Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hello Terry, “My husband was advised to take niacin to help increase his HDL levels and reduce his risk of a heart attack. His HDL level is currently 28, compared to 40, which is considered “normal”. What is your take on this?” — Wendy M., Green Bay, WI

A. Dear Wendy, While niacin has some benefits and is usually risk free, it does have the potential to cause flushing of the skin, which some people dislike. If that is not a problem, then he should continue to take the niacin. However, do not use time release niacin as it can cause liver damage.

To further support healthy cholesterol balance, I suggest your husband take two additional nutrients – Indian Gooseberry (also called Amla) and Omega-3 fatty acids. Indian Gooseberry, a fresh fruit from India, has been an important part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. However, it was modern research that unlocked the secrets to its success in treating heart disease. Indian Gooseberry has antioxidant properties, which allow it to stop the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the first step in heart disease. It is also able to increase levels of HDL – the good, protective form of cholesterol. I recommend taking 1,000 mg of this blend daily.

There are also many studies showing the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids for reducing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. I recommend taking Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, naturally bound to phospholipids, which you can find in a tablet form. The advantage to this type of an omega fatty acid supplement is that the absorption is increased up to 50 times over regular fish oil supplements, and the purity is vastly superior. Therefore, you only need one or two tablets a day instead of handfuls of fish oil capsules or spoonsful of fishy tasting oils.

As always, it’s very important for your husband to work with his healthcare practitioner. I encourage him to talk with his doctor and see what he/she thinks of using the protocol I have recommended.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally