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There are a assortment of health risks involved with high cholesterol. So distinctly if your levels are too high, you’ll want to know in regards to the respective ways of letting down cholesterol. It is crucial that you realize not all types of cholesterol are dangerous when found in high amounts. HDL or “good cholesterol” may be raised at the same time that LDL or “bad cholesterol” is lowered. First understand that high cholesterol itself is not considered to be a disease, but it does lead to sicknesses such as atherosclerosis or narrowing and hardening of the arteries. High cholesterol may also lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart arrhythmias and high blood pressure. So let’s find ways to fetch those levels down. One of the initial steps in attempting to lower your bad cholesterol is through diet. Foods such as butter, eggs, poultry, meat and whole milk all integrate cholesterol. Therefore, if you are looking to lower your overall cholesterol, then you will need to limit your intake of foods high in cholesterol. Sodium and foods high in sodium ought to likewise be obviated if you have high cholesterol. Step two is exercise. For galore people, an active life style may mainly decrease bad cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that people get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day but you have a great deal of flexibleness here. The exercise may be done all at one time or disseminate out all around the day. You may do three, ten minute spurts of exercise or two, fifteen minutes spurts. Just find a routine that you will be competent to proceed with, so that exercise becomes a part of your normal each and everyday routine. Consider doing exercises such as walking, jogging, riding a bike or even swimming. And while we often times think of high cholesterol as diet or exercise related, smoking, and even second hand smoke may likewise increase your bad cholesterol. Therefore, if you have high cholesterol and are looking to lower it, you must keep away from smoking and if possible, limit the time you are around second hand smoke. High cholesterol may likewise be inherited. And for a lot of people, no matter what they do, they cannot get their cholesterol under control. Therefore, there may be the need to consider taking medicine that is quintessentially designed to aid lower bad cholesterol. There are a potpourri of dissimilar medications on the market and your doctor will work with you to find one that best meets your personal needs. The bottom line is that letting down cholesterol requires that you make a life style change. Start by altering your current bad habits to more salubrious ones. There are a lot of simple steps that may be done, such as a healthful diet and exercise but at times even that isn’t enough. If both of those fail to provide the results you are looking for, there are medications that may help. It is indispensable that you realize high levels of bad cholesterol may in truth take a toll on your overall health. High cholesterol puts you at a more outstanding danger for heart attacks, strokes as well as a lot of other sicknesses and health problems. Therefore, if you have high cholesterol, be sure you take the necessary steps to get your levels down and keep them down. |
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268 of 277 people found the following review helpful.
Must Reading for Those Interested in Their Health
By Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty
I have a personal interest in this particular subject so I was pleased to be asked to read and review “Cholesterol Down,” a book which definitely should be read by anyone with a current cholesterol problem and, for that matter, by anyone in the younger set who wants to prevent such a problem from occurring in his or her future. If I had had this information many decades ago, I probably could have prevented or at least delayed the coronary problems I am now fighting. After my first heart attack five years ago, I had to face the fact that some extraordinary changes were necessary and at the top of that list was diet. I was placed on a “Mediterranean” diet which is very similar to the diet which Dr. Brill recommends in her book.
Dr. Brill suggests ten simple steps to lower one’s cholesterol without resorting to prescription drugs. I am all in favor of that because nothing disturbs me more within the medical area of my life than the taking of prescription drugs. I try to avoid that sort of thing like the plague. I much prefer to utilize “natural” remedies whenever and wherever possible. So far I’ve been fairly successful, having to take only one prescription medication (an anti-clotting drug) and only because I have found no comparable natural remedy.
This book is divided into two parts plus an appendix. The first part of the book provides the reader with information about cholesterol and heart disease, basically the scientific foundations upon which Dr. Brill’s ten-step plan is based. This can be read first but it is not necessary. I read the second part first, which actually describes the ten-step cholesterol down plan, because I was specifically interested in reviewing what the author suggests; one can always go back to the scientific rationale later. Additionally, in the appendix, Dr. Brill provides some valuable aids such as a daily checklist, progress chart, a sample meal and exercise plans, some heart-healthy recipes (very important!), and a way of determining one’s risk of heart disease. But for those fighting heart disease or wanting to try to prevent that scourge, it is the ten-step program that is the “heart” of the book (sorry for the pun!).
Now, I’m going to briefly review the ten steps Dr. Brill recommends and add a personal touch to each one. If my getting personal bothers you, then this is the time to stop reading this review, purchase the book for yourself, and read your way to healthy living.
Step One: Eat oatmeal. I am so glad that she favors this because that is exactly what I’ve been doing for the past five years. Actually I eat a double-helping six mornings a week (I’m a big guy and one helping just doesn’t do the job). On Sundays, by the way, my cardiologist permits me to have a breakfast of two eggs, hashbrowns (cooked in Canola oil), and lean chicken. But the oatmeal is essential and I have it with a tablespoon of milled flaxseed, a handful of raisins, a touch of cinnamon (allegedly helps to control blood sugar), and some no-fat milk.
Step Two: Eat almonds. I have not been doing this; it’s the first I’ve heard about it. Based on the science behind this recommendation, however, I have to give it serious consideration.
Step Three: Eat flaxseeds. OK, no problem here. I am getting flaxseed with my oatmeal and also with some other items I eat every day, including the whole grain breads and deserts I bake. I am sold on the flaxseed situation and would recommend it to everyone. It’s a great way to get the essential omega-3 fatty acids so necessary to human life.
Step Four: Take Metamucil. Well, I’ve never taken Metamucil in my life. And, to be honest, I have some personal concerns about this recommendation. Dr. Brill does, to be sure, present the science behind this suggestion, but I’m going to have to really think about this one. I’ve always looked upon Metamucil as a remedy for those with constipation problems and (thank the fates!) that is a problem I don’t have to concern myself with, at least for now. But I will think about this recommendation, even though I don’t intend to implement it immediately.
Step Five: Eat beans. Absolutely no problem. I make my own bean and vegetable soup (using 16 different beans and, yes, made from scratch!) and eat a healthy helping every night at dinner. This is a definite must if you’re serious about your cardiac health.
Step Six: Eat apples. This should be no surprise to anyone. From an early age, I was forced to memorize the proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” And so it apparently does. Since I was so indoctrinated from childhood with this prescription, I have pretty much abided by it. Fortunately I love apples.
Step Seven: Eat margarine with phytosterols. No problem here. I use one of the newer products which are heart-healthy and has been approved by my cardiologist. Anyway, I was never particularly devoted to butter or traditional margarine.
Step Eight: Eat soy protein. I normally get a certain amount of this in many of my meals. I admit to not getting the amount that Dr. Brill recommends. I have some concerns about the amount she suggests, especially since I’ve been reading some scientific reports lately that are critical of consuming large amounts of soy protein, particularly for those of the male gender. For the present, I’ll confine myself to the amount I am currently getting.
Step Nine: Eat garlic. Ah! — music to my ears. I love garlic. I love the taste of garlic. I love the smell of garlic. I use garlic all the time in much of my cooking. I also take a garlic supplement. If there is a true “wonder drug” in nature, I will vote for garlic to assume that status. It is my favorite herb and I think the science clearly supports its beneficial properties, not only for cardiovascular disease but for prevention of cancer as well. I am happy that Dr. Brill recommends garlic to her readers. (But why is it number nine instead of number one?)
Step Ten: Walk. Again, no problem. I either walk thirty or more minutes a day (weather permitting) or I do thirty minutes of aerobic exercises at home. This is easier for me to practice, of course, because I’m from a generation that didn’t spend much time sitting on the couch. We were outside playing, roughhousing, and physically active (pre-TV-computer-video games, of course).
So, considering that I have implemented or regularly practice seven out of the ten steps Dr. Brill recommends, I will give myself an “A-minus” or, at least, a “B-plus.” Furthermore, I intend to keep my copy of this book on my kitchen bookshelf and use it as a continual reference about and a constant reminder of what I ought to be doing to maintain my own health. “Cholesterol Down” is a great self-help book and highly recommended.
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful.10 Simple Steps To Naturally Lower Your Cholesterol
By Kelly J. Jadon
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This one worked for me!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My doctor gave me two months time to lower my cholesterol levels before starting medication. He advised me to take 3000mg Fish Oil capsules/day with low Carb diet. After some research, I narrowed down to this book due to several positive reviews.
This is the best diet that can lower your cholesterol in a short time and it worked for me.
Here is the proof of my total cholesterol.
Sept 09 – 244
Oct 04 – 206
Oct 17 – 194
However I noticed there is a little improvement for HDL. It went from 18 to 25 in a month. May be I need some more exercise. I am still working on to raise my HDL further.
Helpful information
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
When my husband was diagnosed with high cholesterol, I wanted to help him
tackle the problem. This book gives 10 pretty doable recommendations for
how to lower cholesterol. They are the same suggestions that our
dietician gave him. Although, she also suggested fish oil supplements in
addition. The best part of the book is the detailed explanation as to
why all these suggestions work. The science behind why almonds, apples and oatmeal help pull cholesterol from your bloodstream really helped
my husband buy into making the changes. Good luck.
Healthy Food isn’t Boring!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I first borrowed this book from the library when my husband was diagnosed with high cholesterol. We don’t like to take medicine unless necessary, are healthy eaters, and knew we could make a few adjustments. Wow, is this plan great! My husband has lost 20 lbs in 2 months — of course, the proof will be in the next blood test. (Update: After 5 months, my husband lost 33 lbs and his cholesterol went from 225 to 174; his LDL dropped from 170 to 124.)
Dr. Brill’s plan boils down to this: fruit, vegetables, whole grains, flax seed, nuts, beans, soy, fish, garlic, and plenty of walking. The book offers a lot of common sense (a healthy diet), but Dr. Brill takes the extra steps of explaining how each of the foods attacks cholesterol. It can get a little textbook-ish, but those details can easily be skimmed over.
Honestly, if you’re a junk food junkie, this isn’t the plan for you. It takes work. You’ll have to plan your meals and actually COOK from scratch, using fresh ingredients. But you’ll likely discover new foods and actually enjoy them. If you’re willing to adjust your lifestyle, definitely give it a try. She has a number of good recipes, so you don’t have to eat your vegetables and whole grains plain — which is key to sticking to any diet.
cholesterol down
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I followed her steps everyday and lowered by 50 points. It is a great book to follow.
Book is a Treasure Trove!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Author has done a great job in simplifying good heart-health information into a 10-step daily checklist. Used it for 3 months and lowered my cholesterol by 50 points! I am thrilled! No medications (which the MD was constantly pushing all the while telling me I was expecting too much from dietary interventions).
This book saves anyone seriously needing to lower their LDL cholesterol a lot of money. I used the LDL chol progress chart in the book and made the recipes Spinach Salad, Chix w/ 40 cloves of garlic, and Oat-Apple-Flax Pancakes. My husband enjoyed the Pepperless Bean Salad (he, too doesn’t eat bell peppers). Then, we used the Cooking ala Heart recipes for the rest of the week.
You won’t regret buying this book. I give it a hearty full thumbs up. Thanks Janet for working so hard to put all this great knowledge into one book. Iknow first hand the amount of work that goes into writing and producing a book! Nice job. Linda Hachfeld
Wait and See
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It is an interesting read and the steps are easily followed, however, I need to see if they actually lower my cholesterol before I can give the book a thumbs up!
Sensible approach whatever your condition!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an outstanding book, not least because it promotes a sensible approach that can be applied to all “diets”/lifestyle changes. All ideas are extremely easy to implement and will lead to lower cholesterol as well as weight loss if followed sensibly. I speak from experience, my LDL went from 207 to 118 in 3 months. I continue with this lifestyle and have lost 12 pounds, I feel lean and healthy and far more energetic. Best of all, there are some excellent recipes in the book, which are almost worth buying the book for alone! In a confusing and often murky area of health help, Cholesterol Down provides an easy-to-repeat formula to help with cholesterol control and overall health – everyone should be eating more fibre of both kinds!
mostly satisfied
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
book arrived on time and in pretty good condition. many pages were slightly crumpled due to what seemed like very light water damage, but no big deal. would order from them again.
The Catch-22 of all natural cures
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Most readers are likely to pick up a book like this when they know there’s trouble a-brewin–because of a recent “bad” lipid count, high blood pressure reading, irregular heartbeat, etc. In fact, they may be at a stage where prompt and effective, proactive action indicates the immediate use of statin drugs. Yet the author begins the book by, in so many words, “condemning” such medications by listing a lengthy string of unpleasant side-effects. But it may be too late for “natural” cures, especially if dramatic and quick improvement is being sought. I’ve known a number of individuals who, after trying no end of “natural” remedies, altering their eating habits, taking up exercise to an obsessive degree, downing the garlic and fish oil capsules, were more than a little discouraged to have their blood levels analyzed again only to discover that their cholesterol levels had changed very little.
Without realizing it, the author herself proves my point. After beginning the book with a (by now) familiar scare tactic–Will you die of heart disease? (At present, the odds are “yes,” since most people do), she proceeds to make the situation seem even more dire by revealing that although she was a marathon runner, ate sensibly, and had her gender going for her (a disproportionate number of those afflicted with HD are males), she was shocked to be confronted with alarming cholesterol levels–in SPITE of a healthy lifestyle. So what then are we to make of her demonizing statin drugs in practically the same breath? Apparently, not using statin drugs was not to her benefit; could using them have been so much worse?
The Catch 22 of so many of the “alternative medicine” books is that readers don’t read them when they might be of benefit, and are most likely to read them and take their recommendations seriously only when it would be in their best interests to follow doctor’s orders, whether or not that entailed the use of Lipitor, Crestor, Plavix, etc. Nevertheless, for the reader who is just becoming aware of a need to lower “bad” cholesterol, raise “good” cholesterol, etc., this book can certainly be recommended. It’s more comprehensive and informative than its title, with the “simple 10 steps,” might imply. And I would agree that “if” you can get the same results without prescription meds as with prescription meds, it’s better to achieve that result med-free. In other words, I wish my son would read this book and follow its directions–now–and not when he gets to an age and stage in his life when it’s all too clear that action has to be taken.
Like the other heart books that I’ve read–some classifiable as “alternative” in their approach; others as “mainstream”–this one could use more emphasis on the role of not just HDL and LDL cholesterol but of triglycerides as well as more attention to not only fats but blood sugar and a dangerous condition known as “insulin metabolic syndrome.”
Also, I’m frankly surprised, and a bit disappointed, that more of the current HD/CDV books–especially the ones advocating alternative, natural approaches–have not more seriously, fully and emphatically taken on the increasingly controversial issue of chemically-treated stents. Maybe authors are afraid of the politics, especially in light of all the fuss we’ve witnessed in recent months. But more important than offending a party or profession or corporation, it seems to me, is the health of the nation and its people. Europe has practically outlawed chemically-treated stents, and some say that heart patients and their precious “endothelium” (the inner lining of the lifeline arteries) are the better for it; the U.S., by contrast, keeps on inserting chemically-treated stents and accepting the consequences, medically and economically.
Certainly, a book is due out on this explosive subject (maybe it’s out there already). I understand that the government is even initiating lawsuits against some of the manufacturers of the stents and of the prohibitively expensive medications they necessitate. I hope we don’t all become so exclusively preoccupied with our own cholesterol counts that we neglect some of the larger issues, however unpleasant or distasteful they may be to special-interest groups. It’s not only in our own interest but the next generation’s.
Great results
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
With a cholesterol count of 258 my doctor was anxious to put me on a drug to lower it but I asked for time to do it with diet. I bought this book and found it not only readable but the steps were well explained, made sense and were easy to follow. I didn’t do absolutely everything recommended but still was able to bring my cholesterol down to 215 after 3 months (and this was over the holidays too). My doctor was so pleased he said I should continue in the hopes that my cholesterol will be under 200 in another 3 months. On top of all that I feel great and have lost a little weight in the bargain.
Thanks, Dr. Brill.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I followed between 5 and 7 of the ten steps outlined on this book with consistency and was able to lower my cholesterol from 255 to 173 in 3 1/2 weeks. I do not know if it will work for everybody, but it did for me.
All I can say is thank you, Dr. Brill.
GREAT BOOK!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book has great advice for those trying to bring cholesterol down without the use of medicine. I tried it and it worked!
Best book on the subject
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
There are many books on lowering cholesterol. However, this is the best in my opinion. Clear and easy to follow. I don’t religiously follow all the steps exactly, but I incorporate as many as possible into my program. These are healthy recommendations for everyone.
I am so happy, got it down from 234 to 175 in 4 weeks!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It really is a miracle. I was so nervous and worried. I didn’t do all 10 steps. I just did the breakfast oatmeal thing and worked in extra bran, flaxseed, margarine and soy milk, and wha-la! I’m looking at a healthy ratio. I can’t wait to see what happens 5 months from now. REALLY GREAT BOOK, good information, good ideas, good success stories, good all over! AND it works!!!
Cholesterol Down: If you can’t tolerate drugs, you now have an option.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
(Recommended)
No one ever tells you why to eat certain foods. This book prescribes how much and what to eat, tells you how it helps, cites case studies and their results showing you percentages of benefit derived from eating particular foods. Doctors are into saying drugs are the only way, while not even mentioning the substantial benefits that can achieved by a simple change in diet. The doctors and hospital told me no salt and no cholesterol after my stint. After my stint I was prescribed drugs that gave me muscle pain, prevented me from doing any kind of exertion, and basically left me bereft of anything to eat. I hungrily wandered the grocery stores and found nothing that didn’t contain salt or cholesterol. After reading the book I’ve achieved the same results that my doctor achieved, but without the drugs and their consequent side affects. I’m now full of good foods, off the statin drugs, and following the diet prescribed in the book with the added addition of taking Niacin.
Please note Niacin, not particulary mentioned in this book also helps reduce cholesterol, but can be harmful in large doses. Be careful not to exceed 1500MG of the slow release(or prolonged)Niacin, or 4000MG of the regular Niacin. Start slow taking small amounts of Niacin, take with food, the prickly sunburn flush feeling will pass with time as your body builds up it’s tolerance.