High Blood Cholesterol

The total amount of fat in the diet, whether high or low, isn't really linked with this disease. What really matters is the type of fat in the diet.

What is becoming clearer and clearer is that bad fats, meaning saturated and trans fats, increase the risk for certain diseases while good fats, meaning monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, lower the risk. The key is to substitute good fats for bad fats.

Cholesterol? Although it is still important to limit the amount of cholesterol you eat, dietary cholesterol isn't the only factor that causes high blood cholesterol. In fact, the biggest influence on blood cholesterol level is the mix of fats in the diet. The average person makes about 75% of blood cholesterol in their liver, while only about 25% is absorbed from food. High blood cholesterol levels greatly increase the risk for heart disease.

Chinese medicine in conjunction with a healthy dietary and lifestyle change can help to decrease blood cholesterol levels decreasing the chances of heart disease.  There are 3   factors that contribute to high blood cholesterol levels according to Chinese medicine:

Lipoprotein - turbid phlegm in blood and blood vessels
Exogenous - diet - heart liver and spleen disorders
Endogenous - genetics - kidney disorder

Each of these, once diagnosed appropriately can be addressed using a combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture to promote qi and blood flow, reduce the build up of cholesterol plaque and strengthen the body to reduce the amount of cholesterol the body produces.

Treatment plans will vary from person to person, but a minimum of 3 months is required to see significant changes in your health. Remember that this treatment must be combined with a change in diet that will reflect a greater intake of healthy fats. Please refer to the chart below for suggested foods to avoid as well as tips that you could do to help your treatment along.

Nutritional and Herbal Therapy for High Cholesterol

• Increase your intake of fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal, wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and legumes (beans, soybeans).
• Soy products help to lower cholesterol levels due to their isoflavone content.
• Include garlic, onions, avocados, salmon, almonds and walnuts in your diet.
• Omega-3 oils such as flax seed oil and fish oil helps lower cholesterol.
• Copper and chromium are minerals that have been shown to lower cholesterol levels.
• Cholestin, a herbal remedy, helps safely lower cholesterol levels.
• The herb, Shan Zha, otherwise known as Hawthorn berry, can help lower bad cholesterol

Click on the image below for a full size table

*Trans fat increases LDL, decreases HDL, and increases triglycerides when compared to monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat.

LDL - Low-density lipoprotein is the major cholesterol carrier in the blood. High levels of LDL reflects high levels of blood cholesterol and may be mean a higher risk of heart disease.

HDL – High-density lipoprotein. One-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. Higher levels of HDL reflects healthy levels of blood cholesterol