Combatting Atherosclerosis With Good Nutrition (part 2)

You will have to make your own mind up on whether cholesterol or omega 6 is to blame for atherosclerosis. The argument is similar to the dieting problem: do you believe in the old-style fat-reduction, high carbohydrate diet or the newer, Atkins’ high fat low carbohydrate diet?

It is very confusing for the layman, but that is how specialists sell books. You pay your money and take your choice or you merely go along with your medical doctor.

However, both factions of dietitians agree that fish oil is good for you and in particular is helpful for decreasing LDL cholesterol and omega 6 overdose. Omega 3 is best taken in oily, cold water fish like salmon, herring and mackerel.

They contain relatively high levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids. Another source of omega 3, but different ones from the fish, is from meat that has been raised on grass.

Garlic is well-known for being an antiseptic but it is also useful for reducing cholesterol. It appears to have a deleterious impact on LDL (bad) cholesterol, but leaves HDL (good) cholesterol alone. One clove a day is said to be adequate to have a beneficial effect.

Fibre and roughage are essential for good general health. These components are to be discovered in fruit and vegetables (particularly the leafy green ones); grains, lentils, legumes and nuts. Roughage and fibre will help remove LDL cholesterol and prevent constipation. They also help prevent bowel cancer which is on the increase in the West.

Some nutritionists say that LDL is not perilous, but is just a threat and it becomes perilous when it has been damaged. One kind of damage is oxidization. Therefore, anti-oxidants will reduce your risk from cholesterol and arteriosclerosis. The next question ought to be: what are major anti-oxidants?

There is a colossal array of anti-oxidants ranging from the fun to the boring. I do not know what you find boring, but flavonoids are a good anti-oxidant and they are present in high quantities in red wine. Besides red wine, other anti-oxidants include: Vitamins Ce and E and beta carotene.

These are available in peppers, citrus fruit, strawberries, cantaloupe melons, broccoli, white carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, mangoes and green leaf vegetables. Other decent sources are wheat, oats, nuts and seeds.

Mono unsaturated fat is one of the best sources of oil you can find. Mono unsaturated fat comes best from olive oil, which is one of the reasons why the so-called Mediterranean Diet is so good for people.

Mono unsaturated fat has another beneficial effect: eating it reduces hunger for a longer time than you would expect for the calories involved. This makes it a good substance for dieters. The same is true of roughage, fibre and eggs.

Mono unsaturated fat is one of your best allies in the fight against atherosclerosis. However, it is not only present in olive oil, it is also in avocados and nuts, particularly pecan nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds.

Last but not least is ginger. Ginger has a high quantity of phytochemicals known as gingerol and shogaol which are also antioxidants. Ginger not just lowers LDL cholesterol, but it also helps prevent the oxidization of LDL

If you can just implement a few these alterations to your diet you may be able to ward off arteriosclerosis and avoid having to take drugs like statins for ever.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on several topics, and is now concerned with omega 3 arthritis. If you want to know more, please go to our site at Omega 6 9