Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Best Supplements to Include in Your Low-Cholesterol Diet

By Zaiden W Xavier


A common solution to help lower cholesterol levels in the blood are vitamin supplements. However, it is important that you talk to your doctor about these supplements since not all have the same effects on the body. For this reason, it becomes even more important that cholesterol levels are monitored and the proper vitamin supplements chosen to find the best health benefit. When considering vitamin supplements, it is important to keep in mind that these will not negate any unhealthy habits such as a high fat diet, smoking or lack of exercise. Supplements that lower cholesterol should only be used as part of, and not in lieu of, a healthy diet and exercise.

Vitamin B3 or niacin is an important nutrient that fights cholesterol. Vitamin B3 is found in vegetables, fish, eggs and milk. The problem however, is that the vitamin B3 content of these foods are not enough to control increased cholesterol in the body. A person needs between 2,000 to 3,000 mg of vitamin B3 each day to have an effect. This dosage is only available with medication. Niacin must be Consumed carefully however, too much niacin may cause gout, hot flashes, gastric distress, nausea and indigestion. Therefore, take niacin only with a doctor's prescription.

Another essential ingredient to keep cholesterol in check is soluble fiber. Foods like apples, barley, oat bran, beans, lentils and citrus fruits are rich in fiber content that also eases digestion. By binding with cholesterol, fiber helps the body expel cholesterol when it leaves the body, taking with it the bad cholesterol, and minimizing the cholesterol absorption through the intestines.

Garlic extract is another critical ingredient to curb the body's cholesterol levels. But if taken in high amounts, fiber and garlic extract can induce bloating, gas, body odor, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. It will also absorb omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil and health supplements. Widely known for their HDL raising benefits, omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in maintaining HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels in your body. Please keep in mind that if you are taking in blood thinning medications, you may want to talk to a medical professional right before incorporating garlic and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet plan.

If you are searching for all-natural food supplements to regulate your cholesterol levels, flax seeds are a great choice. These kinds of whole grains are identified to lower amounts of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") and avoid it from being absorbed in the intestines. Flax seed is a flexible type of food that you can consume with cereal, yogurt or baked with bread or muffins. Be cautious of taking larger portions of flax seed if you are on blood thinning medicine.

This is just a very short list, as there are many more essential supplements in the market. Check with your health care provider or pharmacist for more information.




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