The often forgotten macronutrient, fibre, is responsible for maintenance of hydration through the gut, removal of excess consumption of cholesterol and fat in the diet and for the enhancement and bulking of the stool in the large colon. Essentially fibre is either digestible or non digestible. These classifications refer to the nutrients ability to be absorbed in to the blood stream. The most important fibre source is that which is partially digestible. This is found in foods that have NOT been processed.

The best fibre sources come from good choice carbs:

    * Veggies: such as carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cabbage, beans
    * Fruits: such as peaches, plums, berries, apples
    * Salads

Cholesterol, the good, the bad & the ugly!

Cholesterol is one of the most misunderstood components of blood. It is commonly misconceived as being detrimental to your health but there are key benefits to having adequate cholesterol in your body. Most hormones in your body require cholesterol for their formation, furthermore all cells in your body require cholesterol and fats to repair and maintain their integrity. Without adequate cholesterol we’re likely to be tired, run down, depressed, anxious, vitamin D deficient and suffer insomnia!

So what’s the real story?

Depending on the way in which you metabolise certain foods, you’ll either have an appropriate and safe cholesterol picture or a poor and dangerous one. If you are consuming primarily grain based carbohydrates, starches and processed cereals, or poor choice carbs, in order to keep your carbohydrate intake adequate, you may be putting yourself at a high risk of dangerous health complications. Eating primarily poor choice carbs combined with eating a low cholesterol diet, accompanied with stress and fatigue and you are more likely to have elevated *LDL (low density lipoproteins) and depressed *HDL (high density lipoproteins) cholesterol. A key indicator of your sugar (carbohydrate) metabolism is your triglyceride level. As a practitioner, I like to see this around .7mmol/l. If your triglyceride and LDL levels are elevated your risk of cardio vascular disease complications, such as stroke and heart attack are significantly increased.

*Low density lipoproteins are considered the ‘bad’ cholesterol as too much LDL circulating in your blood can significantly increase your risk of artherosclerosis- a build up of plaque in the arteries that supply the brain and heart.

*High density lipoproteins, or ‘good’ cholesterol can help the body to take LDL (bad) cholesterol back to the liver where the body can dispose of it. Hence good levels of HDL cholesterol can have protective, healthful benefits for the body.

What can you do to ensure healthy cholesterol?

    * Eat more eggs (yolks runny)
    * Cut back on grain
    * Eat more fish
    * Eat 9-12 types of vegies, salads and fruits daily (fresh)
    * Drink green tea and lots of water
    * Take a high quality omega 3 supplement
    * Investigate a magnesium supplement and possibly a co enzyme Q10 supplement (especially if you are taking Statins or cholesterol lowering drugs)
    * If you must use grains use brown rice or higher protein grains like Quinoa.