APOLIPOPROTEIN H AND CHOLESTEROL

In  ldl receptor knockout mice, these are mice that do not have the ability to synthesize cholesterol in a manner that leads to the excretion of cholesterol. Atherosclerosis was acclerated in animals that were injected with APL antibodies. These findings suggest a role in the development of atherosclerosis.

Now, a definition of what constitutes an APL syndrone, this is a disorder in which vascular thrombosis or recurrent pregnancy losses occurs.APL stands for antiphospholipid syndrome. This antigen targets the phospholipid proteins. If you remember lipids are carried through the blood stream by proteins and in this condition it is the protein that is being targeted(apolipoprotein H) orB2GPI.

To explain how an antibody is formed, when the body encounters something that is foreign, it starts making antibodies.Some antigens are beneficial as those that are given for different immunizations,  these are protective against disease states and depending on what is being immunized this dictates the antibody antigen complex that is used.

APL is generally thought  to fall in the autoimmune antibody classification. Explanation of an autoimmune disease, to put it simply it is the body reacting to itself. APL antibodies are distinct and unique to the syndrome and can be differentiated from other conditions that target the phospholipid and not the co factor protein(apoH).

How this disorder came about is interesting and bears telling. Through the efforts of Moore and Mohr in 1952. They were the first to describe this anamoly. It was through the observation of a false positive test for syphilis that something other than syphilis was occuring but at that time it was not known what was causing this false positive reaction.

Now stay tuned for the next posting and I will explain exactly what happened and what came about.

Hopefully, I peaked your interest as this is rather dry material.

Stay Health

FOODS THAT MEET THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATIONS CRITERIA FOR LOW FAT,TRANS FATS AND CHOLESTEROL

How to know if a food is low in cholesterol,trans fats and saturated fats.

The American Heart Association has a logo on foods that they deem worthy of putting their name to,they are products that are low in artery clogging fats and are also low in salt.

Look for a heart with a check mark in the center when going to the market, this label will tell you if the above guidelines have been met.

There is still a fair amount of salt to contend with but a lot lower than traditional type foods.

The best way to eat is buying whole foods (fruits and vegetables)  they are not processed but there comes a time when the palette can dictate something different.

I experienced this after three months of fruits and vegetables and I had some undeniable cravings for different foods. There is something to the saying that variety is the spice of life.

Strive to make your diet as varied as possible and know how to substitute foods that contain fats that are not healthy.

I just printed some recipes from a site that are heart healthy and give the nutritional values of the ingredients that are contained within and I will share two of the recipes.

LIGHTER GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS
1can(10 and three quarter oz) Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
one-quarter cup of milk(2%fat or you can use no-fat)
1tsp onion powder
one-eight tsp pepper
one tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1lb of fresh green beans(about three cups) cooked and drained
2tlbs crushed French's French Fried onions(remember this is a lighter casserole)

DIRECTIONS
1) Stir soup,milk,onion powder,black pepper,soy sauce and green beans in a one and one-half qt casserole.
2)Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until mixture is hot and bubbly. Stir bean mixture. Top with onions
3)Bake for another 5 min until the onions are golden brown

This makes six servings and the following is the nutritional value per serving.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Calories 65
Total fat 2 gm
Sat fat 1gm
Chol 3 gm
Sodium(salt) 235mg
Total Carbs 10gm
Dietary Fiber 2  gm
Protein 2gm
Vitamin A 9%DV(daily value)
VitaminC 10%DV
Calcium 8%DV
Iron 3%DV

SAVORY LEMON CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS
Vegtable cooking spray
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves( if too thick pound them to make thinner)
1can(10and three-quater ox)Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
Two tlbs of water
One tlbs of fresh parsley(or one tsp of dried parley flakes)
One tlbs of lemon juice
One-half tsp of paprika
One-quater cup of chopped green or red pepper
4 lemon slices

DIRECTIONS
 1)Spray a 10 inch skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat for 1 min
add chicken and cook for 10 min or until well browned on both sides. Remove chicken from skillet.

2) Stir soup,water,parsley,lemon juice,paprika and pepper in skillet and heat to a boil. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat and cook for five min or until chicken is cooked through. Top chicken with lemon slices.

Makes four servings

NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Calories 197/serving
Total fat 5g
Sat Fat 2 g
Cholesterol 76 mg
Sodium 348mg
Total carb 9g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Protein 28g
Vitamin A 6%DV(daily value)
Vitamin C 15%DV
Calcium 2%DV
Iron 6%DV

Hope you and your families enjoy the recipes.

Look for the heart with the check mark, this will be a guide in knowing the amount of fat that is contained in the foods that you eat.

PS I just had Campbell's Healthy Request Tomato Soup and it is ( um um good.).The back of the can has the heart with the check in the middle. Make sure you pick Healthy Request,there is a Healthy Choice not the same.

Stay Healthy

SUPPLEMENTS TO LOWER YOUR STATIN DOSE

New research suggests that by stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide(NO) in those who have elevated cholesterol levels can eliminate the need for the traditional dosage of a statin by as much as 50%.

To give you some information on how this is accomplished, an understanding of what Nitric Oxide does in the body is in order.

Nitric Oxide is a gas that is found in the body and can be measured only in the body, an when exposed to air it dissipates.(NO) lowers cholesterol through it's antioxidant activity. (NO )is more active in the endothelial cells when combined with a statin.

There are ways for (NO) to be measured and research scientists are able to do this by placing electrodes in blood vessels.

As we age the amount of (NO) in the body declines, this could be from cholesterol that has been deposited in the arteries through high fat consumption,genetic cholesterol and an inactive lifestyle.(NO) dilates the arteries and allows for a better flow of blood.

(NO ) CAN NOT be taken as a supplement because of the nature of it's composition, it is a gas


The supplements L-Arginine and L-citrulline are the supplements that can accomplish what (NO) can't do on it's own.

A very respected clinic found that there is significant improvement to blood flow and endothelial function compared to those taking a placebo when taking these two supplements.

Since the amount of food one takes daily is not enough to meet the requirements of this amino acid. It is suggested that supplements be taken instead.

The dose recommended is 2,000 to 3,000 mg 2 times a day for a total of 4,000 to 6,000 mg

Arginine does not enter into the cells unless accompanied by L-citrulline(amino acid).

The food sources for L-citrulline are melons and cucumbers, again, this is not enough to produce an increased amount of (NO).

Dose 400 to 600 mg daily.

DO NOT DECREASE YOUR STATIN WITHOUT YOUR DOCTOR"S ADVICE

TAKE THE ABOVE INFORMATION TO YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND LET HE OR SHE BE YOUR GUIDE.

TIP OF THE DAY
EAT MORE FIBER (GRAINS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ) LOWERS ldl (bad cholesterol) and increases the hdl (good cholesterol). THIS PROTECTS THE ENDOTHEIAL (lining of the arteries).

PS You would be surprised at how many doctor's take supplements.

Stay healthy

DETERMINE YOUR LDL(CHOLESTEROL) SIZE AND REDUCE HEART ATTACK RISK BY 300%

Many are not aware that cholesterol comes in sizes, nor is it known that by testing for the particle size of cholesterol you will reduce your risk of a heart attack by 300 to 500%. Even when your ldl levels are normal.

Your lipid pattern will determine your risk factors for a heart attack and unless a panel contains results for the sub-types of cholesterol(this is how the size is determined.) Your risk factor may go unnoticed until you incur a full blown heart attack. Prevent this, by testing.

To give you an idea of how the testing is done and I won't go into the full procedure. the specimen that you provide is spun down in a large centrifuge and this is how size is determined. As a friend of mine calls it, the light fluffy stuff. The heaviest particles go to the bottom and the lightest stay on top.

The small (type b) because of its size passes through the inner linings of the coronary arteries more easily and possibly triggering a heart attack.

The large typeA does not do this, this type is your good cholesterol (HDL.)

The above indicates the need for some fat in your diet, as without fat, the manufacturing of HDL is nil. So the case for those good fats.

Remember to replace sat. fats with heart healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats

Also, your intake of carbohydrates should be no more than 45% of your total calories.

There is a cascade effect to what we eat. If you don't burn excess calories they are eventually stored as a fat and carbohydrates are just as much a factor in maintaining normal cholesterol levels as the fats we may eat.

Now you know how cholesterol's size can either reduce the risk of coronary artery disease or increase the risk.

Stay Healthy