High levels of blood cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, is a medical condition responsible for a number of heart related disorders, such as heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. Although, cholesterol is required by our body to keep our bodies functioning properly, when cholesterol levels increase due to environmental factors or inactive lifestyle, the risk for heart attack and heart stroke arises. This is because high cholesterol in the blood creates plaque deposits in the arteries and hinders the flow of blood to heart, also causing high blood pressure. With incidences of hypercholesterolemia on the rise, a high cholesterol treatment is vital to control this rising epidemic.
Properties of Soy in High Cholesterol Treatment
We know about results of a number of studies, yet what is it about soy that makes it so helpful in the treatment of high cholesterol? It is important to remember that soy has a number of constituents that make it beneficial for overall health including: protein, isoflavones, saponins, and phytosterols. Some of these are helpful in high cholesterol treatment, whereas others are beneficial to the body in other ways. For now we will concentrate on the constituents of soy that make it a natural remedy for high cholesterol.
Isoflavones (phytoestrogens)
Soy contains isoflavones, plant hormones that mimic the action of estrogen in the body. Estrogen increases HDL (good) cholesterol levels and thereby helps in removing high cholesterol symptoms. Soybeans consist of three major isoflavones that promote estrogenic activity and naturally treat high cholesterol by increasing HDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
The FDA approved these findings in 1999, stating that low fat diets containing 25 grams of soy protein, which contain less than 3 g of fat, and less than 1 g of saturated fat, can lower cholesterol if taken daily.
Polyunsaturated fats
Soybeans are a plant source of cholesterol, and as we already know, cholesterol is not a bad thing (only high levels in the blood causes problems). Soy is rich in polyunsaturated fats, fibers, and vitamins. Just like any other type of protein, soy proteins are also have fat content, but contain far less saturated fat than animal sources. Therefore animal proteins and other calorie rich products that can increase the level of bad cholesterol in the blood can be easily replaced by Soya products to treat high cholesterol naturally.
In addition, intake of soy proteins can be a natural remedy for high cholesterol treatment because soy proteins can bring down bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, and promotes good cholesterol (HDL) levels. LDL and HDL are the lipoproteins that carry of cholesterol to cells. LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol because it causes plaque deposits in arteries and HDL is called good cholesterol because it prevents the built up of fat deposits in the arteries.
Soy can be found in soymilk, tofu, roasted soy nuts, and soy flour. All of these can be used in a low cholesterol diet to help in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). These foods can also prevent atherosclerosis, a disease associated with high cholesterol, and that can lead to increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. For those who don't like the taste of tofu, soy supplements can be taken as an effective high cholesterol treatment.
What Is A High Cholesterol
Though genes and obesity are the primary cause of cholesterol rise, yet diet becomes the prominent secondary factor for heavy or extra cholesterol in your body. The intake of external cholesterol increases the level of the LDL fats and they increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure.
The liver produces almost 1000 milligram of the cholesterol that are needed for the metabolic functions inside the body. They help in formation of cell bodies, hormonal metabolism, synthesizing vitamin D and for other internal functions. The excessive amount left after the metabolisms are again sent to the bile salts by the liver for excretion. This normal function is not disrupted until the level of the cholesterol rises. The rise in level manipulates the normal function and the rising level goes on accumulating in the lining of the arteries clogging the conventional blood flow.
The foods that increase the degree of cholesterol are foods associated with animal products. The vegetables and fruits don't produce the cholesterol and hence the consumption don't affect the normal cholesterol level. The animals produce the cholesterol in their bodies and they pass on to the products like eggs, milk and meat. These foods when consumed increases the amount of the fat particles.
The fats are carried by the lipoproteins in the blood. One is HDL and the other is LDL. The former takes the fats back to the liver for excretion but the later carries the fats from the liver to other sites for metabolic functions. Thus the increase in amount of the LDL causes the deposition of the fats in the walls of the blood vessels causing a number of problems.
Now let's have a quick look at the foods which are high in cholesterol content.
Meat: Red meat like beef, pork and mutton contains very high level of lipids so moderate the intake of these products. However chicken can be taken since the level in it is low compared to the formers.
Fish: Fish doesn't have enough cholesterol but more of proteins so they are recommended. But fish liver oils shouldn't be taken frequently.
Milk and other dairy products: They are another source of high fats and hence should be taken in balanced amount.
Eggs: Eggs too contain the fats that are responsible for the rise of the LDLs in the blood.
These foods if consumed in heavy amounts and without proper body workout or any kind of physical exercise, will definitely increase the risk of heart problems. So, keep a proper check on this.
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