Go for low-cholesterol diet
Question : I HAVE numbness in my hands especially the fingers.
Could it be due to hypercholesterolemia? My total blood
cholesterol is slightly above 200mg/dl and I just had my gall
bladder removed last month. Please advise.
Answer : NUMBNESS is often associated with or preceded by
abnormal pain-like sensations often described as pins and
needles, prickling or burning sensations. Any numbness requires
prompt medical advice as it could be a sign or symptom of other
diseases.
This condition may be caused by several factors, including lack
of blood supply to the affected area, nerve injury and metabolic
disturbances such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, alcoholism and
malnutrition.
Numbness can be a result of high cholesterol levels in blood. If
plaque is blocking the flow of blood to your feet and legs, a
fairly common condition called peripheral vascular disease will
occur.
Since you have a high cholesterol level and had your gall
bladder removed, you should cut down the intake of oil.
A high-fat diet can stimulate bile acid secretion and this can
irritate the gut. Additionally, a high intake of unsaturated fat
can increase the cholesterol levels.
Supplementing your diet with lecithin would be beneficial. Its
main constituent, phosphatidyl choline, has the ability to
increase the solubility of cholesterol and break down the fatty
deposits in the bloodstream. This reduces the risk of
cholesterol plaque formation.
You should incorporate cholesterol-lowering foods into your
diet, such as oats, fish, vegetables and fruits.
Although your diet should be free from oily foods, a small
amount of essential fatty acids -- omega-3 and omega-6 -- are
needed to maintain good health and normalise total blood
cholesterol levels.
Increase your dietary fibre because it will combine with and
deactivate excessive bile acids in the bowel.
Herbs like red yeast rice and guggulipid may also be used to
lower serum triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol, and
increase HDL cholesterol.