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Cholesterol : Good or Bad?
by Michael Messner
In today’s world, almost
everything is free… not that everything has no price. It just seems that we
have reached the era where we become more aware of our health conditions.
Thus, it seems to be the era of everything that is -free. Try scanning every
available product in your local grocery and you will see what I mean.
Your bread is bromate-free; your yoghurt is fat-free; your cooking oil is
cholesterol-free; your canned soup is preservative-free; and the list goes
on and on. Now you are beginning to wonder about the next -free commodity
that you would encounter.
This is not exactly bad. In fact, health experts encourage us to be more
sensitive about the foods we eat and the nutrients that we get from them.
However, not everything that is –free is healthy. Our bodies need certain
substances to be able to function well.
Let us take a look at cholesterol for instance. Very simply defined,
cholesterol is a fatty substance that occurs naturally in the blood, cell
walls, and most body tissues. Cholesterol is made by the liver, and it
enters the body via foods rich in saturated fat.
There are two types of cholesterol; these are what they termed as the good
and bad cholesterol. Like the literary split personality of Jekyll and Hyde,
it has a good side because it is needed for certain important body
functions. But for many people, cholesterol also has an evil side. When
present in excessive amounts, it can injure blood vessels, cause heart
attacks, and stroke.
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad" cholesterol. This is the form in
which cholesterol is carried into the blood and is the main cause of harmful
fatty buildup in arteries. The higher the LDL cholesterol levels in the
blood, the greater the heart disease risk.
On the other hand, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol.
This "good" cholesterol carries blood cholesterol back to the liver, where
it can be eliminated. HDL helps prevent a cholesterol buildup in blood
vessels. Low HDL levels increase heart disease risk.
So before you go into your cholesterol deprivation program, remember that
cholesterol is essential for human life. It builds and repairs cells, it is
used to produce sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, it is converted
to bile acids to help you digest food and it is found in large amounts in
brain and nerve tissue.
A Guide To Common Herbs
Herbs are nutritional foundation
nutrients and good alternative medicine to nourish the body's deepest and
most basic elements. Medicinal herbs have been used safely and effectively
since the time of recorded history for an endless list of reasons from
health, healing, weight loss/gain/maintenance, to survival and more. Herbs
can offer the body nutrients it does not always receive, either from a poor
diet, or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air. They are great body
balancers that help regulate body functions.
The benefits of herbs are many and varied. Even the once skeptical
traditional medical community is starting to embrace alternative medicine
practices using herbal remedies and healing philosophies and practices
incorporating herbal medicine and medicinal herbs. Chinese herbs have been
used by the Chinese for over 4,000 years to promote health and as healing
agents.
Chinese Herbs are taken as tonics to enhance physical and mental well being.
Since the dawn of man, herbs have been used for healing purposes and to
promote wellness. Today, herbs are still the alternative medicine and
primary source of health care for 80% of the world.
Here are some of the more well-known herbs and plant products and their
modern uses.
Herbs Modern Uses
Bilberry Fruit Extract, Vaccinium myrtillus Various microcirculatory
conditions. Night blindness and poor ability to adapt to bright light.
Cascara Sagrada Aged Bark, Rhamnus purshiana Constipation.
Cayenne Pepper Fruit, Capsicum annuum Carminative, diaphoretic,
counter-irritant.
Cranberry Fruit, Vaccinium macrocarpon Prevention of urinary tract
infections.
Dong Quai Root, Angelica sinensis Various menstrual disorders.
Echinacea Herb, Echinacea purpurea As supportive therapy for colds and
chronic infections of the respiratory tract.
Evening Primrose Oil, Oenothera biennis Conditions related to deficiency of
essential fatty acids (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome) and alcoholism.
Feverfew Leaf, Tanacetum parthenium Treatment of migraines, fever, menstrual
disorders..
Garlic Cloves, Allium sativum Elevated levels of cholesterol in blood and as
a preventative measure for age dependent vascular changes.
Ginger Root, Zingiber officinale Modern Use: Prevention of the nausea and
vomiting of motion sickness, dyspepsia, stomachic.
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ginkgo biloba Memory deficits, dementia
syndromes. Improvement of distance and pain-free walking in peripheral
arterial occlusive disease. Vertigo and tinnitus.
Asian Ginseng Root, Panax ginseng Tonic for invigoration and fortification
in times of fatigue and debility, physical or mental exhaustion, stress,
inadequate resistance to infections.
Siberian Ginseng Root, Eleutherococcus senticosus Tonic for invigoration and
fortification in times of fatigue and debility, also during convalescence.
Goldenseal Root, Hydrastis canadensis Catarrhal conditions of the upper
respiratory tract associated with colds and flus. Mucosal inflammations.
Gotu Kola Herb, Centella asiatica Improved memory. Venous insufficiency.
Grape Seed Extract, Vitis vinifera Microcirculatory maldistribution of blood
flow. Altered capillary fragility and permeability. Anti-inflammatory.
Green Tea Leaf Extract, Camellia sinensis Chemopreventative.
Hypercholesterolemia.
Kava Kava Root Extract, Piper methysticum Conditions of nervous anxiety,
stress, and restlessness. Sedative and sleep enhancement.
Licorice Root, Glycyrrhiza glabra For catarrhal conditions of the upper
respiratory tract and gastric/duodenal ulcers. Bronchitis. Adrenocorticoid
insufficiency.
Milk Thistle Seed Extract, Silybum marianum Toxic liver damage, and for
supportive treatment in chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic
cirrhosis.
Saw Palmetto Berry Extract, Serenoa repens Urination problems in benign
prostate hyperplasia stages 1 and 2.
St. John's Wort Herb Extract, Hypericum perforatum Mild to moderate
depressive states.
Valerian Root, Valeriana officinalis Restlessness, sleeping disorders based
on nervous conditions.
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