Probiotics May Help Improve Cholesterol Levels
There is a lot to know about cholesterol and how it affects the health of the body.
To begin with, there are two main types of cholesterol:
1. high-density lipoprotein (HDL), considered to be the “good” cholesterol
2. low-density lipoprotein (LDL), viewed as the “bad” cholesterol
Based on research, the medical community has defined the “optimal” cholesterol levels. In general, the numbers should be as follows:
Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults
LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL
HDL levels should read at 60 mg/dL or higher
The Risks
Cholesterol health issues can be serious. Unfortunately, an estimated 95 million U.S. adults have total cholesterol greater than the healthy 200 mg/dL level.
If you have too much cholesterol, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque. Plaque sticks to the walls of the arteries. This buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a dangerous accumulation of cholesterol and other deposits on the walls of the arteries. These deposits can reduce blood flow, which can cause complications, such as:
Chest pain. If the arteries that supply your heart with blood (coronary arteries) are affected, you may have chest pain (angina) and other symptoms of coronary artery disease.
Heart attack. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
Stroke. Similar to a heart attack, if blood flow to part of your brain is blocked by a blood clot, a stroke occurs.
Unfortunately, high cholesterol alone usually doesn’t have any clear symptoms. As a result, many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. A simple blood test should be done on a regular basis to check your numbers.
Beneficial Probiotics
Probiotics may be able to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Probiotics help avert cholesterol from being made and absorbed by the body, as well as by helping break it down. A number of large studies have shown that specific Probiotics may assist in lowering blood cholesterol.
Here is what the research reveals:
Probiotics and/or prebiotics possess cholesterol-lowering effects;
Probiotics significantly reduced both total cholesterol and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels;
More specifically, published data demonstrated that after nine weeks of regular Probiotic use, there was a reduction in total cholesterol by nine percent and “bad” LDL cholesterol by 12 percent;
Evidence indicates that Probiotic supplements can significantly reduce serum total cholesterol.
Consider Extra Support
High cholesterol is tough on arteries and your health. You can fight back by talking to your healthcare professional and by knowing your cholesterol levels and risk factors. In addition to diet, medications, and lifestyle changes, it just may be time for Probiotics to be part of your daily regime.
Consider Probiotic supplements to support healthy cholesterol levels and promote overall health.
