Reduce Cholesterol Risk:A Slightly Different Approach

There was a time when following the accepted traditions was something one did without question. If the tradition of your tribe demanded that a boy face his fears through some horrifying act in order to be recognized as a man then that is exactly what he did.

In the modern world that sort of blind obedience to tradition is a bit more difficult to find. Many of us have grown up in a culture defined by mini revolutions. We question more. If we don't like the answers we receive, we are inclined to stand against the flow... that is, if it suits us.

What if we applied a little bit of that revolutionary spirit to cholesterol management? What if we took prevention a little bit more seriously?

Lowering cholesterol risk is, of course, serious business. An imbalanced cholesterol profile can lead to a number of chronic heart health issues. I am not debating that issue.

Nor am I challenging the accepted methods designed to reduce cholesterol risk. It is important to keep our HDL cholesterol high and our triglycerides within an acceptable range. It is especially important to keep our LDL cholesterol in check. That is why the primary focus of cholesterol management is the reduction of LDL. This is good and proper.

But why is LDL cholesterol so important? Well for starters high LDL levels contribute to the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Particularly, high LDL levels promote the development of atherosclerosis... that nasty build-up on the inside of our arteries.

So it makes sense to focus on LDL reduction to lower cholesterol risk.

But here is a twist that you may not have considered. Evidence has been mounting for some time that the level of LDL cholesterol in our systems may not be what causes atherosclerosis (artery clogging plaque). Rather it is actually the oxidation

of LDL that promotes atherosclerosis and therefore CHD. In light of this evidence it is reasonable to assume that therapy should focus on suppressing LDL oxidation as well as lowering LDL levels.

Oxidation is a process that happens to our cells in the presence of oxygen. When oxygen comes in contact with certain molecules the reaction leaves some of the atoms with unpaired electrons. They are then known as free radicals. These free radicals attack healthy cells in our bodies doing damage to cell membranes and DNA. The result is improperly functioning cells or even cell death. This process is blamed for many chronic conditions including my favorite ... aging.

When LDL cholesterol becomes oxidized it reacts differently than 'healthy' LDL. In short, it builds up on the inside of our arteries.

We have all heard of antioxidants. As the name implies, antioxidants oppose the activities of free radicals. They prevent the process of oxidation. It makes sense then to consider antioxidants as an important part of preventing coronary heart disease.

Even if you may not have thought of this it is possible you are already doing something about it. Many of us supplement with vitamin-E for a healthy heart. Vitamin-E has long been recognized as a powerful antioxidant.

But vitamin-E alone may not be enough. If you are serious about cholesterol management you might want to add a few more antioxidants to your arsenal. Here are three that have been shown to be very effective in preventing LDL oxidation.

The first two we will look at together. Catechins and theaflavins have been shown to work well together to reduce LDL oxidation. Where do we find these little gems?

Catechins and theaflavins are found in green and black teas. There is a whole list of them. Which ones are better? A study done

in China on the effectiveness of catechins and theaflavins to reduce LDL oxidation indicated that both green and black teas provided effective antioxidant powers. In fact, these flavonoids seem to work best together. In other words, consuming a complex of catechins and theaflavins from green and black teas provides the most comprehensive antioxidant influence.

There is, however, another champion antioxidant that has received abundant study in relation to LDL oxidation. That champion is COQ10.

CoQ10 is perhaps best known as a necessary coenzyme in the process of producing cellular energy. It is extremely important for the proper functioning of large organs like the heart.

But CoQ10 is also a very strong antioxidant. It has been demonstrated to be more effective in preventing LDL oxidation than vitamin-E. In fact, CoQ10 is known to regenerate vitamin-E that has been depleted in its antioxidant warfare. Which should you take? Both. CoQ10 and vitamin-E work best in tandem. That is normally how antioxidants function.

By all means keep your LDL low. But also consider efforts to keep your LDL healthy. LDL that has undergone oxidation is bad news for heart health. CoQ10, vitamin-E, theaflavins and catechins can all help in the antioxidant war to prevent coronary heart disease.

For more information and LDL oxidation and antioxidants please use the links below:

CoQ10 and Cholesterol

CoQ10 Supplements

Optimal Heart Health Home Page

About the author:

Greg has degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.

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