Lower Cholesterol – Do you need to treat a low HDL level?
Here’s another question I asked Dr. Cynthia Shelby-Lane and her answer.
Lisa Nelson RD: Should individuals with low HDL levels receive treatment even if all other levels are normal?
Dr. Shelby-Lane: According to ScienceDaily (May 29, 2005) — High circulating levels of the “good cholesterol” HDL are associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL helps the liver excrete extra cholesterol by binding to a receptor in the liver called scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI). However, the signaling events between HDL and SR-BI that afforded heart healthy benefits were not known.
In a study appearing online on March 24, 2005, in advance of the April 1, 2005 print edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Philip Shaul and colleagues from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center examine the following pathway:
The authors show that HDL activates an enzyme called eNOS and sets off a cellular signal that depends on cholesterol efflux and two intact domains of SR-BI — the transmembrane domain and its cytoplasmic tail. These regions of SR-BI may serve as “cholesterol sensors” which set into motion cellular events to activate eNOS. This may be the mechanism responsible for the ability of HDL to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
Lisa Nelson RD: Again, let’s clarify. If an individual has low HDL levels they should seek treatment even if all other cholesterol levels are normal. Correct? Correct?
Dr. Shelby-Lane: Again, a low HDL is an isolated risk factor and should be included in the overall health picture, and can be modified with diet, nutrition, and some newer drugs.
February is American Heart Month. In recognition of American Heart Month you can access Heart Health Made Easy at a 25% savings. Learn more about this take action guide to lower cholesterol and blood pressure at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
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I had been hearing about this “Lemonade Diet” for several months, mostly because of things said in passing by people on TV and in magazines. I was in a really bad place with my diet and exercise program. After 10 years of really rigorous working out I was sick of it all. I over exercised to overcompensate for how much I ate so I was able to maintain my weight and health through excerise alone and never really learned to eat properly. Well, when all that exercise began to take a toll on my joints I decided it was time to make a change, I’ve always heard your diet should be 80-90% of your health focus. Problem was I was so confused and so apathetic about changing anything in my life I needed a DRAMATIC change to kick start me. Thus I researched cleanses and decided on the Master Cleanse, mostly because it was cheap and easy ( I also looked at getaway cleanse retreats that would have cost thousands of dollars). And being at home with all my old vices really forced to me to take stock of the habits I had acquired with regard to food.
Do not kid yourself — this diet is not easy. It brought up a lot of things for me emotional and psychological with regard to food. I was able to remain on the minimally required 10 days but I know others that did not make it that far. It’ s a mental test more than anything else. Surprisingly, even after not eating for 10 days I was never physically hungry.
There is a lot more to the diet than just Lemonade so I STRONGLY recommend reading the book and not just listening to what you may have heard someone else say. The book is a really short read but packed full of information, but there is also the audio CD which only requires an hour.
In the end I heard most people gain back half the weight they lose, but I have not but I have also adopted a much healthier way of eating. The book worked for me, it gave me the kick start I needed! I wouldn’t recommend to everyone — for anyone eating the standard American diet this will definitely be beneficial but hard! A real character builder. But you know, I only lost 9 pounds and I’ve achieved better results with exercise and calorie restriction and without the mental stress. If you are going to do this it has to be for health not just weight loss or you won’t make it through. Good Luck!