This issue:
Raising HDL Levels

Take several steps to increase your HDL levels.

Why

Your blood's HDLs (High Density Lipids) carry fatty acids to your liver
and do the clean-up job of removing plaque from artery walls. Hopefully

the HDLs do this faster than LDLs add plaque. HDLs also are antioxidants,
i.e., they prevent excess oxidation that causes free radical tissue damage.
The American Heart Association considers HDL levels below 40 for men and
below 50 for women to be a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease.

The ideal level is above 60 mg/dL (mircograms per deciliter).

What raises HDL levels?

1. Exercising raises HDL about by 5 mg/dL.

2. Each six pounds you lose rasises HDL by 1 mg/dL.

3. One or two alcoholic drinks raises HDL 4 mg/dL.

4. Fish oil (from eating fish or from supplements) lowers

trglycerides which has that inverse relationship with HDL and

raises HDL 2-3 mg/dL.

5. Niacin (Vitamin B-3) helps (benefits vary with dosage, very

high doses may cause liver problems).

6. Other supplements that can help include chromium

and policosanol.

Note that in moderate or high doses, niacin causes "flushing."

It does this by dilating blood vessels and capillaries. This concentrates

blood in your face and other skin surfaces and can make your face red,

warm and very itchy. Flushing can be reduced by taking niacin on a full stomach

and with water. Aspirin also reduces flushing. Flushing tends to decrease with

continued use. Despite the discomfort, modest levels of flushing

are healthy in that they indicate your body is getting blood to

capillaries where it can remove toxins. Note that recent research

has been finding that No Flush Niacin does not deliver the HDL benefit.

What lowers HDL?

1. Smoking lowers HDL 5 mg/dL.

2. High glycemic index foods (e.g., simple carbohydrates

such as white bread, rice, pasta) helps converted into

triglycerides which has an inverse relationship with HDL.

3. Transfats increase triglyceride levels and decrease HDL.

Quotes

High cholesterol is among the risk factors for heart disease,

but is not the leading risk factor. The most prevalent risk factor

is low HDL along with small LDL particles, which commonly

occur together. In fact, of every 100 people with coronary
heart disease, 60-70 will have low HDL and small LDL particles,
but fewer than 30 will have high LDL. If this is the case,
why do we not hear more about low HDL and small LDL particles?
The answer is simple: because treating these is not as profitable for
drug companies. But just wait—when a profitable drug becomes
available to treat this more prevalent risk factor for heart disease,
we can expect to hear about an “epidemic” that will justify billions
of dollars in new drug expenditures.

~Life Extension Foundation Magazine

Humor

My husband and I both gained weight after we got married and so we

went on a diet together. He lost weight, and I didn't. I had to feed him

in his sleep, intravenously.
~Rita Rudner

I went on a diet. Had to go on two diets at the same time

because one diet wasn't giving me enough food.

~Barry Marder

________
 

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THE DEFY AGING NEWSLETTER
Anti-Aging Psychology
Holistic Health and Wellness

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"Dr. Michael Brickey, The Anti-Aging Psychologist, teaches people to think, feel, look and be more youthful. He is an inspiring keynote speaker and Oprah-featured author. His works include:  Defy Aging, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, and Reverse Aging (anti-aging hypnosis CDs). Visit www.NotAging.com for a free report on anti-aging secrets and a free newsletter with practical anti-aging tips."