Lifestyle impacts your health.

Introduction

Every 33 seconds, an American dies of heart disease. That’s nearly a million of us a year. Heart disease is more likely to kill you than cancer, respiratory diseases, or car accidents. And, counter to popular opinion, heart attacks kill even more women than men. To take a proactive approach to your own heart health, it’s important to retain normal cholesterol levels. The National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association say that half of all American adults may have elevated cholesterol (200mg/dL or higher). Elevated blood cholesterol doubles the risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol and other fats are moved through the blood stream in fat-protein bundles called "lipoproteins." There are four groups of lipoproteins:

1. LDL
2. VLDL
3. HDL
4. chylomicrons

Protein envelops the fat and directs the fat enclosed to its intended site in tissues and organs.

What Are Healthy Levels of Cholesterol?

Your total blood cholesterol level
Your total blood cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:

Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high risk — 200–239 mg/dL
High risk — 240 mg/dL and over

Here is some more explanation about each of these categories.

Desirable
If your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, your heart attack risk is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors. Even with a low risk, it's still smart to eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and also get plenty of physical activity. Have your cholesterol levels measured every five years — or more often if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55.

Borderline high risk
People whose cholesterol level is from 200 to 239 mg/dL are borderline high risk. About a third of American adults are in this (borderline) group; almost half of adults have total cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dL.

Have your cholesterol and HDL rechecked in one to two years if:

• Your total cholesterol is in this range.
• Your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL.
• You don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.

You should also lower your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol to reduce your blood cholesterol level to below 200 mg/dL. Your doctor may order another blood test to measure your LDL cholesterol. Ask your doctor to discuss your LDL cholesterol with you. Even if your total cholesterol is between 200 and 239 mg/dL, you may not be at high risk for a heart attack. Some people — such as women before menopause and young, active men who have no other risk factors — may have high HDL cholesterol and desirable LDL levels. Ask your doctor to interpret your results. Everyone's case is different.

High risk
If your total cholesterol level is 240 or more, it's definitely high. Your risk of heart attack and stroke is greater. In general, people who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL.

You need more tests. Ask your doctor for advice. About 20 percent of the U.S. population has high blood cholesterol levels.

Your LDL cholesterol level
Your LDL cholesterol level greatly affects your risk of heart attack and stroke. The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk. In fact, it’s a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. Your LDL cholesterol will fall into one of these categories:

The key point to remember is, the lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk. Your doctor may prescribe a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, regular exercise and a weight management program if you're overweight.

HDL, or "high-density lipoprotein", does not form plaque and is thus called the "good" cholesterol. HDL picks up cholesterol from the tissues and sends it back to the liver for removal from the body. When HDL levels are where they should be, your body is disposing of cholesterol properly. When treating high blood cholesterol, health professionals try to bring the HDL level up as LDL comes down.

Your HDL cholesterol level
In the average man, HDL cholesterol levels range from 40 to 50 mg/dL. In the average woman, they range from 50 to 60 mg/dL. HDL cholesterol that's less than 40 mg/dL is low. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at high risk for heart disease. Smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. If you have low HDL cholesterol, you can help raise it by:

• Not smoking
• Losing weight (or maintaining a healthy weight)
• Being physically active for at least 30–60 minutes a day on most or all days of the week

Recently and I heard an ad for an one-a-day vitamin with a herb, policosanol, claiming to lower cholesterol. Shaklee considered policosanol to lower cholesterol. However, before they marketed the product, they consulted the top experts in the field. The experts told them that all of the studies showing that policosanol lowered cholesterol were 4 weeks or less. The experts were concerned that the cholesterol-lowering effect of policosanol was a transient effect and recommended that Shaklee conduct independent clinical studies of 8 week duration or longer. Shaklee conducted those clinical studies and found that by 8 weeks the cholesterol lowering effect of policosanol had disappeared. Therefore, Shaklee chose not to market a policosanol product.

You have to wonder who the manufacturers of the one-a-day consulted with and what clinical studies they actually performed to make sure that their product worked. When I see stuff like this, I am grateful that I have chosen to trust Shaklee to research and manufacture the products that I use to optimize my health.

The best way to maintain heart health is totake a proactive approach by eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis, and retaining normal cholesterol levels.

Listen to a discussion about nutritional tips for a healthy heart
This 13 minute discussion covers:

• Heart disease and stroke statistics
• Metabolic Syndrome in children and adolescence
• 3 supplements to promote healthy hearts
• What does CoQ10 do?
• Why supplement with omega-3 fatty acids?
• The role of garlic in heart health
• Fiber in heart health

Premium supplements designed for healthy hearts.

Change Your Life:

• Exercise at least 3 times a week. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet that concentrates on whole, unprocessed foods. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. In general, the more fruits and vegetables are processed, the less nutritive value they have. Eat whole grains or foods made from whole grains. Beans (legumes) are a healthy, low fat source of protein and vitamins. Restrict fried foods, margarine, milk and other foods high in trans-fatty acids. (Read about a Diet That Lowered Cholesterol As Well as Statins)
• Maintain optimal body weight.
• Drink 8 - 10 eight ounces of pure water.
• Reduce your stress. There are numerous studies documenting the deleterious effects of stress on health. Make time for friends and family. Find ways of relaxing throughout the day. Consider meditation, deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques or prayer.

Helpful Supplements:

• The AMA has endorsed the need for a daily multivitamin.
• Take 200 - 400 IU of vitamin E daily. Protects artery walls and helps prevent LDL oxidation.* Selenium enhances the action of vitamin E. Also supplement vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg each day, as vitamin C converts vitamin E into its helpful form after oxidation.
• Phytopeptides with bound phospholipids inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestinal tract,thereby helping to retain normal cholesterol levels.* Several studies have shown that phytopeptides with bound phospholipids from soy help retain normal cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Phytopeptides with bound phospholipids from soy have been shown to increase HDL by 26% after two months and 37% within three months. Read a pamphlet about supplementing with phospholipids and NAC.
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a plant-derived antioxidant, contributes the amino acid I-cysteine, which is involved in the body’s production of the powerful antioxidant glutathione. Scientific evidence suggests NAC may help prevent the oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.* N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown to help neutralize free radicals and protect against oxidation of LDL cholesterol. In vitro studies have shown N-acetylcysteine to be a strong inhibitor of LDL oxidation.
• Alfalfa has been shown to lower cholesterol and improve the cholesterol panel.*
• CoQ10 provides strength and energy to the heart*.
• EPA helps optimize cardiac health.
• Dietary fiber to promote heart health and help retain normal cholesterol levels.
• Garlic helps retain normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels.*
• Folic acid supports healthy hearts by helping to lower homocysteine levels*.
• Daily intake of soy protein helps retain normal cholesterol levels* and promotes heart health.*

Listen to a discussion about Heart Health Frequently Asked Questions

This 26 minute discussion covers:

• Results of heart health neglect
• What is heart disease and does it differ from cardiovascular disease?
• Who is at risk for heart disease? What are risk factors?
• What is homocysteine and what effect does it have on heart health?
• What is C-reactive protein and should you be tested for it?
• What are triglycerides and what role do they play in heart disease?
• What role does air pollution play in heart health?
• How do the symptoms of heart disease differ between men and women?
• What are the most important steps to take to promote a healthy heart?
• What supplements promote heart health and what do they do?
• How should you change your diet to promote heart health?
• How much exercise do you need to promote heart health?
• How can parents promote heart health in their children?

Find premium supplements for heart health!

Learn about Triglycerides

Supplements to deliver heart-protective antioxidants and nutrients to help retain normal blood cholesterol, maintain a steady heart beat, and strengthen the heart muscle.*!

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.