One of the best ways to take care of your heart and cardiovascular system is by maintaining normal cholesterol levels. Healthy eating habits and exercise are important lifestyle factors that will keep your cholesterol count within the safe range.

Why should we maintain healthy cholesterol balance?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and it is vital for the normal functioning of the body. Its roles include providing cell structure, insulating nerve fibres, making hormones and aiding in digestion and absorption of fats. 80% of the cholesterol in the body gets produced from within, mostly by the liver. From there it is carried in the bloodstream to other tissues. We also get cholesterol from foods, especially those high in fat. Having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood (hyperlipidemia) can have a serious effect on your health as it increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. We need to ensure our cholesterol levels stay within a normal, healthy range.

There are two key forms of cholesterol

Cholesterol cannot travel around the body on its own because it does not dissolve in water. Instead, it is carried in your blood by molecules called lipoproteins, the two key forms of which are:

HDL – also known as “good cholesterol” – gathers excess cholesterol in the bloodstream and brings it back to the liver where it is re-processed. Raised HDL levels are associated with cardiovascular protection.

LDL – or “bad cholesterol” – conveys cholesterol from the liver and deposits in different places, including the lining of the arteries. This causes the formation of cholesterol plaque and, over time, thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries (this process is called atherosclerosis).

The right balance

What is important is the ratio – or balance – between HDL and LDL. The more LDL and the less HDL you have, the worse off you are. On the other hand, relatively high HDL and low LDL is considered healthy. Factors that contribute to healthy HDL levels include exercise, a modest alcohol intake, and certain foods such as fish (because of their omega-3 content).

Illustration: A healthy artery is wide open because there is no arterial plaque that clogs it up. When blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides get oxidised, they turn into sticky plaque that narrows the passage through the artery.

Natural statins

Statins are synthetically manufactured drugs used to lower cholesterol, and they are currently prescribed to a staggering 8 million people in the UK. There are also natural statins. For instance, lovastatin is also found naturally in red yeast rice. Randomised clinical trials have found natural statins to be effective, and they have become an increasingly popular choice amongst health-conscious consumers.

What is Red Yeast Rice?

Red yeast rice, a dietary staple in some Asian countries, is yeast cultivated on rice. The product contains 14 active compounds called monacolins, which have been shown to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol. Monacolin K effectively blocks HMG-CoA reductase, which aids cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Monacolin K is also referred to as “mevinolin” or “lovastatin”.

In China the use of red yeast rice is documented as far back as the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D . It has been used as a food colouring for centuries in many Asian countries – think Peking duck. Red-yeast-rice extract is therefore considered safe and well tolerated.

Red yeast rice can act as a ‘natural statin’ in extract form and it should be noted that red yeast supplements are different from red yeast rice sold in grocery stores.

Together with red yeast rice, ALA can also be used like a ‘natural statin’. Both are very gentle on the body. Finally Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like compound which practically all cells in the human body depend on in order to produce energy. Coenzyme Q10 is an important antioxidant and protects cell membranes from the damaging effects of free radicals.

You can now further support healthy cholesterol levels with regular use of StatiQinon® by Pharma Nord.
What is StatiQinon®?
♥ StatiQinon® is nature’s own cholesterol stabiliser.
♥ StatiQinon® contains Red Yeast Rice, coenzyme Q10 and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid).
♥ StatiQinon®’s special preparation effectively helps you maintain a healthy cholesterol balance.
♥ StatiQinon® is made to pharmaceutical standards and is blister-packed for protection.

Visit your nearest Panacea store to find out more about StatiQinon and other cholesterol balance tips

This weeks blog was written by Pharma Nord UK. Pharma Nord is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of dietary supplements and preventative nutrition. The company develops, manufactures, and markets dietary supplements and natural medicines with emphasis on bioavailability, safety and documentation.