Cholesterol, Friend or Foe
What is Cholesterol?
A waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in the body. We need a certain amount of cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help with food digestion. A healthy body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
We need a certain amount of cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help with food digestion. A healthy body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
A high level of cholesterol may be caused by eating an unhealthy diet (red meat, full fat dairy, sugars, fried foods, etc.), by pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and other related factors.
Did you know?
- The “bad cholesterol” in your body comes from meat and dairy products that contain dietary cholesterol.
- These foods are high in saturated and trans fats that cause your liver to make more cholesterol than it otherwise would.
- Some tropical oils –palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil contain saturated fats that can increase “bad cholesterol”. These oils are often found in baked goods.
Excess cholesterol can lead to arterial clogging and damage, stroke, heart disease, heart attack, and lots of health complications.
Tips to Manage Cholesterol
- Drink purified water
- Exercise regularly - this can be as simple as a 20-minute walk
- Eat “living greens” – organic fruits and vegetables
- Avoid animal protein, animal by-products “dairy”, foods high in fat, processed food, sugars, fried foods, etc.
- Aid your body with herbal supplements
An excellent herbal supplement for hair, skin, and nails. Designed to aid “good cholesterol”, HPC -12 boosts immunity and it’s a natural source of calcium. Among other ingredients, it contains horseradish root, cayenne pepper, fennel seed, garlic bulb, sage leaf, and Irish sea moss.
Irish sea moss is well known for having 92 of the 102 minerals the body has. It is high in iodine, it soothes inflammation and irritation, eases coughs and sore throats, while relieving congestion and expelling excess mucus from the body.
Sea moss has been used extensively as an anti-inflammatory and as a great source for natural minerals. Sea moss may help raise the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL,) the “good cholesterol” that carries other forms of cholesterol to the liver, helping to flush it out. Like seaweed, sea moss is also high in fiber, which can benefit the heart in several ways, including helping to regulate blood pressure.