People who are barely knowledgeable about the facts and fallacies concerning cholesterol may define it as something “bad” for the body. However, that is not always the case. There are certain levels, and types, of cholesterol that we must maintain, because too much or too less of anything can pose a risk of harm in the body.

Cholesterol is waxy, fat-like substance produced inside the body through the intake of foods like meat, poultry, egg yolks, fish and dairy products.  It is needed for the formation cell membranes, create certain hormones (like testosterone for men and estrogen for women), and produce substances that aid in digesting the fats of the body. It is a naturally-occurring fat that is needed for good health.  However, too much cholesterol, most especially the “bad” form, or the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), can heighten the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol, is a condition of the body in which the blood contains very high levels of cholesterol. People who have this condition have a high chance of developing a heart disease called coronary artery disease. It also predisposes the person to cardiovascular events such as a heart attack that can sometimes be fatal.

There are 2 types of cholesterol: the LDL cholesterol or “bad” cholesterol and HDL cholesterol or “good” cholesterol. High-levels of LDL cholesterol is connected to a condition of the heart called atherosclerosis, where fatty plaques deposit in the arteries and can cause blockage, impeding the flow of blood to the vital organs of the body, like the heart and brain. When the heart is affected by atherosclerosis, it is now called as coronary artery disease that can cause heart attack and even stroke.

People with familial hypercholesterolemia inherit their condition from one or both parents. These are characterized by the build-up of yellow colored fatty nodules under the skin called xanthomas. Fatty deposit may also develop in one’s eyes that may lead to the yellowing of the whites of the eyes and impaired vision. This is called corneal arcus.

Soy Protein for Lowering Cholesterol

A new study from Solae states the theory of soy protein being more effective than milk protein in lowering levels of non-HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in patients with averagely high levels of cholesterol. This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

A co-author of the study, Dr. Elaine Krul of Solae, said that non-HDL cholesterol was seen to predict risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, and the discovery that soy protein can lessen non-HDL cholesterol than milk protein is very promising.

The study used males and females from 18 to 79 years who were diagnosed to have high levels of cholesterol and not taking any lipid changing therapy. They were asked to consume a different diet, some with soy protein, and some with milk protein. Both soy and milk protein were able to reduce molecules carrying cholesterol in the bloodstream, characterized by the minimized amount of total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, LDL-C, an apolipoprotein B. They reported that except for LDL-C, the soy protein reduced all markers more than twice compared to milk protein.  However, researchers observed that there wasn’t a significant increase in either group for neutral sterols or fecal bile acids.

The researchers of the study said that the results confirmed the effects of soy protein in reducing cholesterol levels while consuming milk protein exerted a lesser effect than soy protein. The study’s lead author, Kevin Maki, said that the results proved that soy protein can reduce non-HDL cholesterol in a method that doesn’t involve enhancement of excretion of bile acids, but that method is yet to be discovered. Nonetheless, this study proved that soy protein can significantly help in heart health.

Health Benefits of Soy Protein

Recommendations for soya being incorporated in the daily diet are being promoted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since soya provides a number of health benefits for the body. Some of which are as follows:

• It reduces hunger. Soya is rich in fiber, and the presence of fiber helps in enhancing the feeling of satisfaction in meals. Therefore, it prevents weight gain caused by unnecessary eating.
• It can reduce cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart diseases.
• It helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels. A recent study showed that middle-aged individuals consuming a minimum of 25 grams per day of soy protein exhibited reduced levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
• It also shows protective benefits against breast cancer. This is mostly recommended for teens. Other forms of cancer that can be prevented by soy protein are prostate and cancers of the colon.

Most proteins are in the form of animal protein, which greatly adds to the bad cholesterol in the body. Therefore, non-animal protein intake is highly recommended. Soy proteins can be found on soy products like soy milk, tofu and other soybean-based goods. Soy products that contain soy protein can easily be found on your local grocery stores, however, remember to exercise caution when choosing soy products since most of those that are readily available are genetically modified. Of course, you wouldn’t want to risk the health of your family so it is important that you practice diligence when buying soy products. You must be knowledgeable enough in order to make sure you are consuming non genetically modified soy products in order to get the soy nutrients that you are supposed to get.

Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol

The best ways to prevent any kind of disease or disorder in the body is still maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Below are some lists on how to lower your cholesterol levels:

• Increase your level of activity: EXERCISE! Any type of activity can lower levels of LDL-cholesterol. This will greatly improve your heart health, provided that this is done regularly.
• Garlic: This wonder herb can improve circulation of your blood and can reduce high blood pressure – very important if you having high cholesterol problems.
• Plant Sterols and Stanols: These block the absorption of consumed cholesterol.
• Eat foods with soluble fiber since it reduces levels of LDL cholesterol.
• Monosaturated fats like nuts, avocado and olive oil increases HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL and triglyceride numbers.

Sources
naturalhealthontheweb.com
nutraingredients.com
ghr.nlm.nih.gov
symptomchecker.about.com
nutralegacy.com