Supplements and Cholesterol

Rachel Turner

HW499-01

March 2014

Supplements and Cholesterol

Nutrition supplementation is of interest for multiple reasons, first because proper nutrition and supplementation can be the least expensive way to protect your health.

Secondly the amount of information and advice can be difficult to sort through and understand, and I have had loved ones make poor choices simply due to lack of knowledge.

Finally because opening up to the idea of supplements in general can produce a lasting more full lifestyle.

Supplements and Cholesterol

Can herbal remedies really help?

Studies published in "Planta Medica" in 2012 found that diabetics with high cholesterol who took aloe vera along with their diabetes medications lowered both their total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

A study published in "Annals of Internal Medicine" in June 2009 found that people taking red yeast rice supplements lowered their total and LDL cholesterol more than those taking a placebo, which may help those who don’t tolerate most statins.

Do I need to talk to my doctor before trying any of these?

YES! Too much of a good thing is not a better thing, keeping your doctor advised of everything you take keeps you safe. This holds true for any vitamins or minerals.

Supplements and Cholesterol

There is just so much information out there, how can I tell what is real?

Government websites

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

fnic.nal.usda.gov/dietary-supplements

ods.od.nih.gov

www.cdc.gov

Major Universities

Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, Harvard University

New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association

http://jamanetwork.com/

http://www.nejm.org/

Supplements and Cholesterol

Not all non-medical sites are created equal, here are a few that often give good advice and decode medical jargon.

http://www.livestrong.com

www.naturalproductsinfo.org

www.rxlist.com/supplements/article.htm

Schools that teach allied health often have great information as well

http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/default.html

Your doctor is also a source of information.

Supplements and Cholesterol

Personal recommendations for information include:

Avoid websites that allow anyone to

submit information.

Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs and Natural

Supplements

Try a healthy diet and get some exercise.

Discuss everything with your medical

provider before testing it out.

Supplements and Cholesterol

Precautions for supplements are the exact same as for a prescription medication.

Some medications can interact negatively with herbs and supplements.

For example garlic and Coumadin both have blood thinning effects, getting the blood too thin might cause a whole new problem.

Sometimes there are dangerous side effects.

Taking whole aloe by mouth can cause kidney failure, or some cancers at high doses.

Know your dose, route, and schedule.

Understand that Herbs and Supplements are not regulated by the FDA.

Supplements and Cholesterol

Elevated Cholesterol is a common problem, and changes to medical billing have lead many individuals to look for alternative ways to improve their health.

Gather information from reputable sources that are verified.

Try better nutrition and exercise.

Talk to your doctor.

Supplements and Cholesterol

Questions?

ReferencesCan Herbal Remedies Help High Cholesterol?. (2014, March 20). LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/114448-herbal-remedies-high-cholesterol/

Free Ecards, Funny Ecards, Greeting Cards, Birthday Ecards, Birthday Cards, Valentine's Day Ecards, Flirting Ecards, Dating Ecards, Friendship Ecards, Wedding Ecards, Anniversary Ecards and more at someecards.com. (n.d.). someecards. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.someecards.com/

MedlinePlus: Drugs, Herbs and Supplements: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

Supplement Information - Vitamins, Herbs, and Dietary Supplements on RxList. (n.d.). RxList. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from http://www.rxlist.com/supplements/article.htm

Vitamin, Herb, and Supplement Info - Natural Products Foundation. (n.d.). Vitamin, Herb, and Supplement Info - Natural Products Foundation. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.naturalproductsinfo.org