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Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cholesterol. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Skinny people may also have high cholesterol 瘦的人也会高胆固醇

Overweight or obese is one of the negative factors causing high cholesterol. Most people having misconception that only fatty need to concern about dietary issue, chronic disease such as heart attack, high cholesterol, diabetes will not happen to lean people, and in reality we often see a lot of fatty having high cholesterol. BUT, lean people should not take for granted that high cholesterol only happen to fat people. High cholesterol may cause by genetic and lifestyle.

Diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction and other disease may also cause high level of cholesterol. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder. Those patients not necessary are fat, some even very skinny but cholesterol level is high. Poor dietary habits, including eating too much high fat, greasy food and unhealthy habits, such as staying up late, lazy to move, etc., more and more lean people also joined the ranks of high cholesterol.

Nowadays, there are many young people over the intake of high fat, high calorie, high-cholesterol foods, do not eat fruits and vegetables, network addicted, pay no attention to sports, these are bad habits, even lean or skinny, cholesterol might also be "excessive." Therefore, regular medical examination is necessary, if high levels of cholesterol is found, should be treated.

In addition, a British study shows that lean people who do not exercise regularly may have the same level of cholesterol compare to fatty.

The London-based team measured the levels of heart-clogging cholesterol (LDL) in 110 peoples which divided into 3 groups, 36 lean exercisers who took regular cardiovascular exercise, such as running or cycling, three times a week or more, 46 lean non-exercisers and 28 obese non-exercisers.
 
They found lean exercisers had good LDL levels, but those in lean and obese non-exercisers were higher and similar. And, lean exercisers have lower risk of cardiovascular disease, the aerobic energy higher than 30% of those who do not exercise. Dr Gary O'Donovan, exercise physiologist at Brunel University, said: "It was already known that aerobic fitness was amongst the most reliable measure of health now and in the future and that those who did well in fitness tests were likely to live around five years longer".

This study also showed that lean non-exercisers' body fat may not higher than those fat people but the cholesterol in blood may be the same, the risk of heart disease and other diseases might also same with those who are fat. This is because the heart has nothing to do with fat, and cholesterol levels are closely linked.

Peng Yuqing, associate chief physician of  Beijing University of Chinese Medicine subsidiary Dongfang Hospital pointed that blood cholesterol has nothing to do with the subcutaneous fatthose with normal metabolism who have slim body if do not control on dietary and healthy lifestyle, may have risk of having high cholesterol. Peng Yuqing stress on intake of animal offal, especially liver which has high cholesterol content, and seafood such as squid, shrimp, crab roe are high-cholesterol food, do not take too much each time, especially for elderly. Besides that, mental stress, tension and staying up late, excessive stress causing  the body tends to appear lipid metabolism and may also lead to high cholesterol.

Therefore, lean people should also develop awareness of fitness and practise good exercise habits. As long as you have the sense of fitness, beside running, swimming and other sports activities, you may also climb up stairs and mop the floor any day anytime in your lifetime, these are also good form of exercise.


体重超重是高胆固醇的一个不利因素。大部分人都认为,减肥只是胖人的事,而像心脏病、高血脂、糖尿病这些富贵病更不会找上瘦人,在日常生活中,我们也经常看到很多胖人胆固醇高。然而,瘦人不要认为高胆固醇是胖人的『专利』而掉以轻心,先天的遗传与后天的生活习惯是造成胆固醇偏高的主要原因。

糖尿病、肾病、甲状腺功能减退等病患都有可能造成胆固醇偏高,『家族性高胆固醇症』是种发生在常染色体上的显性遗传病,患者虽然不胖,有的甚至非常瘦,但是胆固醇却很高。受不良的膳食习惯,包括食用过多高脂肪、油腻食物与不健康的生活习惯,如熬夜、懒动等,愈来愈多的瘦人也加入到高胆固醇的行列。

如今许多年轻人过度摄入高脂肪、高热量、高胆固醇食物,不爱吃水果和蔬菜,贪恋网络,不注意运动,有这些不良的习惯,就算是瘦人,胆固醇也会『超标』。因此定期到医疗机构检查是很必要的,万一发现胆固醇偏高要及时治疗。

另外,英国的一项研究显示,瘦人不经常运动,胆固醇和胖人一样高。

在这项研究中,研究人员将110名男性分为3组:36人体型偏瘦,每周做3次有氧运动,如跑步、骑车等;46人同样体型偏瘦,但不运动; 另外28人为没有运动习惯的肥胖者。

研究最后显示,虽然两组瘦人的体重和身高相差不多,但有运动习惯的人体内总胆固醇和低密度胆固醇含量明显低于不运动的人,患心血管疾病的风险最低,其有氧能量高于不运动者30%。英国布鲁内尔大学运动科学系教授加里·多诺万表示,有氧能量是最可靠的健康指标,在体能测试中有良好表现的人,会比其他人长寿约5年。

这项研究还指出,体型偏瘦,但没有运动习惯的人,虽然脂肪没有胖人多,但血液中的胆固醇含量却没有改变,心脏病等疾病的发病风险与胖人无异。因为心脏病与脂肪多少无关,而与胆固醇含量紧密相连。

北京中医药大学附属东方医院亚健康科主任彭玉清指出,由于血液中胆固醇含量与皮下脂肪含量无关,代谢正常的人即使是体型偏瘦的人若不注意饮食和生活习惯,同样有高胆固醇的风险。彭玉清强调,动物内脏,尤其是肝脏的胆固醇含量最高,海鲜中的鱿鱼、虾米、鱼子和螃蟹都是高胆固醇的食物,每次不可多吃,尤其是老人。而长期精神紧张、压力过大和熬夜,过度应激,容易使机体出现脂代谢紊乱,同样是导致高胆固醇的诱因。 

因此建议,体型较瘦的人也应该培养健身意识,养成良好的运动习惯。只要你有了健身意识,除了跑步、游泳等运动外,日常生活中随时随地都可以做的爬楼梯,拖地等,也是不错的锻炼方式。


Source 资料源自:

Saturday, 1 October 2011

High cholesterol- a magnet to moisquitoes 蚊子爱叮胆固醇高的人

Are you a magnet to mosquitoes ?

According to BCC news, French researchers found that mosquitoes like to bite those with high cholesterol and vitamin-B rich.

University of Florida, U.S. entomologist Jerry Butler found that mosquitoes are not beggars, they have the ability to track down the best hosts for their blood meals. Butler pointed out that those body rich in cholesterol and vitamin-B become moisquitoes favourite target. Moiquitoes need cholesterol and vitamin-B to survive but cant make them on their own.

Mosquitoes find their hosts, initially, through a keen sense of smell. They use odor to sort the most attractive host among the crowd. When a person exhales, their carbon dioxide and other odors mix to produce a signal that travels through the air from 40 miles away. The signal acts like a dinner bell to mosquitoes, letting them know a juicy meal is within range. Mosquitoes fly up the signal in zigzag pattern until they arrive, then localize on skin and explore patiently the best spot and start sucking blood from 8 to 10 seconds by inserting the needle into the skin.

So, if you find yourself from mosquitoes bites, please check on your cholesterol status.



您经常被蚊子叮咬吗?

据中广新闻报导,法国研究人员发现,蚊子最喜欢叮咬的是血液里富含胆固醇和维生素B的人。

美国佛罗里达大学昆虫学家杰里·巴特勒的研究也显示,蚊子吸人血并非饥不择食,它们会找到体味最具吸引力的人“下嘴”。巴特勒指出凡是体内有丰富胆固醇和维生素B的人士最受蚊子青睐,因为蚊子也需要靠这两种东西生存,但它们本身却不能制造这两种物质。

此外蚊子具有很强的嗅觉能力,能利用气味从人群中物色最适合它们“胃口”的对象。当人类呼出二氧化碳和其他气味时,这些气味会在空气中40里外扩散,而这些气味就好像是开饭的铃声,告诉蚊子一顿美餐就在眼前。蚊子跟踪它的目标时,总是随着人呼出的气味曲折前进,直到接触到目标为止,然后就落到皮肤上耐心寻找“突破口”,最后才把针管直接插入皮肤里吸血8到10秒钟。

所以,当您发现自己经常被蚊子叮咬时,不妨去了解一下胆固醇状况。



Source 资料源自:


Friday, 30 September 2011

Cholesterol 胆固醇

Cholesterol is a critically important compound in body cell of human and animal for cell growth and viability. Cholesterol found in food, our body also secretes cholesterol. Too much of cholesterol in the body may affect the health. Total cholesterol is the sum of HDL (high density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein) and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) which affect our body differently.
HDL (high density lipoprotein), considered "good" cholesterol, maintain peripheral vascular health.
LDL (low density lipoprotein), considered "bad" cholesterol, may cause hardening and blockage of the arteries
VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), "bad" cholesterol, harmful to our health.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL-Cholesterol) is 60% of the total cholesterol. Although our body need LDL-C, excessive LDL-C will go into arteries and form plaque, thereby cause high cholesterol and clog in blood vessel and cause coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction due to plaque rupture and other serious consequences.

There is another blood lipid named triglycerides, elevated blood triglycerides can increase LDL-C, it is the accomplice of LDL-C, and is a "timed-bomb" between LDL-C and the arterial wall. Arteries play important role in human body in carrying blood and oxygen to various organs in the body. The 'bad' cholesterol increase and if endothelial flawed due to high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and other factors, it is prone to high cholesterol and will drill into the arterial endothelium following by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood in the United States and some other countries. Canada and most European countries measure cholesterol in millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood. Consider these general guidelines when you get your cholesterol test (lipid panel or lipid profile) results back to see if your cholesterol falls in an ideal range.
Total cholesterol
U.S. and some other countries Canada and most of Europe
Below 200 mg/dLBelow 5.2 mmol/LDesirable
200-239 mg/dL5.2-6.2 mmol/L Borderline high
240 mg/dL and aboveAbove 6.2 mmol/LHigh
 
LDL cholesterol
U.S. and some other countries Canada and most of Europe
Below 70 mg/dLBelow 1.8 mmol/LIdeal for people at very high risk of heart disease
Below 100 mg/dLBelow 2.6 mmol/LIdeal for people at risk of heart disease
100-129 mg/dL2.6-3.3 mmol/L Near ideal
130-159 mg/dL3.4-4.1 mmol/LBorderline high
160-189 mg/dL4.1-4.9 mmol/L High
190 mg/dL and aboveAbove 4.9 mmol/LVery high
 
HDL cholesterol
U.S. and some other countries Canada and most of Europe
Below 40 mg/dL (men)
Below 50 mg/dL (women)
Below 1 mmol/L (men)
Below 1.3 mmol/L (women)
Poor
50-59 mg/dL1.3-1.5 mmol/LBetter
60 mg/dL and aboveAbove 1.5 mmol/LBest
 
Triglycerides
U.S. and some other countries Canada and most of Europe
Below 150 mg/dLBelow 1.7 mmol/LDesirable
150-199 mg/dL1.7-2.2 mmol/LBorderline high
200-499 mg/dL2.3-5.6 mmol/L High
500 mg/dL and aboveAbove 5.6 mmol/LVery high

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that a triglyceride level of 100 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) or lower is considered "optimal." The AHA says this optimal level would improve your heart health. However, the AHA doesn't recommend drug treatment to reach this level. Instead, for those trying to lower their triglycerides to this level, lifestyle changes such as diet, weight loss and physical activity are encouraged. That's because triglycerides usually respond well to dietary and lifestyle changes.

*Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines.



What Affects Cholesterol Levels?

A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels. These are things you can do something about:
  • Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level go up. Saturated fat is the main culprit, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level.
  • Weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise your HDL and lower your triglyceride levels.
  • Physical Activity. Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days.
Things you cannot do anything about also can affect cholesterol levels. These include:
  • Age and Gender. As women and men get older, their cholesterol levels rise. Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After the age of menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise.
  • Heredity. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.




胆固醇是人体细胞内所必须的成分之一,也是高等动物细胞生长和活力的必要因子。胆固醇可来自于食物,人体内也会合成,如果体内有过多的胆固醇含量,对健康则非常不利。此外,胆固醇在体内又可分为高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、和极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL),对健康有不同的影响。
高密度脂蛋白(HDL):又称为好的胆固醇,可维持周边血管的健康
低密度脂蛋白(LDL):又称为坏的胆固醇,会造成血管硬化及阻塞
极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL):属于坏的胆固醇,对健康不利

“坏”胆固醇(低密度脂蛋白胆固醇LDL-Cholesterol)占总胆固醇的约60%,尽管身体需要一定的LDL-C,但多余的LDL-C会钻入动脉血管内皮,形成斑块,从而,会出现胆固醇高的现象,进而堵塞血管引起冠心病、脑梗塞,或者随着斑块破裂引起心肌梗死、猝死等严重后果。

血里还有一种血脂叫甘油三酯,血中甘油三酯升高可以使LDL-C升高,所以它是LDL-C的帮凶,是LDL-C与动脉壁的“定时炸弹”。动脉在人体非常重要,它们把血液和氧输送到身体的各个重要器官。如果“坏”胆固醇增加,一旦高血压、糖尿病、吸烟等因素使内皮有漏洞,就很容易出现胆固醇高,它们就会钻到动脉的内皮下面,形成动脉粥样硬化斑块。

胆固醇指数

在美国与其它国家,胆固醇指数以每分升(deciliter-dL)血液中有多少毫克(miligrams-mg)的胆固醇为计。至于加拿大与其它欧洲国家,胆固醇指数则以每公升(liter-L)血液中有多少毫(milimoles-mmol)来测量胆固醇。当您接受胆固醇检测(血脂评估检测或分析)后,可根据这些准则来了解您的胆固醇状况是否理想。

总胆固醇
美国与其他国家加拿大与部分欧洲国家
低于 200 mg/dL低于 5.2 mmol/L理想
200-239 mg/dL5.2-6.2 mmol/L 高边缘
240 mg/dL 或以上6.2 mmol/L 或以上
 
低密度脂蛋白胆固醇
美国与其他国家加拿大与部分欧洲国家
 70 mg/dL 以下 1.8 mmol/L 以下对于心脏疾病高风险者为理想水平
 100 mg/dL 以下2.6 mmol/L 以下对于心脏疾病存风险者为理想水平
100-129 mg/dL2.6-3.3 mmol/L 近乎理想
130-159 mg/dL3.4-4.1 mmol/L高边缘
160-189 mg/dL4.1-4.9 mmol/L
190 mg/dL 或以上4.9 mmol/L 以上非常高
 
高密度脂蛋白胆固醇
美国与其它国家加拿大与部分欧洲国家
男性 40 mg/dL 以下         女性 50 mg/dL 以下男性 1 mmol/L 以下
女性 1.3 mmol/L 以下
50-59 mg/dL1.3-1.5 mmol/L还好
60 mg/dL 或以上1.5 mmol/L 以上最佳
 
甘油三酯
美国与其它国家加拿大与部分欧洲国家
低于150 mg/dL低于 1.7 mmol/L理想
150-199 mg/dL1.7-2.2 mmol/L高边缘
200-499 mg/dL2.3-5.6 mmol/L
500 mg/dL 或以上5.6 mmol/L 以上非常高

美国心脏协会 (AHA) 建议,甘油三酯水平于100 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) 或更低为佳。他们认为这个水平可改善您的心脏健康。然而,美国心脏协会不鼓励药物治疗以达至以上水平。那些想要将甘油三酯水平减至以上标准,可作出生活习惯上的改变,如饮食习惯,减轻体重和体力运动。因为通常甘油三酯会因饮食习惯和生活习惯的改变而改善。

*加拿大及欧洲国家与美国的准则有些不同。以上转换基于美国准则。

 

影响胆固醇水平的因素

有许多因素可影响胆固醇水平。以下为您可以控制的因素:
  • 饮食。饱和脂肪和食物中的胆固醇可使您的血脂提升。饱和脂肪是罪魁祸首,食物中的胆固醇也相当重要。减低饱和脂肪含量和饮食中的胆固醇可助您降低血液中的胆固醇水平。
  • 体重。超重是心脏疾病的危险因素,往往也提升您的胆固醇水平。减肥可助您降低低密度脂蛋白和总胆固醇水平,同时提升高密度脂蛋白和降低甘油三酯水平。
  • 体力运动。缺乏体力运动也是心脏疾病的危险因素。经常运动可助您降低低密度脂蛋白(坏胆固醇)和提升高密度脂蛋白(郝胆固醇)的水平。
您无法控制但也会影响胆固醇水平的因素包括:
  • 年龄和性别。女性和男性随着年龄增长,胆固醇水平也相继增长。更年期前,女性的总胆固醇水平较同龄男性低。更年期后,女性的低密度脂蛋白水平趋于上升。
  • 遗传。家族基因在某种程度上操控您的胆固醇水平。高血脂因基因因素而引发。

 

Top 10 Foods Highest in Cholesterol  十大高胆固醇食物







What is Monascus? 什么是红麴?

Monascus Purpureus, also known as red yeast, is a species of mold that is purplish-red in color. Red yeast rice is fermented white rice with Monascus purpureus.  Discoveries of cholesterol-lowering statins produced by the mold has prompted research into its possible medical uses.

Red yeast has been recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica" as chinese medicine, and is known as nutrient-rich, non-toxic and harmless, for spleen and stomach health, promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis, traditionally treat as safe food supplement.

Red yeast and Cholesterol
 
Red yeast products are considered as nutritional supplement that promotes cardiovascular health, mainly proved that it can effectively maintain healthy cholesterol ratio. 
Red yeast helps those with slightly high level of cholesterol (200~240 mg/dl) people to maintain healthy and normal cholesterol level. Red yeast reduce cholesterol level due to its natural ingredients, especially Monacolin-k that inhibit the key enzyme of cholesterol synthesis HMG CoA, thereby regulate cholesterol in the body.



红麴或称红曲,是一种紫红色的菌类,即紫红曲酶(Monascus Purpureus)。红麴米是由置放于白米中的紫红曲酶发酵而成。它的天然降低胆固醇的功效是已被认同的。 
本草纲目》中记载着红麴可做为中医药材,认为红麴营养丰富、无毒无害、具有健脾消食、活血化淤的特殊功效。历来被视为安全性高的食品补充剂。

红麴与胆固醇
 
红麴产品被视为促进心血管健康的营养补充品,主要证实是它能有效维持健康的胆固醇比例。
红麴可使胆固醇偏高(在200~240 mg/dl)的人们维持正常、健康的胆固醇水平。
而红麴降低胆固醇的原因,则是其所含的天然成分尤其是莫纳可林K,对体内胆固醇合成之关键酵素~HMG CoA还原酵素具有抑制的作用,因此可调节体内胆固醇。



Thursday, 29 September 2011

What is Malt Vinegar? 什么是麦芽醋?

Vinegar is a seasoning of sour flavour made from the fermentation of a variety of sources. Types of vinegar include rice vinegar, fruit vinegar, malt vinegar, sherry vinegar, wine vinegar and others.

Malt vinegar is made by malting barley, causing the starch in the grain to turn to maltose. Its nutritional value is higher than other type of vinegar and tasted pure and fresh. 


Health benefits
  • Reduce fatigue- Vinegar rich in organic acid, promote the metabolism of sugar in human body and break down the fatigue substance in muscle such as lactic acid and acetone, thereby eliminating fatigue.
  • Anti-aging- Vinegar helps to inhibit and reduce the formation of oxides in body's aging process.
  • Soften blood vessel, reduce blood cholesterol - dilation of blood vessels, helps to reduce blood pressure, prevent cardiovascular disease
  • Prevent obesity- Vinegar turns excessive fat into physical exertion, promote body's metabolism of sugar and protein, thereby effective in weight loss
  • Beauty skin care- Vinegar rich in organic acid, has a soft stimulation to human skin, promote the expansion of small blood vessels, increase blood circulation, make the skin smooth
  • Strong bactericidal ability- Vinegar kills Staphylococcus aureus, E-Coli in the intestinal tract, helps to prevent diarrhea in certain extent.
  • Regulate blood pH balance
  • Digestive, help in absorption of nutrients in food
  • Enhance liver function, promote metabolism



醋是用各种酵后产生的酸味调味剂。醋的种类包括米醋,果醋,麦芽醋,雪利醋,葡萄酒醋等等。

麦芽醋,顾名思义就是利用麦芽为原料而酿造出来的一种特殊食醋。它的营养价值较之其它的食醋更高,口味更加纯正清爽。


保健效益
  • 消除疲劳- 醋中所含的丰富有机酸,可以促进人体内糖的代谢并使肌肉中的疲劳物质乳酸和丙酮等被分解,从而消除疲劳。
  • 抗衰老- 醋可以抑制和降低人体衰老过程中氧化物的形成
  • 软化血管,降血脂,降低胆固醇-  扩张血管,有利于降低血压,防止心血管疾病的发生
  • 预防肥胖- 醋可使人体内过多的脂肪转化为体能消耗,并促使人体糖和蛋白质的代谢,故有一定的减肥作用
  • 养颜护肤- 醋中丰富的有机酸对人体皮肤有柔和的刺激作用,促使小血管扩张,增强皮肤血液循环,使皮肤光润
  • 有较强的杀菌能力- 醋可以杀伤肠道中的葡萄球菌,大肠杆菌,在一定程度上有预防痢疾的作用
  • 调节血液的酸碱平衡
  • 帮助消化,有利于食物中营养成分的吸收
  • 增强肝脏机能,促进新陈代谢




Source 资料源自:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar
http://baike.baidu.com/view/337953.htm