Why is high cholesterol in the blood dangerous? myths about high cholesterol. Herbs for cleansing blood vessels

Cholesterol- this is a substance (fat) that is most often formed in the liver; it is of great importance for the stable and good functioning of the entire body. This substance is present in every cell of our body (in its outer layer), it plays different roles and has many meanings.

The origin of this word is rooted in Greece; it is from the Greek language that it can be translated as bile and hard.

The role of cholesterol. Benefit.

So, we have already found out that cholesterol has many functions. Let's try to list them:

1. It plays a huge role in the formation and maintenance of the cell membrane, and prevents the formation of hydrocarbon crystallization in the membrane.

2. It will help you decide which molecule to let into the cell itself and which not.

3. The process of producing sex hormones cannot occur without it.

4. It is very necessary in the production of such hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands.

5. Is auxiliary during the formation of bile products.

6. It is cholesterol that helps transform sunlight in essential vitamin D.

7. It is very important for the metabolism of vitamins (especially fat-soluble ones), for example, vitamin A, K, E and D.

8. This substance serves as an insulator for nerve fibers.

The effect of high cholesterol. Why is high cholesterol dangerous? Harm.

If you have high cholesterol, you may experience the following problems:

1. The risk of atherosclerosis, that is, blockage of the arteries, increases.

2. There is a high risk of coronary heart disease, which causes damage to the arteries that supply oxygen and blood to the heart.

3. The risk of myocardial infarction, in which blood and oxygen cease to flow to the heart muscles due to the presence of a blood clot.

4. Angina appears.

5. The occurrence of other cardiac and vascular diseases., such as coronary heart disease, stroke

The most important thing is to detect in time if you have high cholesterol levels in order to take timely measures to normalize it. To do this, it would be important to be able to distinguish the symptoms of this disease, but they do not exist as such, we cannot feel or see them. You can only see the symptoms of an already developed disease due to increased cholesterol levels, for example, atherosclerosis.

Symptoms and signs of high cholesterol.

We will give you examples of symptoms of this disease:

1. Angina due to narrowing of the coronary arteries of the heart.

2. Pain in the legs during physical activity.

3. The presence of blood clots and ruptures of blood vessels.

4. Plaque rupture and, as a consequence, heart failure.

5. The presence of xanthoma is yellow spots on the skin, most often in the eye area.

High blood cholesterol: Causes.

Cholesterol may increase due to various reasons, and this is not always the patient’s fault. Let's look at the most common of them:

1. Most often, the cause is the patient’s lifestyle.

2. Most likely the patient is not eating properly. Even though there is a list of foods that already contain high levels of cholesterol, they do not lead to the disease. And they cite fats (namely saturated ones) and foods that contain them in excess, for example, fatty meats, sausages, flour products, confectionery products, lard, hard cheese and many others.

3. Your lifestyle plays an important role. If you lead a sedentary life, then you are more likely to get this disease.

4. Being overweight is already a big risk for high cholesterol.

5. If you smoke, this can also affect your cholesterol levels.

6. The same applies to alcohol - regular consumption of large quantities leads to increased cholesterol levels in the blood.

Now it is clear to you that cholesterol levels are very important for your body, but its fluctuations can lead to the development of many serious (including incurable) diseases. Curable ailments include diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, high blood pressure and reduced thyroid function. In addition, these diseases themselves can lead to an increase in cholesterol, so you should be periodically monitored by your doctor, as you are at risk.

Factors influencing increased cholesterol:

1. First of all genetic predisposition. If you had close relatives with coronary heart disease under the age of 55 (if we're talking about O male field) and 65 (if they were women), then you also have an increased risk of high cholesterol.

2. The same applies if your close relatives had high cholesterol levels or had high lipid levels in the blood. In this case, you are also at great risk.

3. What gender a person belongs to also has a significant effect on cholesterol levels. Men have a higher risk of the disease than women.

4. A person’s age also plays an important role. The older a person is, the greater the risk of atherosclerosis.

5. If a woman has menopause quite early, then she is more susceptible to increased cholesterol levels than others.

6. Belonging to certain ethnic groups (for example, Indian peoples) predicts the distribution of high cholesterol.

You need to remember the importance of taking care of your health, especially if you belong to a risk group. The fact is that the most common result of high cholesterol is the formation of blood clots, which, under certain and unfavorable conditions can break away from the walls of the vessels, which will lead to their blockage so that the entire artery is affected. The result of this action can be a heart attack, because it develops acute failure vessel. The same applies to cases when plaques form in the vessels. Then, if they do not have time to harden, they may rupture, which will lead to small particles of these plaques entering the blood. However, this is not the whole problem. Our immune system perceives all these foreign bodies(plaques and blood clots) as foreign, so its normal reaction is to protect the body. only in this case various inflammatory processes, and this favors even greater formation of blood clots and plaques.

Cholesterol is essential to the human body, but excess of it is definitely harmful. Deviation from the norm in the direction of lowering cholesterol concentration is also dangerous.

Cholesterol- a fat-like substance that is vital for humans. It is part of the membranes (membranes) of all cells of the body; there is a lot of cholesterol in nerve tissue, many hormones are formed from cholesterol. About 80% of cholesterol is produced by the body itself, the remaining 20% comes from food. Atherosclerosis occurs when there is a lot of low-density cholesterol in the blood. It damages the lining of the inner wall of the vessel, accumulates in it, resulting in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which then turn into mush, calcify and clog the vessel. Great content cholesterol in the blood - increased risk get heart disease. Our organs contain approximately 200 g of it, and there is especially a lot of it in the nervous tissue and brain.

For a long time, cholesterol was considered literally the personification of evil. Foods containing cholesterol were outlawed, and cholesterol-free diets were extremely popular. The main accusation was based on the fact that atherosclerotic plaques on the inner surface of blood vessels contain cholesterol. These plaques cause atherosclerosis, that is, a violation of the elasticity and patency of blood vessels, and this, in turn, is the cause of heart attacks, strokes, brain diseases and many other ailments. In fact, it turned out that to prevent atherosclerosis, it is important not only to monitor cholesterol levels, but also to pay attention to many factors. Infectious diseases, physical activity, state nervous system, finally, heredity - all this affects the blood vessels and can provoke atherosclerosis or, conversely, protect against it.

And with cholesterol itself, everything turned out to be not so simple. Scientists have found that there are both “bad” and “good” cholesterol. And to prevent atherosclerosis, it is not enough to reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol. It is important to maintain the “good” level at the proper level, without which normal work is impossible internal organs.

Every day, the average person's body synthesizes from 1 to 5 g of cholesterol. The largest proportion of cholesterol (80%) is synthesized in the liver, some is produced by body cells, and 300-500 mg comes from food. Where do we spend all this? About 20% of total number Cholesterol in the body is found in the brain and spinal cord, where this substance is a structural component of the myelin sheath of nerves. In the liver, bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol, which are necessary for the emulsification and absorption of fats in the small intestine. 60-80% of the cholesterol produced daily in the body is spent on these purposes. Not-
the majority (2-4%) goes to the formation of steroid hormones (sex hormones, adrenal hormones, etc.). Some cholesterol is used to synthesize vitamin D in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays and to retain moisture in body cells. Thanks to laboratory research, conducted by a group of researchers from Germany and Denmark, it was found that a component of blood plasma that can not only bind, but also neutralize dangerous bacterial toxins is low-density lipoproteins - carriers of the so-called “bad” cholesterol. It turns out that “bad” cholesterol helps support the human immune system. Therefore, you just need to make sure that the level of “bad” cholesterol does not exceed the known norm, and everything will be fine.

In men, strict adherence to cholesterol-free products can negatively affect sexual activity, and in women who are too active in the fight against cholesterol, amenorrhea often occurs.
Dutch doctors claim that low levels of this substance in the blood are to blame for the spread of mental illness among Europeans. Experts advise: if you have depression, you need to do a blood test for cholesterol - perhaps it is its deficiency that deprives you of the joy of life.

Other studies have shown that the most favorable ratio of “bad” and “good” cholesterol in the blood is observed in people whose diet contains 40-50 percent fat. For those who practically do not consume fat, the content of not only “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which is involved in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, decreases in the blood, but also its useful forms, protecting blood vessels from atherosclerosis.

It is very important that the “good” and “bad” cholesterol are balanced in relation to each other. Their ratio is determined as follows: the total cholesterol content is divided by the “good” cholesterol content. The resulting number must be less than six. If there is too little cholesterol in the blood, then this is also bad.

Blood cholesterol level

According to official recommendations According to the European Society of Atherosclerosis (a very respected organization in the West), the “normal” levels of fatty fractions in the blood should be as follows:
1. Total cholesterol - less than 5.2 mmol/l.
2. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol - less than 3-3.5 mmol/l.
3. Lipoprotein cholesterol high density- more than 1.0 mmol/l.
4. Triglycerides - less than 2.0 mmol/l.

How to eat right to lower cholesterol

It is not enough to simply avoid foods that cause the production of “bad” cholesterol. It is important to regularly consume foods containing monone saturated fats, omega polyunsaturated fatty acid, fiber, pectin, to maintain normal levels of “good” cholesterol and help remove excess “bad” cholesterol.

Healthy cholesterol is found in fatty fish, such as tuna or mackerel.
Therefore, eat 100 g of sea fish 2 times a week. This will help keep the blood in a thin state and prevent the formation of blood clots, the risk of which is very high with high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Nuts are a very fatty food, but the fats contained in a variety of nuts are mostly monounsaturated, that is, very beneficial for the body. It is recommended to eat 30 g of nuts 5 times a week, and in medicinal purposes you can use not only forest and walnuts, but also almonds, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios. Great for leveling up good cholesterol sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flax seeds. You eat 30 g of nuts by consuming, for example, 7 walnuts or 22 almonds, 18 cashews or 47 pistachios, 8 Brazil nuts.

From vegetable oils give preference to olive, soy, linseed oil, as well as oil from sesame seeds. But under no circumstances fry in oils, but add them to prepared food. It is also useful to simply eat olives and any soy products(but make sure that the packaging states that the product does not contain genetically modified components).

To remove “bad” cholesterol, be sure to eat 25-35 g of fiber per day.
Fiber is found in bran, whole grains, seeds, legumes, vegetables, fruits and greens. Drink bran on an empty stomach, 2-3 teaspoons, be sure to wash it down with a glass of water.

Don't forget about apples and other fruits that contain pectin, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the blood vessels. There are a lot of pectins in citrus fruits, sunflowers, beets, and watermelon rinds. This valuable substance improves metabolism, removes toxins and heavy metal salts, which is especially important in unfavorable environmental conditions.

To remove excess cholesterol from the body, juice therapy is indispensable. Among fruit juices, orange, pineapple and grapefruit (especially with the addition of lemon juice), as well as apple, are especially useful. Any berry juices are also very good. Among vegetable juices, traditional medicine recommends potent juices of beets and carrots, but if
your liver is not working perfectly, start with a teaspoon of juice.

Very useful for high cholesterol green tea, which kills two birds with one stone - helps increase the level of “good” cholesterol in the blood and reduces the levels of “bad” cholesterol.
Also, in consultation with your doctor, it is good to use mineral water in treatment.

An interesting discovery was made by British scientists: 30% of people have a gene that increases the amount of “good” cholesterol. To wake up this gene, you just need to eat every 4-5 hours at the same time.

It is believed that consuming butter, eggs, and lard significantly increases blood cholesterol levels, and it is better to avoid consuming them altogether. But latest research prove that cholesterol synthesis in the liver is in inverse relationship from its amount supplied with food. That is, synthesis increases when there is little cholesterol in food, and decreases when there is a lot of it. Thus, if you stop eating foods containing cholesterol, it will simply begin to form in large quantities in the body.

To maintain cholesterol levels within normal limits, first of all, give up saturated and especially refractory fats contained in beef and lamb fat, and also limit the consumption of butter, cheese, cream, sour cream and whole milk. Remember that “bad” cholesterol is only found in animal fats, so if your goal is to lower blood cholesterol levels, then reduce your intake of animal foods. Always remove the fatty skin from chicken and other poultry, which contains almost all the cholesterol.

When you cook meat or chicken broth, after cooking, cool it and skim off the congealed fat, since it is this refractory type of fat that brings the most great harm blood vessels and increases the level of “bad” cholesterol.

The likelihood of developing atherosclerosis is minimal if you:
cheerful, at peace with yourself and with the people around you;
do not smoke;
don't drink alcohol;
love long walks fresh air;
you are not overweight, you are normal blood pressure;
you do not have hormonal abnormalities.

How to lower cholesterol with folk remedies

Linden for lowering cholesterol

A good recipe for high cholesterol: take dried linden flower powder. Grind linden flowers into flour in a coffee grinder. Take 1 tsp 3 times a day. such fake flour. Drink for a month, then break for 2 weeks and take linden for another month, washing it down with plain water.
At the same time, follow a diet. Eat dill and apples every day, because dill contains a lot of vitamin C, and apples contain pectin. All this is beneficial for blood vessels. And it is very important to normalize cholesterol levels to improve the functioning of the liver and gallbladder. To do this, take two weeks at a time, taking a break for a week, infusions choleretic herbs. This corn silk, immortelle, tansy, milk thistle. Change the composition of the infusion every 2 weeks. After 2-3 months of using these folk remedies, cholesterol returns to normal, and a general improvement in well-being is observed.

Propolis to remove “bad” cholesterol.

To cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol, you need to take 7 drops of 4% propolis tincture dissolved in 30 ml of water 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 4 months.

Beans will lower cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels can be reduced without problems!
In the evening, pour half a glass of beans or peas with water and leave overnight. In the morning, drain the water, replace it with fresh water, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the tip (to prevent gas formation in the intestines), cook until tender and eat this amount in two doses. The cholesterol-lowering course should last three weeks. If you eat at least 100 g of beans per day, your cholesterol level decreases by 10% during this time.

Alfalfa will remove “bad” cholesterol.

One hundred percent remedy for high cholesterol is alfalfa leaves. You need to treat with fresh herbs. Grow at home and, as soon as the sprouts appear, cut them and eat them. You can squeeze the juice and drink 2 tbsp. 3 times a day. The course of treatment is a month. Alfalfa is very rich in minerals and vitamins. It can also help with diseases such as arthritis, brittle nails and hair, and osteoporosis. When your cholesterol levels are normal in all respects, follow a diet and eat only healthy foods.

Flaxseed to lower cholesterol.

You can lower the level of bad cholesterol with flaxseed, which is sold in pharmacies. Add it to the food you eat regularly. You can first grind it in a coffee grinder. Blood pressure will not rise, the heart will become calmer, and at the same time work will improve gastrointestinal tract. All this will happen gradually. Of course, the diet should be healthy.

Healing powder for lowering cholesterol

Buy linden flowers at the pharmacy. Grind them in a coffee grinder. Every day, take 1 teaspoon of powder 3 times. Course 1 month. By doing this you will lower cholesterol in the blood, remove toxins from the body and at the same time lose weight. Some people lost 4 kg. Your health and appearance will improve.

Dandelion roots for atherosclerosis to remove excess cholesterol from the body in the blood.

Dry powder of crushed dry roots is used for atherosclerosis to remove excess cholesterol from the body and remove harmful substances. 1 tsp is enough. powder before each meal, and after 6 months there is an improvement. There are no contraindications.

Eggplants, juices and rowan will lower cholesterol.

Eat eggplants as often as possible, add them raw to salads, after keeping them in salt water to remove the bitterness.
In the morning, drink tomato and carrot juices (alternate).
Eat 5 at a time fresh berries red rowan 3-4 times a day. The course is 4 days, the break is 10 days, then the course is repeated 2 more times. It is better to carry out this procedure at the beginning of winter, when frosts have already “hit” the berries.
Blue cyanosis roots will lower cholesterol.
1 tbsp. blue cyanosis roots pour 300 ml of water, bring to a boil and cook covered over low heat for half an hour, cool, strain. Drink 1 tbsp. 3-4 times a day two hours after meals and always again before bed. Course - 3 weeks. This decoction has a strong calming, anti-stress effect, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels, normalizes sleep and even soothes a debilitating cough.

Celery will lower cholesterol and cleanse blood vessels.

Chop the celery stalks in any quantity and place them in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Then take them out, sprinkle with sesame seeds, lightly salt and sprinkle with a little sugar, add sunflower or olive oil. It turns out to be a very tasty and satisfying dish, absolutely light. They can have dinner, breakfast and just eat at any time. One condition - as often as possible. True, if you have low blood pressure, then celery is contraindicated.

Licorice will remove bad cholesterol.

2 tbsp. crushed licorice roots, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, strain. Take 1/3 tbsp. decoction 4 times a day after meals for 2 - 3 weeks. Then take a break for a month and repeat the treatment. During this time, cholesterol will return to normal!

A tincture made from the fruits of Sophora japonica and mistletoe herb very effectively cleanses blood vessels from cholesterol.

Grind 100 g of sophora fruit and mistletoe herb, pour in 1 liter of vodka, leave in a dark place for three weeks, strain. Drink 1 tsp. three times a day half an hour before meals, until the tincture runs out. She improves cerebral circulation, treats hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, reduces capillary fragility (especially cerebral vessels), cleanses blood vessels. Tincture of white mistletoe with Japanese sophora very carefully cleans blood vessels, preventing them from clogging. Mistletoe removes inorganic deposits (salts of heavy metals, waste, radionuclides), sophora removes organic deposits (cholesterol).

Golden mustache (callisia fragrant) will lower cholesterol.

To prepare an infusion of golden mustache, cut a leaf 20 cm long, pour 1 liter of boiling water and, wrap it up, leave for 24 hours. The infusion is stored at room temperature in a dark place. Take 1 tbsp infusion. l. before meals 3 times a day for three months. Then get your blood tested. Cholesterol, even from high numbers, will drop to normal. This infusion also lowers blood sugar, resolves cysts on the kidneys, and normalizes liver tests.

Kvass from jaundice to remove “bad” cholesterol.

Kvass recipe (author Bolotov). Place 50 g of dry crushed jaundice herb in a gauze bag, attach a small weight to it and pour 3 liters of cooled boiled water. Add 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tsp. sour cream. Place in a warm place, stir daily. After two weeks, the kvass is ready. Drink a healing potion 0.5 tbsp. three times a day for 30 minutes. before meals. Each time add the missing amount of water with 1 tsp to the vessel with kvass. Sahara. After a month of treatment, you can get tested and make sure that “bad” cholesterol has decreased significantly. Memory improves, tearfulness and touchiness go away, noise in the head disappears, and blood pressure gradually stabilizes. Of course, during treatment it is advisable to reduce the consumption of animal fats. Preference should be given to raw vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, cereals, and vegetable oils.

To ensure that your cholesterol is always normal, you need to take a course of treatment with the following cholesterol cocktail once a year:

freshly squeezed juice of 1 kg of lemons mixed with 200 g of garlic pulp, leave in a cold dark place for 3 days and drink 1 tablespoon every day, diluting in water. Drink everything prepared during the course. Believe me, there will be no problems with cholesterol!

It has been scientifically proven that vitamin C contained in lemon and garlic phytoncides effectively neutralize bad cholesterol and remove it from the body.

Prevention of high cholesterol

To prevent cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels, you need to adjust your diet. There is a lot of cholesterol in red meat and butter, as well as in shrimp, lobsters and other shelled animals. Ocean fish and shellfish have the least cholesterol. They also contain substances that help remove cholesterol from cells, including cells of internal organs. Eating large amounts of fish and vegetables reduces cholesterol levels in the blood and prevents obesity and cardiovascular diseases- the main cause of mortality of the civilized population.

In order to control cholesterol levels, you need to do a special blood test every six months. Normal level“bad” cholesterol ranges from 4-5.2 mmol/l. If the level is higher, then you need to see a doctor.

In our age - the age of advertising and the Internet, the circle of people who are informed and take care of their health has sharply expanded. Many people have heard that if cholesterol in the blood is elevated, in women and men, this can lead to a heart attack, hypertension or atherosclerosis. But not everyone knows what this means, what the symptoms are, the causes and how to treat high blood cholesterol.

Promotion

Cholesterol is called chemical composition, based on the symbiosis of steroids with fats. The body needs this element for the formation of cell membranes and other processes. 80% of cholesterol is synthesized by the liver, the remaining 20% enters the body with food.

Causes of high blood cholesterol, what does it mean? Hematologists talk about increased rates, if they exceed normal by a third or more. Increased level cholesterol is expressed in the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of blood vessels, which leads to. Which, in turn, narrowing the vascular sections, prevent the flow of blood to human organs.

Cholesterol moves through blood vessels as part of high- and low-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). The lion's share (up to 70%) is transferred from the liver to cells as part of LDL, losing cholesterol particles along the way. They are the basis of the forming plaques. And HDL performs the opposite function, transporting cholesterol from cells to the liver and collecting excess from the walls of blood vessels along the way. When we talk about leveling up, we mean .

Cholesterol in the blood is elevated, the reasons, first of all, lie in the lifestyle of the person himself. And the main one is improper nutrition. Using fatty foods, a person overloads the liver and at a certain point, it stops coping with excess cholesterol.

The next most common reason for high cholesterol is a passive, sedentary lifestyle. This is especially true for city dwellers whose physical activity is kept to a minimum.

Another scourge of our time is obesity. According to international researchers, this diagnosis is in 2nd place (after nicotine addiction), among the causes of premature mortality. According to WHO estimates, if the current rate of increase in the number of obese patients continues, by 2025 every 5th inhabitant of the planet will be diagnosed with this diagnosis.

Among other reasons that increase cholesterol in the human body, smoking should be highlighted. Tobacco smoke oxidizes LDL, damaging it with free radicals. It is oxidized LDL that attaches to arterial walls. Unoxidized LDL is completely harmless.

Also, an important place among the causes of high cholesterol is occupied by:

genetic predisposition;
state of chronic stress;
diseases such as: cirrhosis, hepatitis, hypothyroidism and kidney disease.

Symptoms

Hypercholesterolemia itself has no symptoms. However, if blood cholesterol is elevated, symptoms concomitant diseases, will point this out.

Among them, the most characteristic are following symptoms high blood cholesterol:

Pain in the lower extremities when walking or running.
Pressing, squeezing pain in the cardiac region (angina). Accompanied by shortness of breath.
on the skin.

Treatment

Cholesterol in the blood is elevated, what to do - many people ask this question. The main recommendation is a radical change in life priorities and the abandonment of harmful habits. But not everyone will be able to do without medications.

When blood cholesterol is elevated, cholesterol treatment can take place in two interrelated directions:

Non-drug (exceeding the indicators by less than a third);
Medication (indicators exceed the norm by a third or more).

Medicines

Drug treatment for high cholesterol must be comprehensive. To reduce excessively high performance cholesterol levels and treatment of atherosclerosis, today there are 4 groups of medications:

nicotinic acid preparations;
drugs from the fibrate group (atromide, gevilan and miscleron);
sequestrants (cholestide, cholestyramine);
drugs of the group.

Diet

In the first case, when cholesterol in the blood is elevated, it is necessary to observe healthy image life – conditions that are quite sufficient for the normalization of indicators.

First of all, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of foods rich in fats and cholesterol. There is no need to completely eliminate fats from food. Polysaturated oils can be replaced with olive, soybean, corn or sunflower.

Completely eliminate trans fats from your diet. They are even more harmful to health than saturated fats. The list of foods containing trans fats includes:

margarines, mayonnaise, ketchups, spreads;
breakfast cereals, crackers, snacks, chips, popcorn;
all kinds of baked goods;
various semi-finished products;
fast food assortment.

Limit the consumption of cholesterol-containing foods: egg yolks, animal liver, whole milk, crustaceans and all shellfish. Also, with high cholesterol, the following are harmful: fatty meats and fish; all kinds of canned food; sausages; fatty broths, cheeses, sour cream and cottage cheese.

As a result of the research, a positive effect on, vegetable fiber. Products containing it include: pears, apples, carrots, dried beans, barley and oats.

There will be healthy dishes on the menu presented at table No. 10. These include:

various vegetable soups;
boiled, baked fish and lean meat;
buckwheat, millet and oatmeal porridge;
boiled and fresh vegetables(pumpkin, eggplant, zucchini, cabbage);
salads and vinaigrettes with low-fat dressing;
dishes made with brown rice, beans or beans.

Prevention

Along with the diet, you need to monitor your weight and adjust it if necessary. Maintain good physical fitness. Sports activities are very useful. If, for some reason, this is impossible, then you must try to load the body in Everyday life: walk more, don’t use the elevator, work in the fresh air, find other forms of active activities.

Folk recipes

At all times, herbal medicine has been popular among the people. This medical direction It is also relevant in the fight against hypercholesterolemia. Among the folk recipes that help well, we can recommend:

Decoctions

Grind the licorice into the roots. For 40 grams of substance, half a liter of boiling water. Steam it up. Cool, take 70 grams after meals. Course – 3 weeks.
300 grams of boiling water, 20 grams of dried, crushed blue cyanosis roots. Steam it up. Cool, take 20 grams two hours after eating.
Steam 40 grams of pink clover with 200 grams of boiling water. Cool. Take 40 grams before meals.

Tinctures

Dilute 30 drops of calendula tincture with water. Take before meals.
Pour 350 grams of chopped garlic with medical alcohol. Infuse in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 10 days. Add drop by drop to milk. Take 3 times a day, increasing the dose from 1 to 15 drops, then in reverse order by day.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will prevent the occurrence of hypercholesterolemia and related diseases. And in case of illness, a competent combination of all treatment methods, under the supervision of a doctor, will lead to the most effective result.

Cholesterol is a lipid (fat) produced primarily in the liver and plays a key role in normal operation body. Cholesterol is found in the outer layers of body cells and has big amount functions.

The form is a waxy steroid that moves within the blood plasma. This substance can be contained inside the membranes of animal cells and is responsible for their strength characteristics.

Cholesterol is essential for the body:

Cholesterol plays an active role V digestive processes, since if it is not there, the liver’s production of digestive salts and juices will be impossible.
One more important function The substance is involved in the production of male and female sex hormones. Changes in the readings of fatty alcohol content in the bloodstream (increasing and decreasing) lead to interruptions in the recovery function.
Because of cholesterol, the adrenal glands regularly produce cortisol, and in skin vitamin D synthesis occurs. According to diagnostics, disruptions in the cholesterol content in the bloodstream lead to weakening immune system and other other disruptions in body function.
More substance can be produced by the body on its own (approximately 75%) and only the remainder comes from food. Therefore, according to the study, the cholesterol content deviates in either direction depending on the menu.

Bad and good cholesterol

Cholesterol has important for stable functioning of the body completely and separately. Fatty alcohol is traditionally divided into “bad” and “good”. This division is conditional, since in fact this substance can be neither “good” nor “bad”.

It is characterized by a homogeneous composition and uniform structure. This depends on transport protein, to which it is attached.

Cholesterol is dangerous only in a specific bound state:

Cholesterol is "bad"(or low-density cholesterol) is able to settle on vascular walls and forms plaque accumulations that close the gap between the blood vessels.
In the process of combining with apoprotein proteins, the substance can form low-density lipoprotein complexes. When there is an increase in this cholesterol in the bloodstream, the risk is really great.
Cholesterol is "good"(or high-density cholesterol) is different from bad both in structure and in functioning. It is capable of cleaning vascular walls from high-density lipoproteins and directs harmful substances for processing in the liver.
The main role of “such” cholesterol will be constant redirection excess cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver for processing and subsequent elimination.
Drug therapy for high cholesterol. When the cholesterol level is high enough after implementing preventive measures, the specialist prescribes medications to reduce cholesterol levels.

These include:
- Statins are enzyme blockers in the liver produced by cholesterol. In such a situation, the task is to lower cholesterol levels to 4 mmol per L or lower and to 2 mmol per L for low-density lipoproteins.
  These drugs are useful in the treatment and preventive measures of atherosclerosis. Side effects include constipation, headache, painful sensations near the abdomen and diarrhea.
- Aspirin- not given to patients under 16 years of age.
- Remedies to lower triglyceride levels- derivatives of fibric acid and contain gemfibrozil, fenofibrate and clofibrate.
- Niacin is B vitamins, existing in a variety of foods. They can only be obtained in very large doses and with a prescription from a specialist.
  Niacin lowers content of both low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. Side effects include continuous itching, headaches, flushing and ringing in the ears.
- Antihypertensive drugs- when high blood pressure, a specialist prescribes inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers.
- In certain situations, inhibitors are prescribed absorption of cholesterol and substances that enhance the excretion of bile acid. They have a large number of side effects and require certain skills from the patient so that the specialist is confident that medications use according to instructions.
Ethnoscience:
- Flax seed is extremely effective during high cholesterol. With the help of such a substance it is possible to significantly reduce cholesterol levels to normal levels.
  - For these purposes, flax seed is taken and crushed. It is permissible to add this mixture to foods consumed daily. For example, in salad, cottage cheese, porridge, potato dishes.
- In the process of elevated cholesterol characteristics Eating linden will be effective. IN folk remedies Dried flowers are mainly used. They are ground in a coffee grinder into flour. Use ready-made powder.
- To lower cholesterol, you need to do juice therapy once a month. This greatly helps to lower cholesterol levels.
- Effective cleansing of blood vessels and elimination increased concentration cholesterol is carried out using an infusion of Sophora fruits and mistletoe herbs.
  - Take a mixture of 2 herbs in a proportion of 100 g, pour in 1 liter of vodka. The finished mass is infused in a glass container in a dark, cold place for 3 weeks. Afterwards it is filtered.
- Application of propolis makes it possible to reduce the content of “bad” cholesterol. Take 4% propolis tincture 30 minutes before meals, dissolving it in 1 tbsp. l. water. Drink for 4 months.
- Red rowan perfectly removes harmful cholesterol from the body. It will be enough to eat a few fresh berries three times a day before meals. The course of therapy is several days, after which you need to make an interval of 10 days. A similar cycle is carried out 2 times at the beginning of winter, after the first frost.

Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis are the main risk factors for the development of vascular and heart diseases. Why cholesterol is elevated, how to recognize the first symptoms of pathology, diagnostic methods and treatment options, we will consider further.

What can cause cholesterol to rise?

In 80% of cases, the accumulation of excess cholesterol contributes to poor nutrition, Lifestyle.

Abuse of alcohol, smoking. Ethyl alcohol, nicotine violate lipid metabolism, causing increased production of LDL by the liver. It turns out that good HDL simply does not have time to protect the blood vessels. Nicotine resins and alcohol, by themselves, without connection with cholesterol, make blood vessels brittle, permeable, impair liver function, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis.
High blood pressure. Chronic hypertension often causes damage to the vascular walls. This can lead to the accumulation of fats, from which atherosclerotic plaques subsequently form. Lipid imbalances can also cause hypertension. Constricted blood vessels increase the load on the heart, forcing it to work harder.
Poor nutrition. Predominance fatty foods, semi-finished products, spicy, pickled, smoked foods disrupt lipid metabolism. Fats do not have time to be processed and are stored “in reserve.” If you become overweight, cholesterol levels increase. The risk group also includes lovers of low-fat, cholesterol-free diets. Without receiving from outside essential fats, the liver begins to produce more of them than necessary to replenish the missing elements.
Unstable psycho-emotional state. During stress, cortisol is produced, which breaks down a protein that increases blood glucose levels. All this disrupts metabolism and leads to vascular inflammation.
Chronic diseases: dysfunction of the liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, diabetes. All diseases cause lipid imbalance and inflammation of the vascular walls. With high cholesterol, the risk of atherosclerotic plaques increases.
Medicines: diuretics, steroids, oral contraceptives, beta blockers. Increased concentrations of harmful LDL are sometimes a consequence of taking these drugs. No specific treatment is required. Lipid levels return to normal 3-4 weeks after stopping medication.

In 20% of cases, hypercholesterolemia appears due to genetic abnormalities. The liver produces excessive amounts of this substance or does not remove LDL from the blood. Signs usually appear after 18-20 years of age.

In women, cholesterol increases during menopause, when estrogen production stops. It is this hormone that prevents an imbalance in lipoprotein levels before menopause. However, if the body is healthy, the metabolism will normalize as soon as the hormonal levels stabilize.

Men initially contain very little estrogen. Therefore, their risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases is higher. Men are advised to control their cholesterol levels starting at age 30, when the activity of metabolic processes decreases.

Normal lipid profile

Normal level total cholesterol is 3.3-5.5 mmol/l. However, this indicator does not reflect the complete condition of blood vessels, the risk of atherosclerosis, and heart disease. The factor that determines the degree of risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is the content of its different fractions: LDL, HDL, triglycerides.

total cholesterol – 3.3-5.5 mmol/l;
LDL – less than 2.6 mmol/l;
HDL – 0.70-2.00 mmol/l;
triglycerides – 0.46-1.86 mmol/l.

A cholesterol level above 5.5 mmol/l is considered borderline and poses a health risk, since excess triglycerides and bad lipoproteins can clog blood vessels, creating obstacles to blood flow. Poor blood circulation oxygen starvation tissues - the reason acute heart attacks, strokes, ischemia of internal organs.

Symptoms of hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol does not have clear signs, causes dangerous cardiovascular complications: heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease and is detected during diagnosis.

Row nonspecific signs indicating the presence of atherosclerotic plaques causing circulatory problems:

Coronary insufficiency. Accompanied by shortness of breath frequent pain in the sternum, heavy sweating. Arterial pressure unstable - increases or decreases sharply.
Poor blood circulation in the brain. initial stage accompanied by frequent attacks headaches, sudden dizziness. Over time, memory deterioration, behavior changes, forgetfulness, and unclear speech are observed.
Vascular damage abdominal cavity. It manifests itself as difficult, painful digestion, bloating after eating, nausea, and rapid satiety.
Atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs and arms. The blockage of blood flow causes tingling, burning in the toes or hands, and sometimes sudden hot flashes are felt. Over time, aching pain, lameness, swelling, numbness of skin areas, and trophic ulcers that do not heal for a long time appear.

Long-term existing violation lipid metabolism or hereditary hypercholesterolemia are manifested by external symptoms:

Xanthomas, xanthelasmas are convex or flat spots of white, light yellow color. They form under the skin of the eyelids, fingers, and toes. They are subcutaneous accumulations of fat.
The lipoid arch of the eye is a white or grayish-yellow layer of lipid deposits on the cornea. It most often appears after 50 years of age, but can occur in young people with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Cholesterol plaques most often affect the arteries of the chest, abdominal region, vessels of the kidneys, legs, and brain. Clinically, the disease manifests itself when the arteries become narrowed by 50% or more.

If a lipid imbalance goes undetected for a long time, this creates conditions for the development of severe cardiovascular complications and causes changes in other organs:

Diseases of the heart, brain. Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 2 times. Decreased concentration dangerous substance, reduces the likelihood of complications.
Ischemia of internal organs. Atherosclerotic plaques can affect the arteries of any organ. Insufficient blood supply disrupts their work. Rapid progression of the disease can lead to liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, pulmonary edema, chronic diseases digestive and intestinal tract.
Swelling, trophic ulcers, gangrene of the legs. Insufficient blood supply lower limbs causes inflammation that spreads deep into the soft tissues. Without timely medical care tissue necrosis and gangrene begin, which can lead to amputation of the limb.
Arterial thrombosis or atherothrombosis. Damage to the vascular endothelium and decreased blood flow are the main causes of complications. In 20% of cases it leads to arterial embolism, which threatens any organ with a heart attack.

The only way to detect cholesterol growth in the early stages is. It is advisable to carry out the analysis every 5 years after 20 years. At hereditary predisposition, existing risk factors - every 2-3 years.

How to reduce high cholesterol - foods instead of statins

The diet menu should consist of products that stimulate the production of HDL, cleansing the body of waste, toxins, and LDL. These include:

Carrots, cabbage, beets, zucchini, and greens take first place among the recommended products. Contain alimentary fiber, fiber, removes about 20% of cholesterol from the intestines, preventing its absorption by the intestines. The menu should contain more vegetable dishes than others.
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. They increase the production of high-density cholesterol particles, remove excess LDL, and restore blood vessels. A large number of fish oil contain fatty varieties of sea fish.
Flaxseed oil, flax seeds. Contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, increase the production of high-density lipoproteins. Every day it is recommended to consume 10-30 g of oil or 2 tbsp. l. Flaxseed.
Egg whites, dietary meat: chicken, turkey, rabbit. Maintains a balance of fats, proteins, carbohydrates. Chicken protein does not contain cholesterol, improves metabolism.
Whole grain porridge: buckwheat, corn, oatmeal, pearl barley, millet. Contains magnesium, fiber, lignin, beta-glucan. They reduce high cholesterol and sugar, improve blood vessels, and cleanse the liver of toxins.
Walnuts, almonds, pistachios (roasted without oil, unsalted) are rich in beta-sitosterol. It is recommended to consume 20-30 g of nuts daily, no more. Excess can lead to a decrease in the concentration of vitamin E and beta-carotene absorbed by the intestines. Nuts can be added to porridge, cottage cheese, and fruit salads.
Berries: raspberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries contain a lot of manganese, lower cholesterol, increase the elasticity of blood vessels. Fresh fruits are most useful, but they retain useful microelements and after freezing.
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C. If you consume 100-200 g of this element daily, your cholesterol level will decrease by 5% after 2 weeks.
Mushrooms contain fiber, protein, and a statin that blocks the synthesis of low-density particles. However, they are considered a difficult food to digest, so they are recommended to be consumed in moderation.
Beans and artichokes “collect” excess cholesterol. It is enough to eat 200 g of boiled beans daily to reduce its concentration.
Soybean – good alternative meat products. Reduces LDL level, increases HDL. However, it is not advisable to use it more than 3-4 times a week. Soy protein contains isoflavones, which, like excess estrogen, increase the risk of breast cancer.

If lipid metabolism is disrupted, it is important to eat properly and follow a routine. To maintain digestion and general tone, it is recommended to eat 5-6 times a day in small portions. It is necessary to completely eliminate trans fats from the menu. They are contained in margarine, spreads, and confectionery products made on their basis.

Cooking, baking without crust, and stewing retain a maximum of useful macro- and microelements. Frying, pickling, canned vegetables, mushrooms lose 70% of their useful properties, contain a large number of carcinogens, spices, vinegar, so it is undesirable to use them if you have high cholesterol or heart disease.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine - good addition to the diet. However, before using them, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This will help avoid allergic reactions, side effects.

The following recipes are considered the most effective:

Lemon with garlic. 1-2 unpeeled lemons, 1 large garlic head are passed through a meat grinder. Pour in 0.5 liters of water at room temperature. Insist for 3 days. Take 50 ml three times a day. Duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks. The drug is contraindicated for peptic ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis.
Linden flowers. Dry inflorescences are ground with a coffee grinder. Take 1 tsp with water, half an hour before meals in the morning. It is undesirable to take linden inflorescences for diseases of the central nervous system and urinary system.
Flax seeds, dill. Mix half a glass of ingredients, add 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 24 hours. The infusion is taken 1 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. If hypercholesterolemia is accompanied nervous disorders you can add 1 tsp to the seeds. crushed valerian root.
Propolis tincture. 50 g of propolis are crushed, pour 0.5 liters of alcohol. They insist for 14 days. Take 7 drops before meals. The tincture can be diluted a small amount cold water. Duration of treatment is 3 months.
Tibetan style garlic infusion. 100 g of chopped garlic is poured with 100 ml of alcohol and left for 7 days. The alcohol can be replaced with 200 ml of vodka, then the holding time is increased to 14 days. The tincture is taken three times a day, starting with 2 drops, each time the amount is increased by 1 drop. Gradually increase to 20, then reduce, bringing to the initial dosage. The course of treatment can be repeated after 2-3 years.
Buckwheat flour. 100 g flour pour 200 ml warm water, bring to a boil, boil for 5 minutes. Take 100 g/day, possibly several times.
Oat decoction. 1 glass of grain is poured into 1 liter of boiling water, boiled until the volume of the mass decreases to a widow. Drink half a glass three times a day, you can sweeten it with honey.
Sprouted alfalfa seeds. Eat 1-2 tsp. in the morning, before meals. Can be added to salads and side dishes. Dry seeds are germinated independently, covered with film, washed with water 1-2 times a day.
Treatment with juices is sufficient for 5 days/month. Freshly squeezed juices are drunk twice a day, 150 ml. Drinks made from celery, carrots, beets, cucumbers, green apples, cabbage, and oranges quickly reduce the level of dangerous substances.
Fruits of rose hips, hawthorn. 150 g of crushed fruits are poured with 300 ml of alcohol and left for 2 weeks. Take 10 ml in the evening before meals.

There are many plants that help normalize lipid metabolism and reduce lipoprotein levels. The most accessible and effective:

Bearberry contains many flavonoids, has a powerful anti-cholesterol effect, and strengthens the body.
St. John's wort and ginseng are considered real natural statins. They reduce the rate of cholesterol production by the liver and bind dangerous particles that are already in the blood.
Strawberry leaves remove excess LDL, toxins, waste, and normalize metabolic processes.
Dandelion root improves performance of cardio-vascular system. Cleanses blood vessels, prevents lipoproteins from settling on vascular walls. This is good prophylactic against cholesterol plaques.
Calendula improves blood, strengthens blood vessels, and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Slows down the development of atherosclerosis, increases HDL.
Golden mustache contains a large amount of natural steroids and flavonoids that enhance the production of beneficial lipids. It is also good to use for the prevention of atherosclerosis, increasing immunity, and normalizing metabolism.

To reduce cholesterol, use one or several herbs at once, mixing in equal proportions. 100 g of the mixture is poured into 250 ml of boiling water, left for 30-60 minutes, and drunk several times. Fresh infusion is prepared daily. The course of treatment lasts from 1.5 to 3 months.

Medications

If nutrition does not help normalize high cholesterol, its levels are stable or exceed 5.5 mmol/l, lipid-lowering medications may be prescribed. With abnormally high cholesterol levels, hereditary hypercholesterolemia drug treatment prescribed along with the diet.

There are several groups of drugs:

Statins: Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Atorvastatin. Essential medications for treating high cholesterol. They have multiple contraindications and side effects. When taking them, monitoring the patient's condition is required. The dosage is selected individually.
Fibrates: Fenofibrate, Ciprofibrate, Bezafibrate, Clofibrate. Reduce the concentration of organic fats. Designed to normalize lipid metabolism. Often used together with statins.
Nicotinic acid: Niacin. Normalizes lipoprotein levels, increases HDL, reduces LDL, slows down the development of atherosclerosis. The effect is noticeable 5-7 days after the start of treatment.
Bile acid sequestrants: Colestipol, Cholestyramine. Not effective for excessive triglyceride concentrations. Often prescribed as auxiliary drugs in complex therapy.
Medicines that inhibit cholesterol absorption: Ezetimibe, Ezetrol. New class lipid-lowering drugs. Prevents the absorption of cholesterol by the intestines, reducing its entry into the liver. A greater effect is observed when using drugs with statins.

3-5 weeks after the start of treatment, the patient is prescribed a lipid profile to check the effectiveness of treatment. If the patient is not susceptible to a particular drug, the doctor prescribes several medications or increases the dosage of a previously prescribed drug.

Cholesterol and pregnancy

In the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy the values lipid profile change, indicators increase, which is the norm. The liver produces double the amount of cholesterol as it is needed for normal development fetus

During pregnancy high cholesterol variant of the norm. However, if the level exceeds 12 mmol/l, nutritional correction is required, followed by a repeat lipid profile. If there is a hereditary predisposition to hypercholesterolemia, it is advisable to take a test for total cholesterol every three months.

If the diet is not effective, your doctor may prescribe lipid-lowering medications, provided that the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential harm. Taking medications without a doctor’s prescription or using traditional recipes is strictly prohibited. All means have side effects which can negatively affect the development of the child.

Prevention

Balanced diet, active image life, refusal or restriction bad habits– good prevention of lipid metabolism failures, atherosclerosis, heart diseases.

Diet helps you lose weight. Losing 2-5 kilograms improves cholesterol control. This does not require long-term fasting or strict diets with refusal of usual food.

You can improve your usual diet in the following ways:

Reduce consumption of animal fats and trans fats. Animal fats should make up approximately 10% of the diet, and it is advisable to completely avoid trans fats. Margarine, spreads can be replaced with olive oil, corn oil. Butter can be used 1-2 times/week.
Eat more whole grains: brown rice, whole grain bread, bran, crispbread.
Vegetables, fruits, berries should form the basis daily menu. Prepare vegetable soups, stews, and salads from them. Fresh or frozen berries make delicious, healthy desserts and smoothies.
Limit the intake of exogenous cholesterol. Most of it is contained by offal, egg yolks, pork, whole milk, cream, and homemade cheeses.
Don't forget about nuts and seeds containing phytosterols. Their regular use helps reduce the concentration of dangerous lipids by 15%.

Do not blindly follow fashion by following new, unknown diets. Often they help get rid of extra pounds only by a short time. Diets can be dangerous because they exclude components that are important for life.

cereals – 100-200 g in the morning or evening;
vegetables, fruits – 3-5 servings;
low-fat dairy products - in the morning, after lunch, before bed;
lean meat, poultry, fish - 200 g each:
sweets: honey (1 tbsp), dark chocolate (1/4 bar), dried fruits, candied fruits, halva, marmalade, marshmallow (50 g).

A Mediterranean diet can help manage high cholesterol. It is based on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, red fish, olive oil. It contains a lot of fiber, antioxidants, monounsaturated fats, which are safe for high cholesterol.

It is known that obesity increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. Diet, regular physical exercise get rid of extra pounds, reduce LDL.

If formerly man led sedentary lifestyle life, physical activity increase gradually. At first it could be walking, a ten-minute warm-up in the morning. Over time, the duration of the exercises is increased to 30 minutes. Swimming, running, cycling, yoga, and Pilates are very effective.

The prognosis for high cholesterol is favorable. Timely treatment, prevention helps to avoid the occurrence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Of course, a lot depends on the patient’s lifestyle. Proper nutrition, physical activity, and giving up bad habits help normalize cholesterol levels in 2-3 months.

Literature

Markus MacGill. What causes high cholesterol? 2017
Heart and Stroke Foundation. How to manage your cholesterol, 2017
Maureen Salamon. Do You Really Need to Worry About Your High Cholesterol? 2018

Last updated: January 13, 2019