Cholesterol

Did you know that 50% of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels?

Taking a standard cholesterol test is not enough

Cholesterol is packaged inside of a lipoprotein. The smaller, more dangerous, lipoproteins can penetrate the arterial lining easier and build plaque as a result. The larger lipoprotein cannot penetrate the lining which means less injury to the artery overtime, as well as less plaque formation and clearer blood vessels. Your risk of heart disease is more dependent on the SIZE of your lipoproteins carrying the cholesterol through your bloodstream more than the amount of cholesterol inside your lipoprotein. Therefore, taking a standard cholesterol test is simply not enough. Also, statins, the most common medication prescribed to lower your LDL cholesterol will do very little to lower your lipoproteins. But the good news is, omega-3 fatty acids from your diet will. Inflammation also causes injury to the artery. More good news, we can find out exactly which foods are causing inflammation and remove them from your diet! Furthermore, if stress is playing a role, we can work on optimizing adrenal function too!

There are numerous natural ways to lower your cholesterol!

Cholesterol Health Solutions

TESTING

DIET

SUPPLEMENTS

Lab Testing

The type of lab work I order is used to identify imbalances in your body that are root causes of your symptoms.

Cardiovascular Profile – This test reveals your actual lipoprotein size, which is a better measure of your risk for heart disease.

Food Sensitivity Testing – Inflammation triggers injury to your arterial walls so we want to determine exactly which foods are causing inflammation and remove them from your diet. The Food Sensitivity Test eliminates the guesswork of trying various diets such as Mediterranean Diet, Plant-Based Diet, Whole 30 Diet, and others.

Adrenal Testing – This test looks at levels of cortisol throughout the day to determine how your body physiologically responds to stress.

Detoxification– This test can screen for heavy metals as a risk for cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Diet Prescription

This diet prescription is a general list of recommendations for this health concern.

Avoid processed foods, white flour, sugar, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Decrease red meat consumption to 1 time per week
Determine appropriate amounts of caffeine and alcohol to consume. This will vary from person to person depending on many factors.
Increase intake of nutrient dense beans, grains, and fruits and vegetables: black beans, lima beans, pinto beans, bean burgers, oatmeal and oat bran, avocado, sweet potatoes, oranges, apples, pears, Brussel sprouts, onions, green leafy vegetables, herbs and spices (basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cilantro, garlic)
Consume flax seeds and chia seeds, bone broth, olive oil
Drink plenty of water (at least 8, 8 oz glasses per day)
Drink green tea (1 to 3 cups per day)