Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol

Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterolBy Mayo Clinic staff
Original Article:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/niacin/CL00036
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Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol
Niacin is an important B vitamin that may raise your HDL, "good," cholesterol. Find out if you should talk to your doctor about taking niacin alone or with cholesterol medications. By Mayo Clinic staff
Niacin, a B vitamin, has long been used to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps sweep up low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, in your bloodstream. Although niacin is readily available and effective, it hasn't gotten much attention compared to other cholesterol drugs.
A lot of the attention regarding cholesterol has been focused on lowering your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol. That's still an important goal. But boosting your HDL level can be just as important as lowering your LDL cholesterol. Taking niacin — either by itself or along with other cholesterol-lowering medication — may help control your total cholesterol level.
What is niacin?
Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a B vitamin that's used by your body to turn carbohydrates into energy. Niacin also helps keep your nervous system, digestive system, skin, hair and eyes healthy. That's why niacin is often a part of a daily multivitamin, though most people get enough niacin from the food they eat.
You may see niacin labeled in different ways. As part of a multivitamin or supplement, it's often just referred to as niacin. When it's used as a treatment to increase your HDL cholesterol or correct a niacin deficiency, it's sold in higher doses that are prescribed by your doctor. Some common brand names of prescription niacin include:
Niaspan
Niacor
Slo-Niacin
Niacin is found in many foods, including:
Dairy products
Lean meats
Poultry
Fish
Nuts
Eggs
Enriched breads and cereals
Niacin is also available in a variety of different forms as either prescription medication or over-the-counter supplements. However, don't take niacin — even in the over-the-counter form — without discussing it with your doctor first because niacin can cause side effects when taken in high doses.
What impact does niacin have on cholesterol?
Niacin can raise HDL — the "good" cholesterol — by 15 to 35 percent. This makes niacin the most effective drug available for raising HDL cholesterol. While niacin's effect on HDL is of most interest, it's worth noting that niacin also decreases your LDL and triglyceride levels. High levels of LDL and triglycerides are significant risk factors for heart disease.
Why is having a high HDL cholesterol level important?
HDL, or "good," cholesterol picks up excess bad cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to your liver for disposal. The higher your HDL cholesterol, the less bad cholesterol you'll have in your blood.
Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L):
For men, HDL levels under 40 mg/dL or 1 mmol/L increase the risk of heart disease.
For women, HDL levels under 50 mg/dL or 1.3 mmol/L increase the risk of heart disease.
An HDL level above 60 mg/dL or 1.6 mmol/L is considered ideal for men or women.
Having a low HDL level by itself is a risk factor for developing heart disease. That means even if your LDL and other risk factors are normal, having a low HDL level still increases your risk of heart disease.
What about niacin side effects, like flushing?
Niacin comes in a variety of forms, ranging from fast-acting forms to those that are longer acting. Some forms of niacin, especially in high doses — 1,000 milligrams or more — do cause temporary flushing of the skin. The flushing can make your skin redden and possibly feel warm to the touch. While annoying, this flushing isn't harmful. If you have flushing, talk to your doctor about taking an aspirin shortly before you take your niacin. Aspirin can counteract this flushing effect. Also, avoiding hot drinks and alcohol can decrease the flushing. Versions of niacin with reduced flushing effects also are available by prescription.
Other possible side effects include:
Upset stomach
Headache
Dizziness
Liver damage
Increased blood sugar
However, your doctor may be able to find the right dose and form of niacin that minimizes side effects. Also, taking niacin with food may help prevent side effects. Remember, don't take niacin — even in the over-the-counter form — without discussing it with your doctor first. Niacin can cause side effects when taken in high doses.
Who might consider taking niacin?
It depends. Niacin has been shown to increase HDL in otherwise healthy people who have normal LDL levels, so your doctor might suggest you take niacin, even if your LDL is relatively normal and you're healthy.
However, don't start taking niacin to raise your HDL without talking to your doctor. Niacin must usually be given at high doses to raise your HDL cholesterol, and the use of high-dose niacin needs to be monitored by your doctor to make sure it doesn't cause any harmful side effects.
Lifestyle changes are also helpful in boosting HDL. These include:
Stop smoking if you are a smoker.
Eat a healthy diet.
Start an exercise program, with your doctor's OK.
If you try steps like this and your HDL is still too low, your doctor may suggest you take niacin.
Niacin is usually given along with statins or other medications to people who have high LDL levels and low HDL. Check with your doctor before taking niacin with another medication to avoid any dangerous drug interactions. However, in general, niacin seems to work even better when used in combination with statins, drugs used to lower your LDL cholesterol. In fact, when used with some statins, niacin can increase your HDL level by 50 percent or more, as well as reduce LDL levels more than when just statins are used.
Are over-the-counter niacin supplements just as good as prescription niacin when it comes to increasing HDL cholesterol?
Possibly. Supplements sold over-the-counter (OTC) are not regulated like prescription medications. The ingredients, formulations and effect of over-the-counter niacin can vary widely. Again, it's necessary to work with your doctor if you are considering taking niacin to avoid harmful side effects.

Clean Out Your Pipes

Clean Out Your Pipes
By Jorge Cruise, Chief Diet and Fitness Expert
Published May 06, 2009

A high-fiber diet will keep your intestines running smoothly, but I also recommend following this three-step body cleanse once a week:
Step 1: For breakfast, have a shake made from psyllium seed husks. Not only is psyllium packed with fiber that will keep you regular, but it also effectively reduces cholesterol levels and suppresses hunger.
Step 2: On your body cleanse day, double your water intake. Since you’ll be increasing your fiber intake, you’ll also need to drink more water to allow smooth passage. The extra water will also help to flush toxins out of your body. Instead of the usual eight 8-ounce glasses a day, drink eight 16-ounce glasses of water.
Step 3: Choose a non-meat source of protein for lunch and dinner. Beans and lentils are naturally rich in fiber and chockfull of vitamins and minerals. You might try a bean burrito or hummus and vegetable sandwich for lunch and then beans and rice or lentil soup for dinner.
Your coach,Jorge Cruise
For information on Jorge's newest program and to get a free copy of his new Belly Fat Cure Report, visit jorgecruise.com.
Got a question? Ask Jorge Cruise
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身体较为简单的中医分类方法

每个人的身体状况都不尽雷同，但是总体上可以进行一定的区分，下面给大家介绍一种较为简单且全面的中医分类方法，希望对大家有一定的帮助。
　　1 正常体质：肤色润泽，唇红润，精力充沛，饮食睡眠良好，二便正常，舌淡红，脉和缓。患病较少，抵抗力较强，耐寒热，不需进补，食疗或进缓和的平补之品。

　　2 阴寒体质：属寒（实）体质，平素肢冷无汗，喜暖怕凉，常腹痛腹泻，关节酸痛，口淡不渴，溲清长，舌淡苔白，脉紧或沉迟。宜患风湿关节痛，宜感寒邪，怕阴冷潮湿气候，宜温阳散寒。应食温热食物，如羊肉、生姜、桂皮等。

　　3 阳虚体质：属虚寒体质。四肢多不温，怕凉喜暖，神疲，喜吃热食，睡眠偏多，便溏，尿清长，舌体胖嫩边有齿痕，苔润，脉沉迟而弱。得病多从寒化，宜患痰饮、肿胀、泄泻，阳痿等证，易感寒邪，易被湿困。耐夏不耐冬，宜用温阳补虚之品。
　4 阴虚体质：属虚热体质，形体多消瘦，心烦颧红，手足心热，午后尤甚，口燥咽干，目干涩，眩晕耳鸣，睡眠差，便干燥，舌红苔少而干，脉细数。宜患阴亏燥热的病变，怕燥热之邪，耐冬不耐夏。宜养阴补虚，甘寒退热。如百合、枸杞、麦冬、海参、西洋参等。

　　5 阳热体质：属实热类型。面色多红赤，怕热喜冷，烦渴多汗，喜冷食，得病易发高热，尿黄便秘，舌红苔黄，脉数有力。得病多从热化，易患疮疡，怕热，耐冬不耐夏，宜食苦味清热的食物或饮料，如苦瓜、苦丁茶、莲子心等。

　　6 气虚体质：属虚的体质，面白少华，气短懒言，易出汗，食少，易疲乏，舌淡红，舌体胖大，脉虚缓。易感冒，病后迁延不愈，内脏易下垂，不耐受风邪、寒邪、暑邪。宜食山药、莲子或太子参、黄芪、黄精等。
　7 血虚体质：面色萎黄或淡白，唇甲无华，头晕眼花，心悸怔忡，失眠健忘，或肢体麻木，舌淡脉弱。宜补气生血。用当归、熟地、龙眼肉。

　　8 瘀血体质：面色多晦暗，口唇暗淡或紫，眼眶黯黑，肌肤甲错，或生症瘕，刺痛，痛处固定不移，舌体黯紫有瘀点，脉细涩或脉率不齐。易患出血，症瘕，中风，胸痹（冠心病）等病。宜活血化瘀，用山查、桃仁等。

　　9 痰湿体质：体胖腹大，面部皮肤油脂较多，汗多且粘，眼胞微浮，胸闷脘痞，身重发沉，困倦，喜食肥甘粘腻之物，便溏，舌胖大多齿痕，苔白腻，脉濡滑。易患消渴（糖尿病），中风（脑血管意外），胸痹等病。对湿环境及梅雨季节的适应能力差。宜祛湿化痰。宜服薏苡仁、茯苓、赤小豆、冬瓜皮、荷叶、荷梗等。
　10 湿热体质：面垢油光，易生痤疮粉刺，身重困倦懈怠，大便粘滞不爽，男阴囊潮湿，女黄带臭秽，舌红苔黄腻，脉滑数。易患痤疮，黄疸，淋症，火热等病。对气温偏高，湿热交蒸气候难适应。食疗同痰湿体质，忌辛辣刺激食品。

　　11 气郁质：神情郁闷，胸胁胀满，走窜疼痛，善太息、嗳气呃逆，咽有异物感，或乳房胀痛，痛经。易患郁症，脏躁，不寐，梅核气，惊恐等病症。对精神刺激适应能力差，应调节心态，宜服行气之品，如玫瑰花，佛手，萝卜等顺气之品。不宜进补。