| Trying to find tasty foods that raise HDL isn't always | | | | rolling through my veins. Maybe, but the only current |
| an easy task. After all they have to taste good, be | | | | medication designed to do this is very new, has a |
| affordable, and we don't want to have to hire a | | | | number of unpleasant label warnings, and likely will |
| safari guide to locate which rock they may be hiding | | | | need to taken with other medications to achieve the |
| under. Not much to ask, wouldn't you say? In this | | | | proper HDL/LDL ratio. So we are back to doing it the |
| article about foods that raise HDL we will briefly | | | | good old fashioned way, by trying to find affordable, |
| cover what HDL stands for, why it is considered | | | | available, and tasty foods that raise HDL. |
| beneficial, and then reveal a few foods found at your | | | | Ironically, there are a lot of foods that lower |
| local grocery store that would be good additions to | | | | problematic LDL cholesterol but very few that |
| any shopping cart bent on the destruction of high | | | | ratchet up HDL. Most experts agree the best two |
| cholesterol. | | | | foods that raise HDL are apples and pears. |
| Cholesterol does not float freely in the bloodstream | | | | Wait a minute, didn't my grandmother say an apple a |
| instead it is attached to special carriers called | | | | day would keep the doctor away? I'm sure she did |
| lipoproteins. The two most important carriers are low | | | | but what she really meant was an apple a day will |
| density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins | | | | keep the cardiologist away! |
| (HDL). The levels of LDL and HDL have completely | | | | Research suggests that soluble pectins form a gel in |
| different effects on heart and cardiovascular health. | | | | your stomach that mops up fats and send them on |
| LDL is considered bad cholesterol and is associated | | | | their merry way right out of the body. Apples and |
| with an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke | | | | pears also have the added bonus of firming up loose |
| while HDL is associated with heart and arterial health. | | | | stool and have been used for years as a home |
| So in essence cholesterol will need a ride, the only | | | | remedy for diarrhea. But it just might be the |
| question is whether it will be a drunk cab driver bent | | | | flavonoids that are found in abundance in apples, |
| on destruction (LDL) or a sober one that makes sure | | | | pears, and dark skinned grapes that might be the real |
| cholesterol gets to its intended destination without | | | | driver in raising beneficial HDL levels. Perhaps we will |
| incident (HDL). | | | | know more in a few years but for now it is clear |
| Now it becomes fairly obvious that the more high | | | | that eating apples and pears just might be the ticket |
| density lipoprotein floating around in our blood the | | | | to improving cholesterol health and balance. |
| better off we will ultimately be. The question is | | | | Other foods helpful for HDL are garlic and possibly |
| where is the best place to start. After all can't I just | | | | fish but the jury is still out to sea on that one. |
| take a pill and get some of that pharmaceutical magic | | | | |