Get Down On Triglycerides

Supplementing lab rats diet with lipoic acid had a significant effect in lowering triglycerides, which along with cholesterol levels and blood pressure are one of the key risk factors in cardiovascular disease.

A recent study found that lipoic acid lowered triglyceride levels up to 60 percent. If this holds true for humans, it would be a greater impact than found with other dietary supplements, and similar to the effects of some prescription drugs.

This study was just published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. , a professional journal. “The extent of triglyceride reduction was really dramatic, we didn’t expect it to be this profound.” Regis Moreau, an assistant professor with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University said “The potential is good that this could become another way to lower blood triglycerides and help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. It’s pretty exciting.”

Lipoic acid is a natural compound found at low levels in some foods, including red meat and green leafy vegetables. A powerful antioxidant, it’s been of considerable research interest in recent years for its apparent ability to reduce mitochondrial decay in cells and perhaps slow the process of aging. And it’s been used in Europe for decades as a treatment for the neuropathic complications of diabetes.

Until about 10 years ago, high blood levels of triglycerides, which is basically fat , were not thought to be as significant as cholesterol at predicting atherosclerosis and heart disease. That view has changed, and most experts now see triglycerides as a third important risk factor for atherosclerosis, along with levels of “good” HDL and “bad” LDL cholesterol.

In this research, it was found that supplements of lipoic acid appeared to affect triglyceride levels through two pathways. After eating, lipoic acid supplementation increased the rate of disappearance of triglycerides in the bloodstream. And supplements also reduced the genetic expression of enzymes in the liver that synthesize triglycerides.

Lipoic acid supplements have in various studies been shown to be an appetite suppressant, but control groups of laboratory animals were used in this research to ensure that lower triglyceride levels were not the result simply of less food intake.

The rats used in the experiment were obese to begin with, and developed higher triglyceride levels as the experiment proceeded and they aged – but the animals given lipoic acid fared much better. As they grew from five weeks of age to nine weeks, the blood triglyceride levels doubled in rats given the supplement, but went up more than 400 percent in the other group not given supplements.

The amount of lipoic acid supplementation used in these laboratory experiments would equate to about two grams per day for a 150-pound person, researchers said. Lipoic acid has been used by some people for years as a dietary supplement and found to be safe, Moreau said.

“We believe that a novel means of controlling triglyceridemia in this animal model has been revealed,” researchers wrote in their report. “Given its strong safety record, lipoic acid may have therapeutic applications for the treatment or prevention of hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic dyslipidemia in humans.”

Two Good Reasons Why Mom Gave You Cod Liver Oil

Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA is one of three omega-3 fatty acids with important health benefits. The others are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA). All body tissues contain more DHA than either EPA or ALA.

DHA is particularly abundant in the retina, brain and nerves. Omega-3 fatty acids are not stored in noticeable amounts in fat tissue, or produced inside the body from other fatty acids. This means you must get them from your diet. Therefore many researchers maintain that the best way to increase either DHA or EPA in plasma, tissues, and human milk, is to supplement with the one desired.

The retina has the highest levels of DHA of any cell type. They are particularly susceptible to the effects of aging, which include lowered levels of DHA and increased oxidative stress. By providing high levels of DHA, not only can vision be improved, but levels of protective NPD-1 are also increased.

DHA decrease as we get older, and a supplement to raise it is very desirable. Experts say that a deficiency of DHA is associated with age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s. New research suggests that supplementing with DHA may help reduce the buildup of plaque in Alzheimer’s patients.

For a long time it has been known that omega-3 helps with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 fatty acids reduce fasting and after meal triglyceride levels, decrease platelet and white blood cell reactivity, and may slightly decrease blood pressure. They also help maintain healthy blood vessel walls, inhibit irregular heartbeat and reduce fibrinogen, which forms the “mesh” in blood clots.

Cod Liver Oil is fish oil that is rich in nutrients like Vitamins A and D. It also has Omega-3 Fatty Acids, (EPA and DHA). This Cod Liver Oil is screened for impurities and is free of additives and preservatives. It also contains twice the Vitamin A and D as regular strength Cod Liver Oil Soft gels.

Try some and discover that mom was right after all.

Is One Teaspoon Bad Luck Or A Good Thing

The Archives of Internal Medicine just published some findings on research about the effects of salt in on our health. The research determined that too much sodium and too little potassium in your diet may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study also suggests that increasing potassium consumption along with lowering one's salt intake may reverse the risk.

Researchers found that for people with high normal blood pressure levels, every unit increase in the person's sodium-to-potassium ratio raised his or her chance of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent.

Since around one third of American adults have high blood pressure, defined as 140/90 or higher, while another 37 percent have pre-hypertension, that is a pretty significant health concern.

High blood pressure can damage the heart because the extra pressure means the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body. This damage can lead to heart failure and increase the risk of having a heart attack.

High blood pressure also increases the risk of atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits are laid down inside the arteries. This makes the blood vessels narrower and stiffer, which can raise blood pressure further and increase the risk of having a heart attack.

Therefore lowering your blood pressure reduces the risk of developing heart disease, even if your blood pressure is already within the normal range. The recommended maximum amount of salt you need on a daily basis is 6 grams. That is about a teaspoon full.

When we think of salt, we think in terms of what we add to our food or what we cook. It is much harder to know exactly how much salt you eat in a day, because you would need to know the salt content of each food and measure the exact quantities you eat.

If you know how much sodium is in a few of the foods you normally eat, then you'll see how easy it can be to eat more than 6g. Salt is often listed as sodium on food labels.

About three-quarters (75%) of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, including processed foods like frozen dinners, snacks, and pizza.

Almost all of us eat at least some of these types of foods. Even if you make all your own meals from scratch, you probably buy bread and cheese, which have salt in them.

So, before you assume that you don't eat too much salt, take a look at what you're buying, as well as how you use salt at home. The amount you eat also affects how much salt you get also.

Some categories of products that are usually high in sodium are baked beans, cereals, bread products, pasta sauces, Pizza, frozen foods, Soup, lunch meat, Sausages, Tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces.

Foods that are often high in salt include Anchovies, Bacon, Bullion cubes, Cheese, Chips, Ham, Olives, Pickles, Salami, Salted and dry roasted nuts, Smoked meat and fish, Soy sauce.

You don't need to stop eating high-salt foods altogether, but it makes sense to cut down on the amount you eat or eat them less often. Also, when you're shopping, take a look at the label and try to choose brands/recipes that contain less sodium.