Ldl Cholestrol

Antioxidants are the current marvel in modern health knowledge, nature’s wonder. They have been linked to [positive health results in everything from the fight against certain cancers to keeping you eye health sharp. Now antioxidants have added one more claim to fame to their arsenal. They’d been linked to lowering cholesterol.

There are many vitamins that fall into the antioxidant family, but the two that are most important to your heart health are beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol (better known as Vitamin E). These two antioxidants contain the most flavenoids of any other vitamin in the antioxidant family.

How does this magic vitamin work to lower your cholesterol? Some studies have shown that antioxidants actually prevent LDL from oxidizing in the blood. This oxidation is how arthrosclerosis begins in your arteries, and is often the first sign of cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke. These studies have not been completely corroborated by the American Heart Association, which has remained non-committal on the issue.

What is known is that antioxidants have a positive effect on circulation and tissue health, and can fight common illnesses such as colds as well as uncommon illnesses such as cancer. People who get adequate antioxidants in their diet have improved health all around, including eye health and heart health.

If you don’t want to take supplemental vitamins to get your antioxidants, you can concentrate on adding more antioxidant rich foods to your day. Antioxidant rich food doesn’t have to be exclusively spinach and other dark leafy greens exclusively. You can get antioxidants from some unusual places as well, like a glass or red wine, edible hibiscus flowers or a handful of pistachio nuts.

If you can’t get all of your antioxidants from the food you eat (maybe you live in a climate where these foods are not readily accessible), then you need an antioxidant supplement. The type of supplement you take is important. If you can find liquid vitamins or gel vitamins, those are best. They dissolve easiest in your digestive system. Another thing to remember is that antioxidants work best when taken with lots of water.

The “right” amount of antioxidants has not yet been determined in the fight against cholesterol. For now, common wisdom dictates that including even minimal amounts is beneficial, without risking side effects you may get from taking too much of them. Check your multivitamin. You may already be getting more than enough antioxidants through supplements, and you don’t want to over do it. All good things come from moderation, and the benefits to your cholesterol levels from antioxidants are no exception.