Cholesterol Management

Many of us wage a daily war against high cholesterol. But what exactly is cholesterol, and how can we lower our "bad" cholesterol levels safely and effectively ...

What is Cholesterol and why is too much of the 'wrong' Cholesterol bad for you?

First of all what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is"a raw material used by the body to build cell walls and produce hormones such as estrogen and testosterone."

We all need a certain level of cholesterol as healthy individuals. Problems arise when our bodies are unable to get rid of any excess cholesterol and it begins to build up.

High cholesterol is one of the biggest and best-known threats to an otherwise healthy heart, as an accumulation of the fat-like, waxy substance on the artery walls seriously increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

So what can you do to keep your Cholesterol level healthy?

There are many solutions offered, from drugs to changing your eating habits. One of the most promising, and easiest to integrate into your daily life, is adding blueberries to your diet.

In a recent study, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that there is a compound in blueberries, called pterostilbene, which lowers cholesterol just as effectively as drugs, without any of the dangerous side effects. In fact, the USDA discovered that this blueberry compound was just as good as the commercially produced medication ciprofibrate at lowering the "bad" cholesterol, LDL.

Pterostilbene is an antioxidant, and is similar to another compound called resveratrol, found in grapes and red wine and also believed to lower cholesterol. Antioxidants, by definition, are "any of various substances (as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and alpha-tocopherol) that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen and peroxides and that include many held to protect the living body from the deleterious effects of free radicals." What this means is that antioxidants, like those found in blueberries, fight off toxic forms of oxygen.

Blueberries are full of nutrients, with the "best" part of the blueberry being its skin. Berries such as blueberries and cranberries, with darker, rich-colored skins, are full of a powerful dye, called anthocyanin, that is released from the pigments. Taking advantage of these healthy, nutrient-filled little berries can be nothing but beneficial to you and your health!

Bulk up with Blueberries

There has been a longstanding belief in natural medicine that there are certain foods that provide more than just dietary value and are believed to have disease-fighting and healing properties.

One of these foods that has been studied and proven to be, among other things, a tasty way to fill up on antioxidants, is the blueberry.

In recent USDA studies, blueberries have, in fact, been shown to be number one in antioxidant activity, as compared to 40 other fruits and vegetables (Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University).

Blueberries - Good for more than simply managing Cholesterol ...

• Decreasing your risk of cancer
• Preventing heart disease and stroke by reducing the build up of so-called "bad" cholesterol
• Guarding against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases
• Combating aging and reversing short term memory loss
• Relieving arthritis inflammation
• Fighting infection and strengthening the immune system
• Promoting urinary tract health
• Optimizing vision health and reversing the causes of blindness

Blueberry Supplements

While its great to incorporate fresh fruits into our diets, often they are unavailable, inconvenient to purchase, or we simply don't have the time to properly prepare them.

Sure, you can throw a handful of blueberries onto your cereal in the morning, but the best way to grab a hold of everything the blueberry has to offer is with the convenience of an extract.

Blueberry juice is another alternative, but often comes heavily sweetened, creating another problem in itself.

A popular and convenient way of guaranteeing that you get the right amount of blueberries daily is by taking a supplement. Fresh blueberries can be very expensive, and sometimes difficult to find, but with a concentrated blueberry extract, you can easily utilize the nutritional benefits of the blueberry.

Also, by taking advantage of blueberry supplements, you avoid the hassle of choosing the "best" berries at the supermarket, or of having to mix up messy powders.

Pure Herbal Extracts™ produce one of the highest potency Blueberry supplements available, which guarantees you receive the best benefits from the many properties that blueberries offer you.

Blueberry and Cholesterol References

• "Blueberries 'lower cholesterol'. Blueberries could provide an alternative way to lower cholesterol, according to US researchers. A compound in the fruits acted as effectively as a commercial drug used to reduce levels of the "bad" form of cholesterol in rodents. Other studies suggest blueberries may fight cancer and diabetes.
  Blueberries Lower Cholesterol - BBC Report August 2004

• Blueberries May Protect Against Cancer and Heart Disease. Blueberries, cranberries, huckleberries and related plants have now been found to contain resveratrol, a potential anticancer agent, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists who made the discovery. Report by ARS, the leading scientific research agency of the US Department of Agriculture
  Blueberries May Protect Against Cancer and Heart Disease - ARS Report