Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol

Grapefruit contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber that has been shown in animal studies to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis. In one study, animals fed a high-cholesterol diet plus grapefruit pectin had 24% narrowing of their arteries, while animals fed the high-cholesterol diet without grapefruit pectin had 45% narrowing.Both blond and red grapefruit can reduce blood levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and red grapefruit lowers triglycerides as well, shows a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.Israeli researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem first tested the antioxidant potential of blond and red grapefruits and then their cholesterol-lowering potential in humans. The test tube research showed that red grapefruit contains more bioactive compounds and total polyphenols than blond, but both grapefruits are comparable in their content of fiber, phenolic and ascorbic acids, and the flavonoid, naringinen, although red grapefruit contains slightly more flavonoids and anthocyanins.In this recent study, participants added either red grapefruit, blond grapefruit or no grapefruit to their daily diet. The results indicated that both types of grapefruit appeared to lower LDL cholesterol in just 30 days: total cholesterol by 15.5% in those eating red grapefruit and 7.6% in those eating blond grapefruit; LDL cholesterol by 20.3% and 10.7% respectively; and triglycerides by 17.2% and 5.6% respectively. No changes were seen in the control group (those that didn't eat any grapefruit).Both red and blond grapefruits both positively influenced cholesterol levels, but red grapefruit was more than twice as effective, especially in lowering triglycerides. In addition, both grapefruits significantly improved blood levels of protective antioxidants. Red grapefruit's better performance may be due to an as yet unknown antioxidant compound or the synergistic effects of its phytonutrients, including lycopene.In response to this rapid and very positive outcome, the researchers concluded that adding fresh red grapefruit to the diet could be beneficial for persons with high cholesterol, especially those who also have high triglycerides.One caveat, however: Compounds in grapefruit are known to increase circulating levels of several prescription drugs including statins. For this reason, the risk of muscle toxicity associated with statins may increase when grapefruit is consumed. (See our Individual Concerns section for more information.)

Precautions: Research indicates that individuals taking statin drugs should avoid grapefruit. Grapefruit increases the amount of statin drug that reaches the general circulation in two ways. First, grapefruit contains a compound called naringenin, which inactivates an enzyme (cytochrome P450 3A4) in the small intestine that metabolizes statin drugs. Secondly, grapefruit also inhibits P-glycoprotein, a carrier molecule produced in the intestinal wall that would normally transport the statin drug back to the gut. The end result of these two mechanisms is that much more of the statin drug enters the systemic circulation than would normally be the case, leading to a build up in statin levels that can be quite dangerous, and may trigger a rare but serious statin-associated disease called rhabdomyolysis. Rhaddomyolysis affects muscle tissue, usually causing temporary paralysis or weakness, unless the muscle is severely injured.

Danger of Grapefruit: if you take Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin) you should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice

Supplement​s against statins side effects

Most of the negative side effects caused by statins are due to the way these drugs deplete the body of the potent antioxidant CoQ10.

You see, statins work in the liver by blocking an enzyme pathway that leads to the creation of cholesterol. Unfortunately, that same enzyme pathway is the one your body uses to create CoQ10. So statin takers need to be especially aware of the fact that they’re not producing CoQ10 at the levels they would be if they were taking no medication. When your body lacks CoQ10, energy production will lag and cell function will suffer.

Here’s a list of nutrients I recommend to all statin users. Because of the CoQ10 connection, it’s at the top of the list. But because CoQ10 is so intimately involved in cellular energy production, I also recommend including complementary nutrients in your daily regimen. You’ll find many of these nutrients in a quality multivitamin and mineral formula. Others, like CoQ10, ribose, and broad spectrum carnitine, must be purchased separately and can be found in health food stores and most grocery stores.

· CoQ10, 100–200 mg (hydrosoluble softgel) daily. CoQ10 serves as a raw material for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary source of cellular energy. Also a potent antioxidant, CoQ10 helps to neutralize the free radicals generated during the ATP production cycle.

· Broad spectrum carnitine, 1–2 g daily. This nutrient shuttles the fatty acids necessary for ATP production into the cells and transports waste material out.

· Ribose, 5 g twice a day. Ribose allows used ATP molecules to be recycled more quickly. A simple sugar made in every cell, ribose is depleted by heart disease. When taken as a supplement, it rapidly re-energizes heart patients.

· Magnesium, 400–800 mg daily. In the body, magnesium helps activate and regulate more than 350 enzymatic reactions. It is also required to stabilize and store ATP.

· Vitamin E (100–200 IU of mixed tocopherols daily),

· Vitamin C (200 mg daily), and

· Alpha lipoic acid (50–100 mg daily).

These three major antioxidants protect your cells from free-radical damage and are able to penetrate the inner mitochondrial membrane.

· Copper (500 mcg to 1 mg daily),

· Zinc (15–30 mg daily),

· Molybdenum (75–150 mcg daily), and

· Manganese (2–4 mg daily).

All four are vital minerals for ATP production and cellular health and repair.

Read more: http://www.drsinatra.com/cholesterol-meds-statin-nutrient-depletion#ixzz2fAQQRlL0