Our body needs cholesterol in order to make vitamin D, hormones, and cell membranes. Unlike other nutrients that must be consumed, most of the cholesterol in our body is made by our body, with only 25% of the cholesterol circulating in our blood made from the foods we eat. The Kids Health Organization explains the role and risk factors of cholesterol.
When we have a blood cholesterol test, our health care provider pays special attention to, not only the total cholesterol number, but also to the amount of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL, the good cholesterol, travels through the many miles of blood vessels in our body mopping up the "bad" low density lipoprotein (LDL). Saturated fat found in animal products such as egg yolks, full fat dairy, and butter contribute to elevated LDL. If cholesterol levels get too high, good HDL cholesterol is unable to remove the excess cholesterol. LDL cholesterol oxidizes, or turns rancid, and is deposited on artery walls forming a hard substance called plaque. Plaque makes arteries narrower and stiffer, reducing blood flow and causing blockage. "Hardening of the arteries" is a good description of the process.
Science Daily covers very recent research which argues that it is not the eating of cholesterol foods that cause cardiovascular damage, but damage comes from eating cholesterol foods that are oxidized, or made rancid by frying in reused oils or eating lots of polyunsaturated fats or transfats. Heart damage is made worse by smoking.
The Melaleuca Wellness Guide tells us that plant sterols have a similar chemical structure to cholesterol. Plant sterols can actually block the absorption of cholesterol and help eliminated it naturally through the body, thereby reducing the amount of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Plant sterols need to be absorbed along with fat to be effective. They are naturally found in seeds and nuts. Research confirms that supplementing with at least 1,500 mg of plant sterols daily can result in a 10% to 15% reduction in LDL levels.
Phytomega contains the research-recommended two grams of plant sterols along with heart healthy omega-3, CoQ10, and ALA. Omega-3 fatty acids were found to reduce the occurrence of non-fatal coronary events, including heart attack in patients with high cholesterol, by 19%.
We have frequently noted that omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our health. Yet our body can only get omega-3 fatty acids through food or supplements. The University of Maryland reports that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. They note that omega-3 fatty acids may also be useful for twenty other conditions. Phytomega and Vitality Coldwater Omega-3 contain omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Another important cholesterol fighter is fiber. Soluble fiber, found in oats, psyllium seeds, beans, and many fruits, dissolves in water becoming gel-like. As a gel it traps and eliminates excess fats, cholesterol, and sugars. FiberWisecontains seven natural fibers, 80% soluble and 20% insoluble, plus soothing herbs, antioxidants, and probiotics. FiberWise not only helps maintain regularity but also helps lower cholesterol, helps keep blood sugar levels balanced, and enhances general health.
Another natural ingredient that helps raise good HDL cholesterol is the cranberry. Two tasty chewable CranBarriertablets contain 1,000 mg of cranberry extract which is the amount found in ten ounces of pure undiluted cranberry juice.
ProvexCV is a superstar in the fight against heart disease. It reduces LDL oxidation, thus reducing inflammation. A PubMed abstract highlights the multiple heart protecting properties of grape extracts along with its ability to reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation.
For more detailed information on the wonders of grape seed extract please read our Research Report.
New research is showing that probiotics in the digestive tract also regulate cholesterol metabolism. The Melaleuca Wellness Guide tells us that "friendly bacteria" helps us digest food, regulate hormones, produce vitamins, and enhance vitamin and mineral absorption. Now research is showing that probiotics in the digestive tract also regulate cholesterol metabolism.
Florify contains a blend of five billion colony units of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. Lactobacillus is the prevalent good bacteria in the small intestine and Bifidobacterium is the most dominant good bacteria in the large intestine.
In review: Along with your Vitality supplements, make sure you are including Coldwater Omega-3, FiberWise, Phytomega, and ProvexCV. For added protection add CranBarrier and Florify.
~ Richard M Barry
The Melaleuca Wellness Guide
Widely recognized as the definitive resource for the many questions about uses of Melaleuca products, The Melaleuca Wellness Guide features over 200 health solutions, over 150 cleaning solutions, and over 215 suggestions for cats, dogs, horses, and farm animals.
Many Melaleuca Marketing Executives have found that when they make sure their new customers have The Melaleuca Wellness Guide, they are happier with their choice to switch stores. Using The Melaleuca Wellness Guide helps people understand the many applications for Melaleuca products. Understanding of the products helps create product-centered organizations which have higher average order size and retention rates.
Lowering Cholesterol Success Stories
The people below will receive a free copy of The Melaleuca Wellness Guide for submitting their stories.
Several years ago just after joining up with Melaleuca, my husband was diagnosed with high cholesterol. His doctor wanted to put him on Lipitor. I begged him not to do this and give Melaleuca supplements a try. After about six months of begging, he finally agreed and started on Phytomega and Provex CV. (I think he did it just to prove me wrong).
To his surprise and my delight, His total cholesterol went from 245 to 210, his triglycerides went from 386 to 240, his HDL went from 34 to 40 and his LDL went from 134 to 130. This happened in about six or seven months. His doctor asked him what he was doing as to diet, exercise, eating habits, and he had to tell his doctor about these great supplements he was taking from Melaleuca! WE CAN'T THANK THIS GREAT COMPANY ENOUGH!
A couple of years ago, I started seeing a new primary care doctor. Considering she was a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy), I expected her to honor the body's ability to heal itself, but she was quick to write prescriptions first and ask questions later. When my cholesterol came back as "borderline high," she immediately whipped out her pen to write a prescription for Lipitor. Not wanting to damage my liver to save my heart, I asked if she would wait to see if I could lower it through diet and exercise. She reluctantly agreed, so we scheduled a follow up appointment in six months.
I started using Phytomega, in addition to watching my carbohydrate intake, not really doing much additional exercise. At the six month follow up appointment, the doctor was astonished that my LDL had lowered by almost 100 points. I am now seeing a different doctor, one that follows a more holistic practice and understands the benefits of Melaleuca products.
I am submitting my story regarding "lowering my cholesterol." In order to tell my story, I have to go back a ways and tell you some of my husband's story.
On October 30, 2009, my husband was involved in a critical car accident. He was involved in a one car accident in which his tire caught the edge of the pavement on a curve and flipped his car which landed driver side down on the pavement.
He received a serious brain injury, broken collar bone, broken orbital socket, facial fractures, ten broken ribs, and two deflated lungs. The doctors could not guarantee that he would even make it through the night. Needless to say, I was of course very upset and very stressed. I sat at his bedside the better part of each day.
I didn't eat a whole lot while this was all going on. When I did eat, I didn't make the best food choices. He was so unstable; I didn't leave his side for long periods of time. I basically lived at the hospital, by his side, from October 30 to December 23 of 2009. I would grab fast food, chips and candy bars out of machines, quick snacks that I could take with me. Of course, these were not the most nutritionally sound choices.
After several weeks in the hospital and several months at home, during his rehabilitation, I continued bad food choices and my weight and my cholesterol rose. At my doctors exam in the beginning of 2010, my cholesterol and risen to 230. My triglycerides were also very high. My doctor told me that I definitely needed to make some changes and eat a healthier diet.
As things slowly improved with my husband's health, I started working more on my eating habits, exercise and getting my cholesterol down. I worked very hard to lower my numbers and by the time I had my cholesterol checked again in 2011, my cholesterol had dropped to 180 and my triglycerides were at a normal level. I worked hard to keep those numbers at an acceptable level. I used supplements such as: garlic pills, fish oil, Cholest-Off (Over the counter), and prescription Zocor. I also took a multivitamin that had ingredients for heart health.
In September 2012, my husband and I were introduced to the Melaleuca Products. I watched the presentation and was impressed about the stories I heard about how these products had helped others with health issues. We enrolled that night as Preferred Customers with the option to do this as a business.
I purchased the Provex, Phytomega, and women's multivitamins to see what benefits I could get from them. In late October, after taking these supplements for about three weeks, I had my cholesterol rechecked and it was down to 150. I was amazed that it had improved so much since the last check. I also noticed that I had more energy and didn't feel sluggish like I had in the past. I was sold on the products.
In November 2012, my husband had his cholesterol checked and his numbers were very high for his cholesterol and his triglycerides. I then ordered him the same supplements and the men's multivitamins. Also because of the accident he had to have several blood transfusions and he was having a lot of problems with anemia. He was always tired and sluggish. The doctor gave him a month and told him she wanted to recheck his anemia. After being on these supplements for four weeks, he had his blood rechecked and they came back and said that his anemia was gone. His energy level was much higher and he was not feeling sluggish like he had before.
We are sold on the Melaleuca products. We are anxious to share our stories with others so that they may too experience the increased health benefits that we have
About two years ago my friend and I were fretting together about our husbands' high cholesterol. A few weeks later she said that her husband had started on a prescription, because their doctor had said that since he already lived a healthy lifestyle, there was no way he could lower his cholesterol without medication. My husband hated the idea of going on drugs. He agreed to try Phytomega from Melaleuca, where we had just starting shopping.
Within six months, his numbers were better than his friend's, who had been on the prescription medication even longer than my husband had been on the Phytomega! He is thrilled to have solved the problem without drugs!
Thank goodness for The Melaleuca Wellness Guide! There was so much information during the initial Melaleuca presentation that if I hadn't had the Guide to read, I would not have known what to suggest to my husband!
I love your books and I give The Melaleuca Wellness Guide to anyone signing with me, as I feel it is the absolute tool they need for a great Melaleuca business. I also have them read the book Built On Solid Principles.
I have been so excited about the vitamins. I have had my husband on them for three months now. He went to the doctor after two months using them and then had blood work done. The doctor was so amazed at his results. She said from the test she had done six months before his counts on everything were down and his cholesterol was down twenty points. She asked "What are you doing different as you haven't been exercising and haven't lost weight?" She said he was so healthy! And yet she previously thought he would need to go on cholesterol medications.
His blood pressure is going down, too. We now plan to get some weight off with the Melaleuca bars and protein drinks and get him off blood pressure medications. The vitamins have helped us both as my knees and my fused back don't have the pain they used to either.
I love the cleaners and everything about Melaleuca, I am so glad I signed up with the company and I am just two people away to becoming a director. I have a janitorial business and these are the first natural cleaners I have ever found to work. You just want to tell the world about Melaleuca's products and RM Barry's wonderful books, which I do.
My cholesterol has dropped from 230 to 178! My health care practitioner says my HDL and LDL are "perfect". I feel this has happened because I have been taking Vitality Total or Vitality 6 for Women and Attain GC Control. I began GC Control when it was introduced May 19, 2012. Since then I have lost 27 pounds, 5 1/2 inches off my waist, and dropped from size 16 to size 10. I finally feel in control again!
I started shopping with Melaleuca in January, 2012. I am 60 years old and in great health. I am a retired fire fighter and now compete in body building competitions. I exercise regularly and eat very healthy, but I have always struggled with high cholesterol and have been on several prescriptions.
I heard a success story about the Melaleuca Heart-Health supplements and figured it wouldn't hurt to try them. I started taking the ProvexCV and Phytomega right away. After four weeks my triglyceride count dropped, so I continued taking the supplements. I went back to have lab work done after four months and my cholesterol count went from over 300 to under 200! My doctor is now a Melaleuca customer after seeing my results and I will never have to take a prescription drug again for my cholesterol issues. Thank You Melaleuca!
I've always gotten great lab results, but in September 2011, my cholesterol was a little high at 201. In March 2012, I started taking Vitality 6 vitamins and when I got my lab work rechecked in July 2012, my cholesterol went down to 181. I never changed my diet...just started taking Vitality 6 vitamins. These vitamins are amazing! Not only did I receive great lab results, I feel better. Thank you for such great vitamins and products! I love Melaleuca!