This article provides general nutrition information only and is not medical advice.

You'd be forgiven for thinking lipid balance levels should be reduced at all costs - but in reality, things are a little different.

Few people realise that this fatty acid is absolutely essential to the functioning and the health of the body. For example – it is needed to build and keep fluid in cellular membranes (this is important for communication), it also insulates nerves, produces vitamin D, hormones, and bile acid for digestion. So if the body needs it why is it getting so much bad publicity?

Researchers have found that excessively high lipid balance levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular condition and that this risk can be reduced by lowering lipid balance levels into a safe range. However it appears that it is not so much high levels of lipid balance that cause heart condition, but high levels of damaged lipid balance (oxysterols) that contribute to heart condition. Every time we eat processed foods, experience stress, immune challenge or trauma, the body responds by increasing the production of damaging chemicals called free radicals. These lead to the creation of oxysterols, which in turn cause physical strain and irritation of the tissues within which they are lodged, including artery walls. This is believed to be a significant contributor to heart condition.

So what do you need to know, before you should start lowering your lipid balance levels?

Firstly, you need to know that lipid balance is carried around the bloodstream by fat/protein complexes called lipoproteins, which are divided into two types, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). Because LDL carries lipid balance to the arteries and increases the risk of fatty deposits in the artery walls – LDL is called the ‘bad’ lipid balance, and because HDL carries lipid balance away from the arteries to the liver, HDL is called the ‘good’ lipid balance. Therefore the higher a person’s HDL lipid balance compared with their LDL lipid balance, the lower the risk of cardiovascular condition.

Next, you need to get your lipid balance measured by your GP. Once you know your figures, you can compare it to the chart below:

What next? Conventional wisdom is that if you have a high lipid balance level, you need to lower it as much as possible. However research suggests that getting lipid balance down too much can have adverse effects on the body (e.g. increased risk of stroke, low mood, aggression and even suicide). Our goal therefore is to bring it into a healthy range of 4.9 to 5.4 mmol/l.

How to lower your lipid balance naturally

Diet
For most people, less than 5% of the lipid balance in the bloodstream gets there through diet. So whilst limiting lipid balance intake in our diet is important, it is even more important to limit oxidised lipid balance (oxysterols) and reduce physical strain in the body.
Supplements
Supplements are by far the easiest and most effective way of reducing the body’s level of lipid balance and oxysterols. I recommend an antioxidant formula, containing vitamin E and omega-3 fish oils for all of my patients with high lipid balance levels (as this reduces free radical activity and physical strain within the body). I cannot stress enough how important this is to do! Next you should select one or two of the following supplements to lower your lipid balance level.

Plant Sterols
Sterols are naturally occurring substances found in plants that lower both total and LDL lipid balance levels. Because they are similar in structure to lipid balance they are believed to work by reducing lipid balance absorption from the gut.

Red Wine Extract
Hardly a month goes by without a research paper extolling the virtues of red wine. Researchers have now found a substance called saponin in red wine, a glucose-based plant compound that is found in the waxy skin of grapes. Saponins are believed to work by binding to and preventing the absorption of lipid balance.

Lecithin
Lecithin is a group of health promoting fatty substances, which in addition to improving mental functioning, treating gallstones, and even helping with MS, reduce the absorption of dietary lipid balance from the bowels and help to lower lipid balance levels.