| With all of the fanfare around statin drugs in recent | | | | medicine and confusion about the benefits compared |
| years there has been less and less discussion about | | | | to the risks. Additionally, niacin has been around for a |
| natural ways raise cholesterol levels. This is a shame | | | | while and there is very little enthusiasm by |
| especially since statins come with a number of label | | | | pharmaceutical companies, due to its generic standing. |
| warnings that are quite significant. In this article titled | | | | Despite its benefits niacin only account for less than 5 |
| “Could Niacin Be The Magic Bullet To Raise Good | | | | percent of all cholesterol drugs prescriptions written. |
| Cholesterol Levels Naturally” we will first clarify | | | | But don’t despair niacin can be found in many |
| what good cholesterol is, and then explore the B | | | | different foods including dairy products where your |
| vitamin niacin, which research shows, can raise good | | | | body converts the amino acid tryptophan into usable |
| cholesterol levels. | | | | niacin. |
| Good cholesterol is known as HDL. These dense | | | | It is also found in grains, but your body can’t absorb |
| particles made up of primarily protein don’t carry | | | | them unless they have been treated with lime. While |
| the artery clogging cholesterol into your veins. The | | | | this may be the case, many food manufacturers have |
| reason; HDL molecules are so dense they can’t | | | | recognized the benefits of niacin and fortified breads |
| squeeze through the spaces in the walls of the | | | | and cereals. |
| arteries. As a result HDL, and their payload of | | | | Meats, fish, and poultry also have ample amounts but |
| cholesterol, exits the body through the avenue of solid | | | | require a certain amount of good judgment to pick |
| waste. | | | | foods that will raise good cholesterol while not |
| One colorful way to look at HDL is that they are like a | | | | elevating bad cholesterol. |
| buff taxi driver that always gets their rider (cholesterol) | | | | While there is very little research for niacin foods we |
| to the intended destination. On the other hand LDL | | | | do have a great deal of information concerning |
| (bad cholesterol) is an out of shape fellow, who | | | | medical strength niacin. What we find is when 375 mg |
| always gets into trouble by dropping riders off along | | | | of niacin are taken daily HDL levels rise by as much as |
| the way. Eventually so many riders have been | | | | 25 percent while LDL levels decrease 14 percent. |
| stranded they get mad and stop the taxi, resulting in a | | | | Sadly, we must report that like most medications niacin |
| traffic backup (heart attack or stroke). | | | | comes with a plethora of side effects. These include |
| Less than scientific, but you get the point. So can niacin | | | | sudden hot flashes, reducing the effectiveness of |
| help us to raise good cholesterol enough to reduce the | | | | arthritis and diabetes medications, skin rashes, hives, |
| number of disgruntled drivers dropped off on artery | | | | itching, nausea, diarrhea, peptic ulcers, liver damage, |
| lane? | | | | vision problems, dizziness, and fainting. The old saying |
| Niacin is rarely prescribed. There are a few reasons | | | | that there is no free lunch certainly seems to apply to |
| for this such as its perception as a dangerous | | | | prescription grade niacin. |