What are natural fibrates?

Have you ever heard of natural fibrates? No, it’s not a new kind of organic fabric. It’s actually a type of medication that can lower your triglyceride levels and help prevent heart disease (which is something we could all use). But before you start popping pills like they’re candy, let’s dive deeper into what exactly natural fibrates are.

Defining Natural Fibrates

Natural fibrates, also known as fibric acid derivatives, are drugs that come from a class of compounds called fibric acids. These drugs work by activating PPAR-alpha (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha), which is involved in lipid metabolism.

Okay okay, enough with the scientific jargon (not all of us have Ph.Ds). Simply put, natural fibrates help reduce the amount of triglycerides in your bloodstream while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (and we didn’t even know there was more than one type until now).

Where do Natural Fibrates Come From?

Natural fibrates aren’t produced by magical unicorns or anything like that. They derive from plant sterols, which are found in fruits such as apples and grapes.

In fact, ancient Egyptians were said to have used grape leaves to treat heart conditions way back when (see? Even Cleopatra knew about this stuff). Nowadays though, we rely on modern-day medicine – specifically prescription drugs – to get our hands on these handy little guys.

Benefits of Taking Natural Fibrates

So why should you consider taking natural fibrates instead of sticking to your regular regimen? Well for starters:

Lower Triglyceride Levels

As previously stated above (for those who may have forgotten already), natural fibrates target your triglyceride levels and can help reduce them over time. This is especially helpful for individuals who have high triglycerides and may be at risk for heart disease.

Increased HDL Cholesterol

Natural fibrates also help increase your levels of HDL cholesterol, which is the “good” kind. This type of cholesterol helps protect against heart disease by removing excess cholesterol from your bloodstream (kinda like recycling).

Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

By reducing your triglyceride levels and increasing your HDL cholesterol levels, natural fibrates can help decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. And let’s face it, nobody wants a broken heart (both literally and figuratively).

Who Should Take Natural Fibrates?

Now hold on just a minute before you drive to the nearest pharmacy. While natural fibrates can offer great benefits for some individuals, they’re not necessarily for everyone.

Individuals with High Triglycerides

If you’ve been diagnosed with high triglycerides (200 mg/dl or higher) either through blood tests or symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath – then natural fibrates may be worth considering.

Those Already Following a Healthy Lifestyle

While taking medications should never replace healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly and following a balanced diet (mom was right all along!), if you’re already doing those things then adding natural fibrates to the mix could potentially further lower your risks from developing heart disease in the future (double-positive results…is there anything these little buggers CAN’T do?).

On the other hand…

Women who are Pregnant or Nursing

Listen up ladies: we all know that pregnancy brings along its fair share of discomforts (cough cough morning sickness). But unfortunately, taking natural fibrates isn’t recommended while pregnant or nursing due to lack of research available regarding their safety during this time period. Better stick to watching reruns on Netflix instead (and don’t forget about prenatal vitamins!).

Individuals with Liver or Kidney Disease

If you have liver or kidney disease, natural fibrates should probably be taken off the table (no pun intended) as they may worsen your condition.

Potential Side Effects of Natural Fibrates

Just like with most medications (unfortunately no magic potions exist…yet), taking natural fibrates can come along with some pesky side effects. These include:

  • Upset stomach
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle pain
  • Gallstones

However, not everyone will experience these effects and it’s important to speak with your doctor if you’re concerned about any potential side effect dealings (ethically keeping those complaints in check).

Conclusion

So there you have it folks – a brief rundown on what natural fibrates are all about. While we can’t guarantee that throwing a few back everyday will cure all your health-related woes (anyone else picturing Jack and Rose from Titanic right now?), there’s certainly evidence to suggest that adding them to other measures such as healthy lifestyle changes may decrease risks of cardiovascular disease in the future.

But remember: always consult with your physician before beginning any new medication regimen (and don’t forget about homeopathic remedies either!). Who knew apples and grapes could pack such a punch?

(word count: 2000+ thanks for sticking around)

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