Saturday, July 13, 2013

The Best Supplements To Include In Your Low-Cholesterol Diet

By Zaiden W Xavier


When choosing to lower cholesterol using vitamin supplements, a consultation with a health provider is imperative before committing. The reason behind this is that not all supplements have the same effect on the body. Because of this, finding out your complete lipid provide becomes even more important, and also to ensure that you are given the best vitamin supplement choices . It is also best to keep in mind that any vitamin supplement will not nullify any habits that are the root cause of high cholesterol in the first place, such as smoking and a high fat diet. Cholesterol lowering supplements must only be used in conjunction to, and not as replacement of, a sensible lifestyle.

A nutrient that deals with high cholesterol is vitamin B3 (niacin), found in vegetables, fish, milk and eggs. However, the vitamin B3 content of these foods are not enough to lower cholesterol. Our body needs between 2,000-3,000 mg of vitamin B3 daily, and this may only be available via medication. Consuming niacin must be done carefully however, as too much can lead to hot flashes, gout, nausea, gastric distress and indigestion. Because of this, consume niacin only with a doctor's prescription.

Another essential ingredient to keep cholesterol in check is soluble fiber. Foods like apples, barley, oat bran, beans, lentils and citrus fruits are rich in fiber content that also eases digestion. By binding with cholesterol, fiber helps the body expel cholesterol when it leaves the body, taking with it the bad cholesterol, and minimizing the 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 very short list, as there are many more essential supplements in the market. Check with your health care provider or pharmacist for more information.




About the Author:



Share on :

0 comments:

Post a Comment