Category Archives: Cholesterol

Cholesterol: More Natural Fluctuations

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Cholesterol is a lipid substance found in foods of animal origin. The idea that dietary cholesterol is the cause of cardiovascular disease is based on the premise that dietary cholesterol is able to affect blood cholesterol levels. In turn high … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Heart Disease | Comments Off on Cholesterol: More Natural Fluctuations

Echium Seeds: Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two group of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are stored in cell membranes and subsequently converted into short lived hormones called eicosanoids. These short lived hormones that include subgroups such as thromboxanes, prostacyclins, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosapentaenoic Acid, Echium Oil, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils | Comments Off on Echium Seeds: Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Why Are Walnuts Cardioprotective?

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Walnuts are nutritionally interesting. Like most nuts, walnuts are a good source of fibre, are high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates. Walnuts also contain high concentrations of vitamin and minerals, although the mineral content is dependent on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Ellagic Acid, Endothelial Dysfunction, HDL, LDL, Nuts, Walnuts | Comments Off on Why Are Walnuts Cardioprotective?

Guar Gum: Statin Beaters

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Elevated levels of blood lipoproteins are caused by poor quality diets. Low quality foods containing refined cereal grains and refined crystalline fructose induced insulin resistance and this raises plasma levels of fasting insulin. Insulin is the primary anabolic hormone, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholesterol, Fibre, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, LDL, Pulses / Legumes, VLDL | Comments Off on Guar Gum: Statin Beaters

Weight Loss Improves Lipoprotein Profiles: More Evidence

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is a serious health concern. The secondary effects of obesity are serious and include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this regard, as body weight rises, systemic inflammation occurs and this increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, Weight Loss, Western Diet | Comments Off on Weight Loss Improves Lipoprotein Profiles: More Evidence

Pectin Fibre: Digestive Effects on Steroid Excretion

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Pectin is a fibre found mainly in the cell walls of fruits. Pectin is a soluble form of fibre, which means that in the aqueous environment of the gut, it absorbs water and forms a viscous gel-like substance. This transformation … Continue reading →

Posted in Bile Salts, Cholesterol, Fibre, Fruit, Pectin | Comments Off on Pectin Fibre: Digestive Effects on Steroid Excretion

Do Oats Increase Fat Excretion?

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Oats have some interesting physiological properties in humans. Oats have been extensively researched and their effects on plasma cholesterol levels are well studied. Oats are a good source of soluble fibre and this may confer some of the lipid lowering … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta glucans, Cholesterol, Fat, Fibre, Oats (Avena sativa), Weight Loss | Comments Off on Do Oats Increase Fat Excretion?

Dietary Fibre Lowers Cholesterol: The Elephant in the Room

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Robert Barrington

The lipid theory of cardiovascular disease states that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat are the cause of elevated levels of blood cholesterol. Proponents claim further that these increases in blood cholesterol then cause atherosclerosis, which drives cardiovascular disease. Many studies … Continue reading →

Posted in Bile Salts, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Digestion and Absorption, Fibre | Comments Off on Dietary Fibre Lowers Cholesterol: The Elephant in the Room

Want to Lower Blood Cholesterol? Then Lose Weight

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Proponents of the lipid hypothesis of cardiovascular disease claim that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat are able cause increases in plasma cholesterol levels. Such proponents also claim that these increases in plasma cholesterol are a cause of cardiovascular disease. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholesterol, Insulin Resistance, Saturated Fatty Acids, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Want to Lower Blood Cholesterol? Then Lose Weight

Seven Reasons why Cholesterol Testing is Pointless

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Cholesterol testing is big business, which perhaps explains why it is so widespread. Certainly the actual point of testing the blood cholesterol of large numbers of the population has little benefit and is little to do with science. Cholesterol testing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, Homocysteine, LDL, Lipoprotein(a) | Comments Off on Seven Reasons why Cholesterol Testing is Pointless