Hi Friends,
Is your cholesterol in an optimal range? LDL is the “bad” cholesterol and correlates with saturated fat in your diet, as well as genetic factors. You can lower your LDL by reducing your intake of saturated fat, which is found in red meatš„©, butterš§, cheeseš§, coconut oilš„„, and MCT oil.
HDL is the “good cholesterol” that helps lower your risk of heart disease. The best way to improve your HDL is through exercise!
Triglycerides correlate with carbs and sugarš°šŖin the diet. Since alcohol turns into sugar, it can also raise triglycerides.
What if your cholesterol is high despite a healthy diet? Some people are cholesterol producers, independent of their diet, due to genetic factors.
Natural Supplements that can help lower cholesterol include Red Yeast Riceand Bergamot.
Red Yeast Rice is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Meniscus purpureus over red rice. It has excellent clinical efficacy and I have seen great results in helping patients to reduce their LDL by 20-25%. It is well tolerated and gentler than most statin medications, but does work through a similar pathway inhibiting an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA), so I recommend pairing it with the antioxidant, CoQ 10 300 mg daily. Our Red Yeast Rice is USDA certified organic and grown in the US.
Bergamot comes from the citrus fruit found native to southern Italy. It has powerful bio-flavonoids helpful in reducing inflammation and reducing cholesterol levels, without depleting CoQ 10. To learn more about the efficacy of Bergamot for reducing high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease markers:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497409/Bergamot works synergistically with Berberine Pro, which is also anti-inflammatory and used for managing blood sugar and insulin-resistance.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871262/
Omega 3 Fish Oil is excellent for lowering triglycerides and reducing inflammation in your body. Omega 3’s are essential fatty acids that are good for your heart, brain, skin, eyes, and joints.
Monounsaturated fats are “heart healthy” and will not raise your cholesterol. These include olive oil, avocadosš„, nuts and seeds. I encourage eating more of these good fats, since they help to keep you full and regulate your appetite.
Stay healthy friends,
Rajsree Nambudripad, MD
Dr. Rajsree is a caring and compassionate physician, who isĀ board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Integrative/Holistic medicine.Ā She is passionate about helping patients optimize their health through a preventative approach involving healthy lifestyle, dietary changes, targeted nutritional supplementation, and optimizing hormones.Ā Ā Her practice is unique in the personalized attention she devotes to each and every patient.