Heart disease has long been one of the biggest killers of Americans. According to much research, heart disease is largely a lifestyle issue brought upon by poor diet, lack of exercise and high-stress lifestyle. Sadly, in many cases, heart disease is likely largely avoidable.
Oftentimes, heart disease is preceded by high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is made up of three different components. There is high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, which is “good cholesterol”, or cholesterol that protects us from heart disease. Then there is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, which is “bad cholesterol”. There are also triglycerides, which are a different type of blood fat.
When bad cholesterol collects in the arteries, they can become clogged, causing heart attack, stroke and other problems.
High cholesterol is prevalent in the United States, with 102 million Americans having levels over 200mg/dL. 35 million are thought to have levels over 240mg/dL, putting them at significant risk. Doctors usually recommend statin drugs to lower cholesterol levels.
Many people, however, would seek to avoid using prescription drugs to maintain good health.
What You Can Do
There are obvious things you can do to avoid having high cholesterol. Do not smoke or drink excessively. Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. But what do those things mean, specifically?
Avoid the Wrong Foods
The standard American diet is rich in foods that promote high cholesterol levels. Avoid foods like:
– Sugar, or foods high in sugar.
– Hydrogenated fats and Vegetable oils
– Trans fats
– Alcohol
On the Kaufmann Diet, you are already avoiding these things, anyway.
Some practitioners worry that if you eat too much-saturated fat that it can raise your cholesterol. If you are on The Kaufmann Diet worried about cholesterol levels, make sure the meat you eat is generally lean and unprocessed. Avoid red meat in favor of fish, turkey, and chicken.
Eat The Right Foods
On the Kaufmann Diet, many foods you are eating will promote healthy cholesterol levels.
– Garlic and onions contain sulfur compounds that can lower bad cholesterol. Garlic is particularly good at this.
– Foods rich in omega 3, such as nuts, fish and flax seeds can raise good cholesterol levels.
– Eating foods rich in fiber can also assist in lowering cholesterol levels. These are foods like berries, nuts, avocados and green apples.
Supplement Correctly
– Fish Oil – fish oil is known to promote healthy cholesterol levels and support heart health.
– CoQ10 – also known as ubiquinone, this powerful anti-oxidant promotes heart health and healthy cholesterol levels
– Red Yeast Rice – despite the name, this supplement is safe to take on the Kaufmann Anti-fungal Program. Take in addition to CoQ10
– B Vitamins – vitamins like niacin can support healthy cholesterol levels