I started this cheat sheet after realizing how little I knew about LDL and its cause and effect on the body, and what types of natural methods a person could use to combat a hereditary condition.
3 types of drugs with goal to decrease LDL (bad cholesterol)
Statins
This drug works in the liver to prevent the formation of cholesterol. Side effects usually are mild and go away as your body adjusts.
Statins available include:
Lipitor/Atorvastatin
Lescol/Fluvastatin
Mevacor/Lovastatin
Pravachol/Pravastatin
Crestor/Rosuvastatin
Zocor/Simvastatin
Selective Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
New class of medication works by preventing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines.
Available medication: first of its class, ezetimibe: Zetia, was approved by FDA in 2002 for “treatment of high cholesterol an dcertain inherited lipid abnormalities”
Resins (Bile Acid Sequestrant or Acid-Binding drug)
This medicine works in the intestines by promoting increased disposal of cholesterol. Your body uses cholesterol to make bile. This medicine binds to bile so it can’t be used in digestion. Your liver responds by making more bile. The more bile it makes the more cholesterol it uses. This means there is less cholesterol circulating through your bloodstream.
Resins currently available:
Questran, Prevalite, Locholest
Cholestyramine
Colestid
Colestipol
WelChol
Colesevlam HCL
Natural Foods that will help lower your cholesterol:
I read that these five are recommended by the American Heart Association to lower your LDL
1. Eat two delicious servings of fish per week. The best are the ones that have high Omega-3 content, such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, trout, herring. Baked and Grilled are the best! The greek know how to make a mean baked and grilled fish, so look for greek restaurants near you and try them out!
2. They say that skim milk and skim products are the best for you. Except for the occasional mozzarella bomb here and there, which are necessary evils to combat hunger and cravings, try to stick to non-fat or low-fat dairy products.
3. Try to avoid foods that say they are made from “Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil”
a. This list is a “safe bet” list of types of foods that usually do not contain the PHVO.
i. All fruits and vegetables
ii. Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt)
iii. Meat, poultry, fish
iv. Sugar, flour
v. Spices, condiments, pickles, salad dressings and mayonnaise
vi. Jams and jellies
vii. Beans, grains, nuts and seeds
viii. Plain popcorn (not microwave)
ix. Pretzels, rice crackers
x. Candies and chocolate (except cocoa mixes)
xi. Cooking oils
xii. Most soups and instant soups (except noodle soup cups)
xiii. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices
xiv. Frozen fruits & vegetables
xv. Canned fruits & vegetables
4. Eggs are great for you! But try to go for a 2:1 ratio of whites:yolks when you do have them.
5. Oatmeal, Fiber, and Whole Wheat are easy and natural LDL-lowering foods. Mmm, love me some sautéed broccoli with garlic at night, or a big bad bowl of blueberry oatmeal in the morning.
6. The American Heart Association has made it easy to spot “heart healthy foods”. I got this from their website:
“The American Heart Association established its -->Food Certification Program --> to provide consumers a quick, easy way to identify heart-healthy foods that can be part of a healthful eating plan. Products certified by the American Heart Association contain the heart-check mark and state that the product "Meets American Heart Association criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2." While shopping, look for foods with the heart-check mark symbol on their label. These foods are approved to be part of a healthy diet. “
dedicated to JSS
