselves *into* artery walls,

triggering artery destruction!

 

If you can prevent this toxic transformation, your LDL cholesterol

may remain relatively harmless.

 

So the issue is not just how much LDL cholesterol your blood

contains, but how much of it is " Toxic

Oxidized LDL, "

capable of clogging your arteries.

 

Dr. Steinberg and many others now believe that LDL cholesterol is

not so

dangerous to arteries unless it is converted into a toxic form by

oxygenated " free radicals " in your blood.

 

That's where diet can be a powerful " weapon " . Mounting evidence

shows

you can block LDLs *toxic* transformation, and thus its awesome

hazards, by eating foods packed with protective antioxidants.

 

This means you may intervene at the very " genesis of

atherosclerosis "

at every stage, blocking the cascade of arterial events that create

clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes. It is a thrilling

prospect.

 

Bottom Line:

 

To combat hazardous blood cholesterol, reduce bad LDL cholesterol,

boost good HDL cholesterol, and keep as much as possible of your LDL

from becoming toxic to your arteries. Here are your best bets for

doing it with diet.

 

Foods that Raise our *Good* (HDL) Cholesterol:

 

Macademia Nuts

Avocadoes

Extra Virgin Olive Oils

Garlic(fresh is best)

 

Alaskan Salmon,

sardines(in spring water),

tuna (low/no sodium)

Cold-water fish (avoid farmed varieties)

Grape Seed Oil

Almonds

 

 

Vitamin C rich foods (bell peppers, broccoli, oranges) Beta-carotene-

rich foods (carrots, spinach, broccoli)

Red Wine in moderation

 

Caution: Diets containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated

oils and

fats *depress* HDLs.

 

 

" Food your Miracle Medicine " (How Food can Prevent and Cure

Over 100 Symptoms and Problems)

by Jean Carper

_________________

JoAnn Guest

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