Natural Cholesterol Management
The Basics | Achieving Results
Natural cholesterol management offers a lifelong approach to improved cardiovascular health. It enables the daily intake of effective levels of key nutrients.
We base our approach on extensive and well-documented science, expressed in the U.S. National Institutes of Health report on Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes for cholesterol management.
From this foundation, we extend our approach to incorporate recommendations of the Mayo Clinic, the Harvard Medical School and other leading medical institutions.
Overall, natural cholesterol management can significantly lower LDL (bad cholesterol), raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and create an overall blood lipid profile that can meaningfully enhance your cardiovascular health.
Cholesterol: The Basics
We all need cholesterol. We just need the right types in the right amount. High
levels of the wrong types of cholesterol play a leading role in the development
of arterial plaque. This elevates the risks for heart disease, strokes and
other conditions related to the cardiovascular system.
To date, the focus has been on two broad types of cholesterol. Low density
lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad" cholesterol. It is the villain
in plaque development. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the "good" cholesterol. It returns cholesterol to the liver where it is reprocessed
and excreted. HDLs also may play a role in reducing existing
plaque.
Within these broad categories, the scientific community continues to find
that different types of LDLs and HDLs affect our health in different ways.
Other categories of blood lipids, notably triglycerides and very low-density
lipoprotein (VLDL), also play a role in a range of complex interactions that
affect the health of our cardiovascular systems.
As a general guide, cholesterol management seeks to promote cardiovascular
health by lowering LDLs, VLDLs, and triglycerides and raising HDLs.
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Achieving Results with Natural Cholesterol Management
Nutrition can play one of three roles in regards to cholesterol levels:
- Positive Nutrition actively reduces LDLs, VLDLs and triglycerides. It
also can increase HDLs. Positive nutrients include plant sterols,
viscous soluble fibers, good fats such as monounsaturated fats and Omega-3s,
and niacin from nicotinic acid.
- Negative Nutrition actively raises LDLs and triglycerides, or decreases
HDLs. Known negative nutrients are trans fat and saturated fat. A
high level of processed carbohydrates also has been shown to negatively affect
your HDL cholesterol levels.
- Neutral Nutrition neither positively nor negatively affects cholesterol
levels.
At Kardea, we focus on developing natural foods and dietary supplements that
provide meaningful levels of positive nutrients while minimizing the negative
ones. We classify these nutrients in terms of level of scientific support.
Tier One nutrients are defined as those for which there is significant
scientific agreement resulting in a broad consensus within
the medical community. For cholesterol management, this consensus is
embodied in the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) "Treatment Panel III" of the National Institutes of Health.
How do these potential results compare with many of the cholesterol medications
now being prescribed? According to the NCEP, "The amount of LDL
cholesterol reduction compares well with many cholesterol lowering drugs."
Participants in the NCEP include the American Heart Association, American
College of Cardiology, American Dietetic Association, National
Institutes of Health, Food & Drug Administration and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. (Click here to view NCEP report "Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC").
Tier Two nutrients are based on strong and extensive scientific evidence, but the very broad consensus defined by the NCEP has not yet developed.
*Higher doses of niacin from nicotinic acid can raise HDLs by 35% while significantly
lowering LDLs. Consult with your physician if considering these higher
levels.
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