1. MANAGING HIGH CHOLESTEROL

2. What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a chemical that is naturally produced by the body
Cholesterol is a building block for cell membranes and for hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
About 80% of the body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, while the rest comes from our diet.
The main sources of dietary cholesterol are meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Organ meats, such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content
Foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.
The liver is able to regulate cholesterol levels in the blood stream and can secrete cholesterol if it is needed by the body.

3. What are LDL and HDL cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because it is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
HDL cholesterol is called the "good cholesterol" and prevents atherosclerosis
Low levels of LDL cholesterol and high levels of HDL cholesterol (low LDL/HDL ratios) are desirable and protect against heart disease and stroke.

4. What determines the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood?
Both heredity and diet have a significant influence on a person's LDL, HDL and total cholesterol levels.
Diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Saturated fats are derived primarily from meat and dairy products and can raise blood cholesterol levels.

5. Does low cholesterol prevent heart attacks and strokes?
The benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol are:
Reducing of cholesterol plaques on the artery walls
Decreasing the risk of heart attacks
Decreasing the risk of strokes

6. How can LDL cholesterol levels be lowered?
Lifestyle changes:
losing excess weight
exercising regularly
following a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

7. Medication to lower cholesterol
The most effective and widely used medications to lower LDL cholesterol are called statins.
Most of the large controlled trials that demonstrated the heart attack and stroke prevention benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol used one of the statins.

8. How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally
High-quality, animal-based omega3-fats.
New research suggests it may lower your total cholesterol and triglycerides and increase your HDL
Red Yeast Rice may lower cholesterol
Reduce grains and sugars in your daily diet, especially sugars such as fructose.
Eat the right foods for your nutritional type.
Eat a good portion of your food raw.

9. Eat healthy, preferably raw, healthy fats, etc. This includes:
Olive oil
coconut oil
Organic raw dairy products (including butter, cream, sour cream, cheese, etc.)
Avocados
Raw nuts
Seeds
Eggs (lightly cooked with yolks intact or raw)
Organic, grass-fed meats

10. Get the right amount of exercise.
When you exercise you increase your circulation and the blood flow throughout your body.
Avoid smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

11. High blood pressure

12. What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (HBP) is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), heart failure, stroke,  kidney failure, and other health problems.

13. Categories for blood pressure levels
Category
Systolic (top number)
Diastolic (bottom number)
Normal
Less than 120
And
Less than 80
Prehypertension
120–139 Or
80–89
High blood pressure
     Stage 1
140–159
90–99
     Stage 2
160 or higher
100 or higher

14. Treatment of HBP Lifestyle Changes These include:
Following a healthy diet
Being physically active
Maintaining a healthy weight
Quitting smoking
Managing your stress and learning to cope with stress

15. Dietary changes that may lower HBP:
low saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat
Focus on fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts
reduce sweets, added sugars and sugary beverages, and red meats than the typical American diet

16. A Supplement that may help reduce HBP: Coenzyme Q 10

17. What is CoQ 10?
CoQ10 is an enzyme found in every single mitochondrial cell in the body
about 95% of your body’s energy is produced by these cells, which convert sugars and fats into energy.
Your internal organs (like your heart) need the most energy, which is why you will find the highest concentrations of CoQ10 here.

18. Disclaimer:
This handout offers information and does not intend to replace professional treatment for any of the covered health problems.
Please always consult with your health practitioner if you have any concerns about your health.