More than 50% of American populations have cholesterol above 200 mg per dl. Of these more than 25% have levels which can cause potentially fatal diseases like cardiac arrest or stroke. Though statistics show that the Cholesterol levels are falling in the middle age and the elderly partly due to increased awareness and use of statins and other lipid lowering drugs, the worrying point is the increase in Lipid levels in the younger adults. Sedentary life style and increased consumption of packed and junk food have contributed to the rise in the young. Lack of fibers is also contributing to this unfortunate tendency. As in their elderly counterparts this cholesterol comes mainly in the form of dairy products, meat, and trans-fatty acids seen mostly in packed and junk foods. An over consumption of these unhealthy foods carries the risk of obesity and cardiac diseases.

Cholesterol levels have a profound effect on obesity. Obese individuals have unusually high levels of LDL and low HDL. Obesity also is indicted in ailments like cardiac arrest, high blood pressure. Obesity is also the cause of syndrome X. Syndrome X is characterized by collection of fat on the abdominal walls, raised levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), hypertension and insulin resistance. Syndrome X is also believed to be a pre-cursor to diabetes and is associated with high mortality in the First Instance heart attack in patients. Having adequate levels of HDL is also important especially to prevent stroke. As explained deposition of cholesterol in the form of plaques narrow the lumen of arteries including important ones like carotid artery. This reduces blood flow risking the death of Brain tissues due to ischaemeis leading to stroke.

Vegetarian foods are much in vogue these days. It has been said that a simple change into vegetarian diet can lower cholesterol by more than one third. Canadian scientists have claimed that people can drastically reduce their cholesterol by subsisting on plant foods. Further the scientists said that the results cannot be matched even by the most modern dietary regimen to reduce cholesterol. Among the various plants which were tried out Egg Plant was found to be particularly effective in reducing LDL levels. eggplant have natural phenols which inhibit the ACE or angiotensin converting enzyme much like the drug like enalapril or lisinopril does. But it does not mean that people on ACE inhibitors should stop taking the drug and switch over to Eating eggplant. But it is not without reason that naturalists recommend Egg Plant in home remedies for treating hypertension and high cholesterol.



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