The American College of Cardiology continues to have the goal of raising the HDL, which is the subfraction of the cholesterol that protects against heart disease and strokes. The standard advice is to increase exercise, which is a very good idea by itself but does not produce dramatic improvement in HDL numbers. The B-vitamin niacin is probably more effective than any drug in raising the HDL. A nightly glass of wine might have a tiny effect. But the most dramatic increases in HDL occur by lowering carbs in the diet, especially if your triglycerides are at least slightly elevated. I have seen HDL’s double, just by switching to a low carb diet.
Contact American Medical News, May 19, 2008 issue, page 29 or search the internet for low carbohydrate diets.
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