. .. Garlic comes to the forefront whenever high cholesterol is mentioned. There is some controversy concerning garlic’s ability to reduce cholesterol. Some studies have shown its effectiveness in lowering cholesterol (sometimes as much as 20%), while others have shown no benefit. One important study, which appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that garlic lowered total serum cholesterol levels by about 9%. The equivalent dose used was 1/2 to 1 clove (2-4gm) of garlic per day. At these doses stomach upset and odour can be a problem. If you are taking medications to thin the blood, like warfarin or higher doses of aspirin, garlic may make your blood too thin. So talk to your Peoples Pharmacist to see if garlic supplements are right for you.
. .. I feel increased dietary fibre is one of the most overlooked options to help lower cholesterol. One study found that 3.4 g of psyllium, taken three times a day, lowered LDL by 20%. Fibre works due to its ability to bind to cholesterol in the gut, correct? Not necessarily. There is evidence that the metabolism of fibre may lead to the byproducts, propionate (a short-chain fatty acid) and alpha-tocotrienol (similar to vitamin E), that can prevent your body from making its own supply of cholesterol. Taking lots of extra fibre can cause stomach related side effects such as gas, bloating and indigestion. If you wish to increase your intake of fibre, start with small amounts and work your way up from there. Large amounts of fibre can also interfere with the absorption of certain medications, ask your Peoples Pharmacist for more information.
. .. Recent evidence has shown that pomegranate juice can help to reduce systolic blood pressure. People who drank 50ml (2 oz) of pomegranate juice daily for one year had a total reduction of systolic blood pressure between 5% and 21%. These results are promising and there appears to be no harm of having some pomegranate juice every day. There is also emerging evidence that suggests that this juice might help with heart disease in other ways.
. .. I still feel that one overlooked supplement for cardiovascular disease is niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin and its related vitamins (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide and niacinamide) are responsible for assisting in over 200 chemical reactions in the body. The current focus for niacin is its ability to help lower cholesterol. Higher doses of niacin, 1-2grams a day, can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise i
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