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Niacin & Cholesterol Reduction Ideas

Also known as vitamin B3, niacin is vital to the body. When looking at niacin and cholesterol reduction ideas, it is an effective means of reducing your bad cholesterol and boosting the good. Yet, you need to take this vitamin under a doctor's supervision, as it can have some adverse side effects and cause trouble over time. So, use niacin only as directed.

  1. Basic Function

    • Niacin has a number of positive effects on the human body. First off, fat is not a water-soluble molecule; it needs something to bind to in order to be absorbed by the body. Triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in your bloodstream act as the binding agents. Niacin causes these proteins to break up and disperse. Without something to "cling" to, the cholesterol can't be absorbed by your body, and it's just flushed away.

    Lower the Bad, Raise the Good

    • Very often, a doctor will recommend taking nicotinic acid. You can get it without a doctor's prescription, and it is widely accessible and cheap. However, it has some side effects. So, only take it under a doctor's supervision.

      Nicotinic acid is available in two forms: timed release and the immediate acting. To determine which form is best for you, talk to your physician. No matter what type you take, your doctor will start you out on a low dose and then slowly raise it until you get up to 1 1/2 to 3 grams of it each day. Over time, it will drop your LDL cholesterol by 10 percent to 20 percent, your triglycerides by 20 percent to 50 percent, and boost your HDL cholesterol level by 15 perent to 35 percent. The HDL is what is known as the good cholesterol, and you want to increase it as much as possible.

    Side Effects

    • Now, as mentioned above, nicotinic acid can have some negative impacts on your body. First are hot flashes, because niacin acts as a vasodilator, which means it makes the blood vessels wider. To combat this, take the supplement while eating a meal or immediately after one. Also, over time, you may build up a tolerance to that side effect. Then there are stomach troubles, such as indigestion, nausea, gas and diarrhea. In terms of long-term major effects, there are gout, liver disorders and increased blood sugar levels.

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