Green Tea is said to have originated in China over 4,000 years ago. The tea is made from leaves taken from the pretty plant that is known as Camelia Sinensis. The leaves are prepared by the method of steaming. This steaming method allows the very important antioxidants to remain in their original and best state. The said antioxidants, are scientifically known as catechins polyphenols. The main and most beneficial of these is, in diminutive terms EGCG. EGCG is said to be the most influential of the antioxidants, as it has such vast effects on the body as a whole.

The life cycle of your skins cells is 28 days. The formation of new cells begins with stem cells. These new cells take around 20 days to reach the extreme surface of the epidermis. When they reach this outer layer of the skin they are then ready to die. In saying this, it has been revealed that EGCG can react with these dying cells to get them dividing and renewing themselves again. So, if dying skin cells can be re-energised and renewed, what do you think this can do for the skin? Well, it will give the skin a replenished look and feel. It has been said that because of this reaction that Green Tea has the power to provide a ‘fountain of youth’ appeal.

A study released by Stanford University recently said that, via a volunteer group of Green Tea drinkers, the presence of EGCG in the tea verifies a diminished red vein look, reduction in pore sizes and refined skin. It also showed that EGCG can prevent the release of Histamine, which in turn lowers the skins sensitivity levels. This can have a diminishing effect on the presence of Acne Rosacea.

Other Facts You Should Know

A statement released by Harvard Medical School declares that “in test tubes, catechins (antioxidants) are more powerful than Vitamin C and E in halting oxidative damage to cell”. In reality, EGCG catechins are a massive 100 times more valuable to you than Vitamin C and 25 more efficient than Vitamin E is.

One cup of Green Tea produces 10-40mg of catechins, which has a greater antioxidant effect than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots and even strawberries.

Free Radicals are said to be ‘unpaired’ electrons that have the ability of damaging cells membranes .In saying this, it has been shown that EGCG holds the power of killing these Free Radicals. Therefore these superb antioxidants can assist with UV radiation protection, by eating up any UV radicals that enter the skin. This information is very attractive considering that 90% of the skins anti-aging signs are caused by UV rays.

Vitamin B – Riboflavin, is also found in Green Tea, and is responsible for keeping the tissues of the skin, hair and nails in good condition and to heal and protect the tissues of the skin.

As you take in the above information, you will quickly recognize why Green Tea has been named ‘The Skin Tea’. In saying that, it’s not just your skin that benefits hugely from the abundance of antioxidants; your whole body can become healthier and stronger by introducing it into your diet. With its array of benefits, also comes a wonderfully zesty flavor and can be made even zestier by adding some fresh lemon juice , which also enhances its cancer battling potential.

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Cholesterol is not a single substance. It is the generic name for a family of similar substances that are produced in the body. The good cholesterol, abbreviated as HDL, is produced by the body for tissue growth and health. This level is maintained at a healthy level by the body. The bad cholesterol is a by product of body metabolism and must be evacuated or destroyed. This bad cholesterol is abbreviated LDL. You must help the body in maintaining the exact proper level of both these cholesterol components to remain naturally healthy.

There is a general perception that a high level of cholesterol is itself a disease. This is false. But yes, high levels of bad cholesterol increase the risk of some very serious, even life threatening, cardio-vascular diseases. Some of these diseases are: atherosclerosis (which hardens the arteries), heart arrhythmias, strokes, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. We’ll tell you how to control the level of cholesterol in your blood.

The body regulates the level of cholesterol in the blood. As long as this regulation proceeds as required, there is no problem. There are times when this regulation fails. There are two common situations which lead to such failure. One is when we overdose the body with bad cholesterol. How? By eating of course! Oils, fats, animal produce, and some substances like sodium lead to a build up of bad cholesterol in the blood. Keep these villains off your diet and the bad cholesterol will drop back to normal level.

A sedentary lifestyle is equally bad news. Inactivity makes the circulatory system sluggish, and the evacuation of LDL is impaired. So the LDL accumulates to dangerous levels. The American Heart Association has advised a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise every day to keep heart disease at bay. You are free to do it in one spell or to spread it over two, three or more spells. Be regular in exercising. Thirty minutes every day means thirty minutes every day, come rain or shine! Maintain a comfortable exercise regimen. Don’t get carried away and strain yourself. Jogging, going for long walks, cycling, and swimming are favored exercises. Make exercise a part of your schedule. Be moderate, be comfortable, be sensible!

Apart from dietary intake and a sedentary lifestyle, some lifestyle activities can be harmful for you as far as high LDL is concerned. If you smoke, then you’ll do yourself a load of good by stopping that habit. Even secondary smoke is harmful, so avoid places where there’s a lot of cigarette smoke.

There is another factor which can cause high levels of bad cholesterol. The problem is that the body’s regulatory mechanism is not working properly. This is usually a genetic problem and it could be hereditary. The only way out of this situation is medication. Your doctor will do the needful.

The level of cholesterol in your blood can seriously affect your life and lifestyle! Before that happens, it is better that you consciously work your way to a better lifestyle. Watch your diet, exercise regularly, and stop smoking; these are simple ways to get on top of your high cholesterol condition. Medication is always there if the simple methods don’t work. Remember, high cholesterol can lead to life altering and even life threatening cardio-vascular conditions, such as strokes and heart attacks. Your general health goes down, and you can suffer from many other unrelated diseases. Therefore it is in your own best interest to get serious about controlling the level of cholesterol in your blood – for good!

Owning a cholesterol monitor can save you cash by reducing trips to the doctor for a cholesterol test. To discover more ways to reduce cholesterol visit www.reduce-high-cholesterol.com.

Your system makes use of triglycerides for energy. It is a form of fat that the body forms from sweets, alcohol, and too many calories.

You need a little triglycerides for quality health. However, elevated triglycerides can heighten your probability of heart diseases and could be a sign of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome raises your likelihood for coronary disease, diabetes type 2, and stroke since it is a combination of high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, too much fat around your waistline, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and raised triglycerides.

What produces high triglycerides?

Elevated triglycerides are for the most part caused by certain conditions, such as:

* Being Overweight.

* Poorly managed type 2 diabetes.

* An under active thyroid (hypothyroidism).

* Kidney disorders.

* Regularly eating more calories than you burn.

* Increased consumption of alcohol.

A few medications may cause triglycerides to rise. They are:

* Beta-blockers.

* Birth control.

* Steroids.

* Tamoxifen.

* Estrogen.

* Diuretics.

In a number of cases, elevated triglycerides are hereditary.

Arresting triglycerides:

It does not have to be difficult to decrease your level of triglycerides. Just pursue these five simple steps for improved health to bring down your triglycerides.

Get your body moving! Because elevated levels of triglycerides mean increased quantities of fats stored in the system, you have to take advantage of the potential energy by taking an interest in indoor and outdoor activities.

It is not necessary for your workout to be strenuous either. Should you run errands within walking distance, you definitely must refrain from driving a car. Carrying out your everyday routines, for instance, household chores, will also torch calories and decrease overall triglyceride levels.

Anybody can begin to lower triglyceride levels just by making nutritious and low calorie food choices. For example, choose canola oil over vegetable oil when cooking, it should make a difference.

One great way to decrease calories and refined carbohydrates is to prepare meals at home. Consuming flaxseed, salmon, and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber will lead to a boost in your health. Consuming more vegetables and fruits may help give you a healthier triglycerides level.

Be sure to drink plenty of water. You may avoid overeating by filling your stomach with water. Health care professionals advocate consuming 64 to 80 ounces of water per day to flush your system and heighten feelings of fullness.

Another way to reduce triglycerides is by loading up on vitamin B3. There are studies which show that niacin or vitamin B3 are very effective in helping lower your triglyceride levels. You can add Vitamin B3 in your daily diet by consuming meals that include mushrooms, eggs, nuts, milk and chicken.

Eat frequently and at the proper time. Nutritionists recommend that we eat several small meals spread throughout the day. You should not skip breakfast since you will end up too hungry and tend to over eat later on.

Listen to your body when it comes to your health. Your body would indicate to you when it is hungry and when you need to stop. Do your best to eat right, and do not judge yourself too harshly should you indulge in junk foods.

Do your very best in picking quality and nutritious foods. Stay away from refined, processed, and sugary foods.

These techniques have all been proven to help bring down triglycerides. If you abide by these suggestions, you will find yourself on the way to acquiring a healthier body.

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The bad cholesterol on the other hand can cause you lots of problems. The main worry with LDL cholesterol is that it will dump cholesterol onto artery walls that will create plaque. The plague in turn will narrow and block the arteries. This may cause blood flow to be blocked, which is bad news for your heart.

The cause of cholesterol

Lots of terms are being used for cholesterol which can turn out to be very confusing and one among them is dietary cholesterol. There is a general belief that dietary cholesterol increases the blood cholesterol but in reality this never happens. The two things that raise the cholesterol levels are saturated fats and acids that are Trans fatty.

Therefore the best way to tackle the cholesterol problem is to cut down the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. The most effective way the world over is the diet. You will have to make certain dietary changes in your daily routine. More to the point, as you cut down on food that are bad for cholesterol such as eggs, meat, and seafood, you can also fill up yourself with food that are LDL cholesterol friendly.

Packaged foods usually have Trans fatty acids. The main culprits are popcorn that is microwave, margarine hard sticks and French fries from some fast foods. By cutting down these foods or taking alternative substitutes that are better for the health one can cut down on the Trans fatty acids which contributes to the cholesterol that is bad for health.

Upping Good Fats

Consuming a good deal of packaged food and margarine or micro wave popcorn and also French fries are responsible for the increasing of the trans fatty acid. Stay away from fast food as this too leaves your cholesterol in a bad condition. Good cholesterol does all the cleaning up for you, like throwing out the excess cholesterol through the liver out of the body. That is why you need a good amount of good cholesterol which in turn cuts down the threat to your heart.

One more way of reducing bad cholesterol is to consume food which have abundant source of soluble fiber and polyunsaturated fats as well as monounsaturated fats. The good cholesterol will definitely increase with this change in eating habits.

One can also do a lot of physical activities to bring a reduction in the cholesterol levels. It is also good to limit the intake of alcohol to two glasses a day in case of men and one glass in case of women.

Cholesterol info and resources. Get the know about the healthy cholesterol levels for happy living.

There are actually several different diet strategies to help balance cholesterol levels that vary widely yet have provided effective results. Even though a low fat diet has been promoted heavily the last few decades, research does not support the idea that such a diet is the best option for most people.

Physicians like Dr. Dean Ornish have helped many people recover from, and even reverse, heart disease by combining a low fat, vegetarian diet with stress reduction and exercise. Another diet strategy that has been successful for some people is the so-called “low carb diet”. There are many variations of the low carb diet including Atkins and the Zone diet developed by Dr. Barry Sears.

With the Zone Diet, Dr. Sears recommends a balanced regulation of fat, carbohydrate and protein ratios consistently in meals as well as in snacks taken in between meals. This often results in improvements in metabolism regulation and healthy weight loss without enduring feelings of going hungry. There are also many reports of improvements in many different health conditions, including reducing cholesterol and reversing heart disease.

Cholesterol lowering nutritional supplements are another effective option that can help to lower cholesterol naturally. There is quite a lot of variation in the quality of supplements available. Of course, you’ll get the best results with high quality supplements produced in accordance with GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards.

Some important and effective nutrients to look for in natural cholesterol lowering supplements include, green tea extract, tumeric, policosanol, guggulipid, theaflavins and beta sitosterol. Among these nutrients, policosanol and guggulipid can be considered the most important.

As mentioned above, there are products on the market that claim to contain policosanol, when in fact they use an inferior substance called octacosanol.This is one reason to be aware of what you’re buying. Research has shown that genuine policosanol produced from Cuban sugar cane wax is one of the most effective nutrients for balancing cholesterol levels. Octacosanol, on the other hand, does NOT provide the same benefits.

As you can see, doing some simple research before you choose a cholesterol health supplement can make a difference. Check to confirm that the manufacturer uses genuine policosanol. Also, check to see if the product has been properly tested for biological contamination and that it is produced in a GMP (good manufacturing practice) facility as well as meeting the U.S. and/or the British Pharmacopoeia standards.

These proven natural ways to reduce cholesterol can help you avoid the side effects and possible dangers of prescription medications. Of course, you may want to consult your health care provider before changing any medications you may be taking and before beginning any new supplementation program.

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1.Garlic – Over the years the praises of garlic have been sung by many holistic practitioners. Garlic has many health boosting properties, and one of them is that it is able to help your body control cholesterol levels. This is down to a compound that contains which is allicin. However if you are like a lot of people who are reluctant to eat garlic because of the smell that it leaves on the breath, then help is at hand because it is now widely available in the form of supplement.

2.Artichoke – Artichoke leaves contain a property known as cynarin, and this too is known to be very effective at reducing cholesterol levels. The best way to get this is again in supplement form, and you can buy artichoke leaf extract tablets from most good health food stores.

3.Naturally Blended Supplements– Although the two supplements that we have already covered are potent and can help to balance cholesterol levels, there are what is known as naturally blended supplements which contain a variety of ingredients that are even more potent in the way that they not only reduce the bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, but also help your body to excrete any excess cholesterol that remains. The key ingredients to check for in these kinds supplements include but are not limited to policosanol, theaflavins and phytosterols. Policosanol in particular is very effective and has been clinically proven to be as good at reducing bad cholesterol levels as statins but without the nasty side effects.

Hopefully you will find that one of those three high cholesterol natural remedies will be the one that works for you. And, in an ideal world one of them will do the trick for you because ultimately they present a better scenario for long-term health than having to go on a lifetime prescription of statin drugs; even more so when you consider some of the side effects of them can be health conditions such as heart failure, cancer and they are even linked with Alzheimer’s disease.

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One of the first food groups to be included is oily fish such as salmon and tuna. The reason for including these kind of fish is because the omega3 in them contains essential fats that not only raise good cholesterol and reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood but also help to reduce triglyceride levels too, all of which are important in helping to reduce the likelihood of heart disease, which is a byproduct of high cholesterol levels.

Another important food group to include is vegetables. The reason for this is because vegetables more often than not contain sterols, and the sterols are very similar in structure to cholesterol. Because of this, what happens in the gut is that they compete with the cholesterol for absorption into the gastrointestinal tract, and they are chosen ahead of the cholesterol molecules. Another reason for the vegetables being so good for you is because of the fiber they contain, which assists by stimulating the liver to absorb more cholesterol from the blood for reprocessing.

Lastly, a group of foods to lower cholesterol that is very efficient is oats. Oats are so efficient at helping control cholesterol levels because they reduce the LDL and raise HDL cholesterols. They do this because they contain soluble fiber. And adding oats to your diet is probably the easiest food group to include because they make a tasty nutritious breakfast.

In addition to the above, you can also get foods to lower cholesterol in supplement form. For instance, garlic and artichoke leaf extract are foods known to be effective at controlling cholesterol levels and are widely available from health food shops in the forms of supplements. In addition to them you can also get natural blended supplements, which are a group of different ingredients all with properties known to help combat cholesterol levels that are being taken together and blended to form one single supplement. Some of these natural blended tablets can actually be as powerful as statins but without worrying side effects that statins have.

If you would like to discover the best sources of foods to lower cholesterol, and also the best sources of natural blended supplements then please visit my website where I discuss this in more detail. You can find the site http://www.clobbercholesterol.com

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1.Exercise – Exercising does not mean torturing yourself in an aerobics class, or being stuck for hours on a treadmill machine. There is a direct link between exercise and it helping to reduce cholesterol levels, however it is not the intensity of exercise that is important but it is the duration. Therefore, if you do something as simple as briskly walking or swimming, for sake of argument, for 30 minutes a day everyday then you would be well on your way to reducing your cholesterol levels.

2.Diet – Quite often people think that the best way to reduce cholesterol is through the food that they eat. The truth of the matter is that although food can play a part it is only a small part as your cholesterol levels are really determined by the amount that you liver produces. However, even though the food is only a small part there are some foods that you want to avoid and some you want to include which will go some way to helping you balance your cholesterol. Foods you want to include are foods which contain omega3 such as nuts and oily fish as these are known to help reduce LDL and boost HDL. The other food to include is soluble fiber as this too is known to reduce LDL. Food you want to avoid is take away food and microwave meals because these often contain hydrogenated oils which raise LDL levels: you also want to cut back on the amount of foods that you eat that contain saturated fats such as meat and dairy.

3.Nutritional Supplements– It is also worthwhile taking nutritional supplements to help control your good and bad cholesterol levels. In particular you should be looking for nutritional supplements that contain ingredients such as policosanol (which has been found to be as effective as statins), theaflavins and phytosterols. In the main what you are looking for a nutritional supplement to do is to lower the bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and take any excess bad cholesterol and change it into bile salts to be excreted from the body.

There are other things you can do as well these three steps, but ultimately this is a great place to start. And when you take into consideration that the alternative is a lifetime prescription of a medication that has some really nasty side effects including heart failure, then isn’t it worth giving it a go anyway?

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Ways To Increase Low HDL Cholesterol

1)Have More Omega3 – The vast majority of people do not get enough omega 3 in their diet, yet omega 3’s have a huge impact on your cholesterol levels. Good sources of omega 3 are flax seeds and walnuts, however the best source is oily fish such as salmon or tuna. Fish such as the ones we have mentioned have essential fats in their omega 3’s that help raise low HDL cholesterol, lowr LDL levels and also help to lower triglyceride levels too.

2)Exercise – Exercise can play a key part in getting the correct balance in your cholesterol levels. Most people when they hear the word exercise conjure up vivid pictures of intense workouts and expensive gym memberships, fortunately this does not have to be the case. Researchers now recognize that when it comes to exercise helping to raise low HDL cholesterol levels it is the duration that is important not the intensity. So by doing something as simple as walking briskly for 30 minutes a day 5 to 7 days a week would be extremely beneficial.

3)Lifestyle – Specific changes in lifestyle can go a long way in helping to raise low HDL cholesterol. Stopping smoking is a major one for obvious reasons. Another area you can cut down on is consuming fast food or ready made meals. The reason for this is because they often contain hydrogenated oils which turn into trans fats and raise your LDL cholesterol not your HDL.

So is following these 3 steps to raise low HDL cholesterol worth it? The answer to that is of course yes, it may take a little bit of getting used to in the beginning, but when you consider the alternative is being on statins for the rest of your life, and all the side effects that they have, then it is a small price to pay.

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One of the first areas that is susceptible to damage is your liver. The reason for this is because statins can increase the amount of enzymes produced by the liver, and if this is a significant increase and is not caught it can go on to cause severe liver damage. Interestingly the drug that we mentioned earlier in the form of Zetia has also been found to cause damage to the liver, as well as cause other health concerns such as pancreatitis.The worry with liver conditions though is that they can develop without any warning symptoms, so if you are on cholesterol lowering drugs be sure you get your liver checked periodically.

Possibly the number one side effect and complaint about statins is in the way that it leaves the user with severe muscle pain and also muscle weakness. There are a host of reasons behind this but the most important one that you need to know about is because that when the statins suppress the enzyme that creates the bad cholesterol, at the same time it also suppresses an enzyme that powers all of the cells in your body. The long-term effect of this can be severe health implications for you, because when you take into consideration that your heart is a muscle then ultimately you may experience severe pain here and with it being a weak muscle possibly also experienced failure.

A further well documented side effect of statins is in the effect that it has on the brain. You see, ultimately we do need this LDL cholesterol within our bodies as it does several important functions, and one of them is carrying fats to our brain which are needed for them to function properly. Therefore when we have high cholesterol levels we are not looking to totally in eliminate LDL, just reduce the amount that there is to a safe level. Unfortunately cholesterol lowering drugs such as statins can take this too far and therefore there is not enough LDL being produced which means our brains will not function properly. The net effect of this can be poor memory and concentration, but more worryingly a lot of researchers are now starting to link the lack of LDL with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

So really, unless there is some other underlying cause for you to have high cholesterol, such as having inherited the genes through your family that cause it, then it may be an idea to try alternative methods to lower your cholesterol levels before resorting to cholesterol lowering drugs. Some ideas to get you started could be to reduce the amount of trans fats you consume, stop smoking, lose weight and exercise more.

If you would like to find out more about natural ways to lower your cholesterol levels that are as effective as cholesterol lowering drugs, then make sure you visit http://www.clobbercholesterol.comto find out about the safest way to lower bad cholesterol