Hypercholesterolemia, or elevated cholesterol, is a widespread health issue. It's estimated that over 100 million adults in the U.S. have elevated cholesterol levels, including an unfavorable cholesterol HDL ratio and are subsequently prescribed cholesterol lowering medications by their physicians. While lowering the LDL, or "bad" cholesterol levels with prescription drugs may be a viable option, statins for cholesterol do nothing to raise the HDL or "good" cholesterol levels that help to support optimal cardiovascular health. In addition, statins introduce some unpleasant and unhealthy side effects at the cost of rectifying a major health issue.
First, just what is a healthy HDL range and why is it important to overall health? Also, is there a safe and effective alternative that can boost your HDL?
A favorable HDL range is one that is high in proportion to the corresponding LDL level. This means that you can have a high total serum cholesterol yet be considered in a safe range with an HDL that is high. Typically, an acceptable HDL range is considered 40-50 mg/dL, though an optimal one will usually be 60 mg/dL or above.
Why is this so-called "good" cholesterol so good? The reasons are many, but it is known that an optimal HDL range indicates that your body possesses the ability to aid your liver in the metabolism of lipids by helping to remove excess LDL. More recently it has been revealed in a Columbia University study, that a high HDL may reduce ones risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
While following the optimal cholesterol guidelines as recommended by the American Heart Association are well and good, as we age our bodies can benefit from the addition of supplemental fiber to our diet. Fiber, and soluble fiber in particular, have the ability to bind to bile acids (fat absorbing components produced by the liver) and cholesterol in the gut. This aids in removing the LDL fat from your system and lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
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