High Blood Cholesterol
Definition:
Hypercholesterolemia refers to levels of cholesterol in the blood that are higher than normal.
Signs & Symptoms:
Angina – caused by the narrowing of one or more arteries that feed the heart
Heart attack – caused by a blockage in one of the arteries that feed the heart
Stroke – caused by a blockage in one of the arteries in the neck or brain
Pain on walking – caused by a blockage to an artery that feeds the leg muscles
These symptoms point to the presence of established heart and circulatory disease.
Cause:
Diet
Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. Some foods have fats that raise your cholesterol level.
For example, saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet. Saturated fat is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, and deep-fried and processed foods.
Trans fatty acids (trans fats) raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Trans fats are made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to harden it. Trans fats are found in some fried and processed foods.
Limiting foods with cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can help you control your cholesterol levels.
Physical Activity and Weight
Lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain. Being overweight tends to raise your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increase your total cholesterol level. (Total cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including LDL and HDL.)
Routine physical activity can help you lose weight and lower your LDL cholesterol. Being physically active also can help you raise your HDL cholesterol level.
Factors You Can’t Control
Heredity
High blood cholesterol can run in families. An inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia causes very high LDL cholesterol. (Inherited means the condition is passed from parents to children through genes.) This condition begins at birth, and it may cause a heart attack at an early age.
Age and Sex
Starting at puberty, men often have lower levels of HDL cholesterol than women. As women and men age, their LDL cholesterol levels often rise. Before age 55, women usually have lower LDL cholesterol levels than men. However, after age 55, women can have higher LDL levels than men.
How To Cure:
- Coriander Seeds
Research has shown that coriander helps lower the levels of total cholesterol, LDL (the bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. Coriander seeds also have hypoglycemic effects and can be useful in diabetes management.
Add two teaspoons of coriander seed powder to one cup of water.
Boil the mixture and then strain it.
Drink this once or twice a day. You can add milk, sugar, and cardamom to it and use it as a replacement for your regular tea.
If you do not have coriander seed powder, then simply use coriander seeds or dry roast and grind them to make the powder.
- Onions
Red onions are beneficial in dealing with high cholesterol. Scientists in Hong Kong found that they help reduce bad cholesterol and elevate good cholesterol levels. This, in turn, lowers the risk of developing heart disease.
Mix one teaspoon each of onion juice and honey. Drink it once daily.
Add one finely chopped onion and one-quarter teaspoon of pepper to one cup of buttermilk. Consume it on a regular basis.
Also include onion, ginger, and garlic in your diet.
- Indian Gooseberry
Indian gooseberry, or amla, acts as a natural hypolipidemic agent, which means that it promotes the reduction of lipid concentrations in the serum. A study published in the International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences revealed that this fruit has antihyperlipidemic, anti-atherogenic, and hypolipidemic effects.
Mix one teaspoon of Indian gooseberry powder, or dried and powdered Indian gooseberries, in a glass of warm water.
Drink it daily in the morning on an empty stomach.
