Reducing the risk of Heart Disease 05-04-2006 Reducing the risk of Heart Disease Countless studies show that phytosterols reduce LDL which is the bad cholesterol while preserving or increasing HDL, the favourable cholesterol. Some of these studies have incorporated margarines fortified with sterols in order to reduce cholesterol levels. The problem with using margarines to reduce the risk of heart disease is that they provide a ready source of trans fatty acids which increase inflammation and are therefore bad for the heart. It would make much more sense to consume phytosterols separately from margarine which would be highly beneficial to the heart without any negative consequences. What is even more exciting is the recent groundbreaking research about the true cause of heart disease. This research was stimulated by the amazing findings that half of all people who sustained heart attacks had normal cholesterol levels. Prominent cardiologists from the highly esteemed Harvard Medical School have isolated inflammation as being the primary process responsible for atherosclerotic heart disease which is the medical way for describing the progressive blockage of your arteries. Inflammation means that your immune system is all fired up to deal with impending danger. As far as your heart is concerned inflammation is a sign that there is an almighty battle going on in your blood vessels and it is crucial that you discover whether this battle is taking place so that you can take the necessary action in order to emerge as the victor. The latest research tells us that there are blood tests which can inform us as to the presence of inflammation in our blood vessels. These blood tests now include measurements of highly selective C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. These might sound like participants in a Star wars movie but they are really very sensitive markers of inflammation and you are about to hear much more about them as doctors discover the need to utilise these tests as part of your essential cardiovascular healthcare program. What this research has shown, which has recently been documented in the highly prestigious New England Journal Of medicine, is that C-reactive protein is the most reliable indicator of impending heart attack. This is where Phytosterols enter the story. These super nutrients are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and they are especially recognised as modifiers of interleukin-6. This means if you have inflammation building up in your blood vessels which may culminate in a heart attack, by consuming regular supplements of phytosterols you will be taking a major step towards safeguarding the health of your heart. In simple terms if you want to know whether you are at risk, ask your doctor about the new tests and have them done. If you want to place yourself at the forefront of cardiovascular health in the new millennium start taking supplements of Phytosterols. Phytosterols | The new immune system | Boosting athletes immune systems | Overcoming prostate enlargment | Winning the war against cancer | The New Hope for treating... | Reducing the risk of heart disease | Solving the dilemma of Auto immune disease | Summary of main points | Bibliography