Things to Avoid (to reduce 'oxysterols')
- Anything made with dried powder milk
- Processes Foods
- French Fries, Potato Chips
- Anything Fried
- Crisps
Things to Go For (to reduce inflammation)
- Vegetables
- Fruit, especially berries
- Wholegrains
- Oily Fish
- Olives, Nuts, Seeds
Supplements
Supplements are by far the easiest and most effective way of reducing the body’s level of cholesterol and oxysterols. I recommend an antioxidant formula, containing vitamin E and omega-3 fish oils for all of my patients with high holesterol levels (as this reduces free radical activity and inflammation within the body). I cannot stress enough how important this is to do! Next you should select one or two of the following supplements to lower your cholesterol level.- Plant Sterols: Sterols are naturally occurring substances found in plants that lower both total and LDL cholesterol levels. Because they are similar in structure to cholesterol they are believed to work by reducing cholesterol absorption from the gut.
- Red Wine Extract: Hardly a month goes by without a research paper extolling the virtues of red wine. Researchers have now found a substance called saponin in red wine, a glucose-based plant compound that is found in the waxy skin of grapes. Saponins are believed to work by binding to and preventing the absorption of cholesterol.
- Lecithin: Lecithin is a group of health promoting fatty substances, which in addition to improving mental functioning, treating gallstones, and even helping with MS, reduce the absorption of dietary cholesterol from the bowels and help to lower cholesterol levels.
(published with permission in writing from:http://weblog.healthydirect.co.uk)
