Appliance ideas for a low cholesterol diet

The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than six ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, fish or seafood a day for people who need 2,000 calories. Most meats have about the same amount of cholesterol, roughly 70 milligrams in each three-ounce cooked serving (about the size of a deck of cards). But the amount of saturated fat in meats can vary widely, depending on the cut and how it's prepared. Here are some ways to reduce the saturated fat in meat: Select lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat. Lean beef cuts include the round, chuck, sirloin or loin. Lean pork cuts include the tenderloin or loin chop, while lean lamb cuts come from the leg, arm and loin. Buy "choice" or "select" grades rather than "prime." Select lean or extra lean ground beef. Trim all visible fat from meat before cooking. Broil rather than pan-fry meats such as hamburger, lamb chops, pork chops and steak.

Use a rack to drain off fat when broiling, roasting or baking. The Nu Wave oven pro cooks using these methods. By using racks, it releases up to 250% more fat drippings than a regular conventional oven. Plus no added fats or oils are required. Instead of basting with drippings, keep meat moist with wine, fruit juices or an acceptable oil-based marinade. Showtime Ronco Rotisserie Oven


Cook a day ahead of time. Stews, boiled meat, soup stock or other dishes in which fat cooks into the liquid can be refrigerated. Then the hardened fat can be removed from the top. Eat chicken and turkey rather than duck and goose, which are higher in fat. Remove the skin from chicken or turkey, preferably before cooking. If your poultry dries out too much, leave the skin on for cooking but remove before eating. Limit processed meats such as sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs. Many processed meats — even those with "reduced fat" labels — are high in calories and saturated fat. They are often high in sodium as well. Eat more seafood.

 Try meatless meals featuring vegetables or beans — think eggplant lasagna, a big grilled portobello mushroom on a bun in place of a burger, or beans-n-weenies without the weenies. Or think of meat as a condiment in casseroles, stews, soups and spaghetti — use it sparingly, just for flavor, rather than as a main ingredient. The cholesterol in eggs is all in the yolks --- without the yolk, egg whites are a heart-healthy source of protein. Many recipes calling for whole eggs come out just as good when you use egg whites or cholesterol-free egg substitute instead of whole eggs. Replace each whole egg with two egg whites. For baking, you may want to add a tablespoon or less of liquid vegetable oil such as canola, safflower, sunflower or soybean for a moister consistency. Increase fiber and whole grains. Use olive oil or grapeseed oil instead of butter to sautee your vegetables, or grill them halogen infrared oven,George Forman grill countertop

Niacin for raising HDL

Benefits Of Niacin



The benefits of niacin include improved circulation, lowered cholesterol, healthy skin, prevention of diabetes, and treatment for osteoarthritis.

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is naturally produced in the body and is found in many of the foods we eat. These include meats, tuna fish, poultry products, eggs, peanuts, vegetables, cheeses, potatoes, oats, brown rice, barley, wheat flakes and milk. Also rich in vitamin B3 are foods such as cereals and breads therefore they improve the benefits of niacin.

Niacin and Circulation

Histamine which niacin helps to produce is a compound that is capable of dilating blood vessels, which in turn improves circulation. This helps blood to circulate to the hands, feet and all parts of the body, which helps to prevent atherosclerosis or what is sometimes called hardening of the arteries. An additional effect of this benefit of niacin is reducing the risk of heart attack or other vascular diseases.

Niacin Lowers Cholesterol Levels

In spite of the many different cholesterol medications on the market one of the best benefits of Niacin is the lowering low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels. In addition to lowering LDL, the bad cholesterol, B3 or niacin increases the good cholesterol HDL or high-density lipoprotein levels. The HDL levels can be increased by as much as 15 to 35 percent, which is more significant than the 5 to 25 percent lowering of the LDL, which is still impressive nonetheless. If you have had a heart attack studies have shown that taking cholesterol-lowering drugs in combination with niacin can decrease the likelihood of a second heart attack.

Healthy Skin and Niacin

Niacin can help keep skin healthy and is used for a variety of skin problems, including inflammation, acne, rosacea, dull skin tone and sagging skin. Regular use can help reduce these problems. Niacin also helps the skin with moisture retention and aids skin’s elasticity and tone. You can use supplements but to increase the benefits of niacin on your skin, eat fish, meats, grains and green vegetables or other foods high in vitamin B3.

Niacin Helps Prevent Diabetes

There us evidence that niacinamide a substance contained in niacin may help delay the onset of insulin dependence for type 1 diabetics. There have been studies performed on animals in which have shown niacinamide can improve the effectivity of drug treatments that are used for diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is another story. This can cause higher levels of cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream. Niacin along with other medications can lower these however niacin may also raise blood sugar that can result in hyperglycemia. This can be very dangerous for someone with diabetes. Therefor you should only take niacin for diabetes as directed by your physician.

Osteoarthritis and Niacin

Niacinamide has been found to increase joint mobility. Also Niacin can reduce joint and muscle fatigue along with increasing muscle strength. Therefore vitamin B3 has been successfully used to treat osteoarthritis. If high doses are taken the benefits of niacin can be seen in around three to four months. The anti-inflammatory effects of niacin have been proven to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Taking vitamin B3 has also shown to rebuild worn out cartilage in arthritis sufferers.

Other Benefits of Niacin

In addition to those discussed above there are many other claimed niacin benefits, however they have not all been fully established. These include the following:

Treating Alcoholism

Decreasing the risk of cataracts

Mental Confusion

Promoting relaxation

Preventing Migraines

Production of adrenal hormones

Crohn Disease

Production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach

Treating depression

Lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Preventing motion sickness

Production of sex hormones

Treating Schizophrenic symptoms

Treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD)

As you can see there benefits of niacin are numerous. However as with any type of vitamin or supplement you should consult with your doctor or medical professional prior to taking these on your own accord.

If you try to take niacin on your own—without your doctor’s supervision—you may take an ineffective dosage, or even a dangerous dosage. Or you may experience troublesome side effects that could be managed easily if you had the right information.

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These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Those seeking treatment for a specific disease should consult a qualified integrative physician prior to using our products if possible.

Eleven ideas to Increase HDL Naturally

Low HDL levels are a strong predictor of heart disease risk in the general population.

Many studies show the link between low levels of HDL cholesterol and major cardiovascular complications.

Interest in boosting HDL (good cholesterol) is growing. New agents for raising HDL are being tested. But you needn’t wait for them — you can make lifestyle changes

In addition to exercise and quitting smoking, there are other easy maneuvers to increase your HDL naturally.

Desirable Cholesterol Levels:
Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol): Less than 100 mg/dL
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol): 40 mg/dL or higher
Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

All adults age 20 and over should have their total blood cholesterol checked at least every 5 years. Blood cholesterol levels of under 200 mg/dl are called "desirable" and put you at a lower risk for heart disease. Unlike total cholesterol, the lower your HDL, the higher your risk for heart disease. A HDL level less than 35 mg/dl increases your risk of heart disease. The higher your HDL level, the better.

There are many natural alternatives to treating high cholesterol. This may be especially optimal to patients who are regulating their cholesterol levels with diet and exercise. Natural products reduce cholesterol levels by dissolving fat in the blood.

1. Carnitine has been seen to increase HDL levels. In some people, supplements of L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine (about 1000 to 2000 mg. per day) will significantly increase HDL levels. This is more likely to be true in vegetarians, since meats are the primary natural source of dietary L-carnitine. Supplementary carnitine can also aid in weight loss.

2. Pantothine has been seen to increase HDL levels

3. Chromium has been seen to reduce LDL levels and increase HDL levels. Supplementary chromium polynicotinate can improve LDL/HDL ratios in some people. This is probably due to the beneficial effects of chromium on insulin resistance. A diet that maintains blood sugar levels at a moderately-low and stable level will also improve LDL/HDL ratios.


4. Omega-3 found in fortified eggs, smart balance spread, mayonnaise with olive oil, salmon, canola oil, avocado oil, or olive oil and in the fats found in peanut butter.
Because omega-3 fatty acids lower triglyceride levels, they may also increase HDL, the “good” cholesterol that protects against the development of heart disease. To effectively lower triglycerides, 2-4 grams of EPA + DHA are recommended daily. Research studies have shown that this amount lowered triglycerides approximately 25 percent to 35 percent.

For those with who require a cholesterol-lowering drug, it is mandatory to take at least 60 mg. of coenzyme Q-10 daily since all statin drugs block the liver's production of coenzyme Q-10. Coenzyme Q-10 is a substance essential for proper muscle functioning, especially functioning of the heart muscle. The fish oil product at the bottom of the page contains 30 mg Coenzyme Q10 per capsule, so two would be needed to meet this minimum.

5. Well-designed studies have found that niacin lowers LDL cholesterol by approximately 10%, lowers triglycerides by 25%, and raises "good" HDL cholesterol by 15% to 30%. Niacin also appears to significantly lower levels for another risk factor for atherosclerosis, lipoprotein A.

6. Green Tea - Popular in Asia for centuries, green tea helps to keep blood pressure under control. It also may help keep cholesterol from clogging arteries. The tea contains Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and other substances that protect the body against the dangers of oxidation, while helping to keep the harmful LDL cholesterol down and the helpful HDL cholesterol up. They also assist in keeping blood pressure under control.

7. Onions: Onions contain adenosine and other "blood thinners" that help to prevent the formation of blood clots. In addition to thinning the blood, onions can help keep the coronary arteries open and clear by increasing the HDL. Eating half a raw onion every day can increase HDL by 20 to 30 percent.

8. Five to 10 grams a day of soluble fiber has been found to decrease LDL cholesterol by approximately 5%.

9. Brewer's Yeast: Brewer's yeast can lower the total cholesterol and LDL while raising the helpful HDL.

10. Cranberry juice has been shown to increase HDL levels.

11. Octovite contains Vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, alpha lipoic acid, and fish oil.

To reduce oxidation of cholesterol from LDL, you need at least 100 units of vitamin E, 5,000 units of beta carotene (and/or 5 mg. lycopene), and 500 mg. of vitamin C per day, along with other dietary antioxidants. Alpha lipoic acid or R-lipoic acid may be an even more important antioxidant. Lipoic acid, when taken throughout the day, can lower blood sugar levels significantly. This can cause a significant beneficial increase in HDL. It is important to get a broad spectrum of fat-soluble and water-soluble antioxidants. Many single antioxidants, taken alone, will actually generate free radicals that must be de-activated by other antioxidants.

A very important antioxidant in preventing heart disease and many cancers is lycopene, which is very similar to beta carotene, but which has finally become available in pure form as a nutritional supplement. The best food sources of lycopene are canned tomato juice, or juices such as V8 that are high in tomato juice.