Niacin and Cholesterol: Ways of Controlling Your Cholesterol Level
The rise in cases of coronary heart diseases around the world prompted many researchers and scientists to study closely the relationship between niacin and cholesterol. For many years, niacin and cholesterol has been linked together in many researches both here and abroad. Several researches link niacin and cholesterol together stating that niacin can help prevent the rise of bad cholesterol level in the blood. This nicotinic acid or vitamin B-3 which is found in many types of foods can actually breakdown the bad cholesterol in the blood when taken in high doses for a period of time.
People who have tried using niacin for cholesterol control reported that their cholesterol level dramatically decreases after taking niacin for sometime. However, since our bodies are not really built to take in excessive amount of niacin, a lot of people who take niacin supplements to lower their cholesterol level often suffer from mild to moderate side effects.
Some of the most common side effects experienced by people who are taking niacin supplements are flushing, itching, gastrointestinal upset, changes in the blood glucose, hot flashes and palpitations. Although niacin proves to be effective in controlling blood cholesterol level and there are no reports of serious side effects in using niacin for cholesterol control, many experts insist that niacin should not be considered as alternative for good diet and exercise to lower blood cholesterol level.
Diet and Exercise is Better
Controlling cholesterol with niacin supplements is a good thing but eating a balanced diet and exercising is even better. If you are worried about your blood cholesterol level, change your diet. Forget about those greasy and fatty foods. They will not do you any good at all. To stay healthy, you need to eat plenty of wholes grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. According to experts, you should eat at least five kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables a day to stay healthy and strong. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and those dark purple fruits.
Aside from eating right, you should also start moving around a little more. People who spend too much time on the couch watching TV are more prone to diseases compared to those people who take walks and visit the gym at least three times a week. Besides, people who exercise looks a lot better than those people who do not exercise. Just think about how much excess weight you can shed off if you exercise at least three times a week!
