13 Natural Cholesterol Remedies That Work

Natural Cholesterol Remedies do help. The two main cholesterols are HDL ( high Density Lipoprotein) & LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein). They are commonly referred to as the good (HDL) and the Bad (LDL). This is really a bit of a misnomer because both are essential to our survival.
It turns out that about 80% of the cholesterol in our body is actually produced by our body. The reality is we can only control about 20% by what we ingest, with the foods we eat. Because of this, the corporate world has jumped on the bandwagon with a plethora of processed foods featuring claims of low cholesterol or NO cholesterol at all.
Here's what you need to think about, if 80% of the cholesterols in our bodies come from our own livers. What causes a cholesterol problem? Most often it is an imbalance. With you having either too little GOOD cholesterol, or having too much BAD cholesterol, or a combination of the two. Anyone of these states, is not the way it should be and needs to be corrected.
When our cholesterol levels do get out of balance, the tendency today-often-is the introduction of drugs--and the drug of choice is the Statin.
Statins are what I like to call maintenance drugs. That is drugs that are designed--not to cure a specific problem and then be discontinued, but rather a drug that you will need to take for the rest of your life, to control or manage an ailment. These types of drugs are a big win for the drug companies! But hardly--what anyone would consider a natural remedy!
Are there alternatives to the drugs? Yes, there are natural cholesterol remedies you can integrate into your regime to reduce and possibly eliminate your need for prescription medications. Now--I would never suggest you discontinue any medication, without first consulting a medical professional.
Here is a list of foods believed to be natural cholesterol remedies:

• Almonds are a terrific way to reduce cholesterol. They also contain high levels of vitamin E.
• Brussels Sprouts Are high in fiber and lower cholesterol by binding with bile acids the liver has produced for digesting fat.
• Eating Avocados has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 17% after just the first week. They have a compound called beta-sitosterol, which seems to have a huge impact on balancing cholesterol levels.
• Blueberries OK researchers fed mice blueberries and found the blueberry diet reduced cholesterol levels equal to that of statin drugs, but unlike the drugs, there was no harmful side effects. You can't patent blueberries--although the drug companies may try!
• Lentils are a great natural cholesterol remedy because they are very high in fiber which will absolutely lower cholesterol.
• Artichokes The leaves of the artichoke have been shown to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
• Celery contains pthalides (pronounced thalides) and pthalides have demonstrated the ability to help increase bile acid secretion, which subsequently reduces cholesterol. So those cheese-whiz filled celery stalks your mom serves at thanksgiving aren't so bad after all!
• It's the fiber. Zucchini reduces cholesterol because it contains fiber.
• Cherries The University of Michigan has shown cherries help reduce cholesterol and they have also been shown to help reduce inflammation and body fat.
• Apples An apple a day... It is amazing how this little rhyme from childhood is actually true. Turns out folks who consume a couple of apples a day, can reduce cholesterol by up to 16 %. A lot of people think the pectin found in apples causes this awesome effect.
• Olive Oil For centuries olive oil has been part of the "Mediterranean Diet", arguably considered the healthiest diet. The natural antioxidants in Olive oil help control cholesterol and help prevent other risk factors for heart disease, such as hyper-tension.
• Red Wine "Resveratrol" (a controversial element of red wine) is claimed to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol, when consumed in moderation (one 8 oz glass per day). As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on this stuff!
• Dark Chocolate Yum! Chocolate-Dark chocolate, seems to reduce LDL (Bad cholesterol) by as much as 10 percent. Recommended amount? 100 grams per day, but remember it has to be Dark Chocolate not milk chocolate!

The impact on cholesterol levels varies by the food eaten. Some foods work better than others at lowering cholesterol. But remember you can only control about 20% of the cholesterol in your body with the foods you eat. Sometimes the foods you need to eat have to be eaten in quantities that are un-realistic for many people. Sometimes in your busy schedule getting those fresh foods can be impossible. That's when the right kind of Cholesterol Balancing Supplements can really help.
By Terry Johnston

5 Tips to Lower High Cholesterol Naturally

Here are my top 5 tips to lower high cholesterol naturally. If you can avoid taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, you will be healthier and happier. Making the following suggestions a part of your routine will help you do that.

Tip 1 - Exercise Regularly

Exercising raises good HDL cholesterol levels. HDL particles carry fats and cholesterol away from your bloodstream and back to the liver for reprocessing or disposal. Bad LDL cholesterol gets stuck in your bloodstream. The particles carry fat and cholesterol to your cells and tissues, rather than back to your liver.

HDL particles will also "pick up" LDL cholesterol when it comes across the particles in your bloodstream. So, as your HDL levels increase, your LDL levels decrease naturally.

Tip 2 - Avoid Saturated and Tran-Fats

Dietary cholesterol is less of a problem than saturated and trans-fats. Research indicates that if you severely limit your cholesterol intake, your liver will produce more of it. Your body needs cholesterol for a variety of functions. Having blood cholesterol that is too low is just as bad as having high cholesterol.

Saturated and trans-fats increase the total blood triglycerides, the total fats in your bloodstream. They also cause increased production of LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are found in butter and other fats that are solid at room temperature. Trans-fats are found primarily in processed foods as partially hydrogenated oils.

Tip 3 - Get More Soluble Fiber in Your Diet

Soluble fiber is found in whole grains like oatmeal and in other foods. Some cholesterol is found in your digestive tract, because of the foods you eat and also because blood cholesterol is deposited in the digestive tract. The cholesterol in the digestive tract can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream instead of passing out of your body as waste.

Soluble fiber absorbs cholesterol in the digestive tract and carries it out of your body. Less cholesterol is reabsorbed and less is absorbed from the foods that you eat. So, soluble fiber lowers high cholesterol naturally.

Be very cautious about fiber supplements derived from psyllium husks. They can cause blockages. Supplements derived from kiwifruit pulp and skins are the best alternatives. They contain soluble and insoluble fibers, as well as phenolic compounds that contribute to good digestion.

Tip 4 - Take Fish Oil

Fish oil can raise HDL levels. It is a healthy source of fat. The supplement may also reduce the risk of clot formation and prevent cholesterol from sticking to the inside of the arterial walls.

Tip 5 - Take a Good Multi-Nutritional Supplement

The better multi-nutritional supplements contain ingredients that are known to lower high cholesterol naturally. Ingredients to look for include:

· Policosanol (raw sugar cane extract)

· Theaflavins (green tea extract)

· Phytosterols (from soy and other plant foods)

· Rice bran oil (oryzanol)

· Lecithin (a soy extract)

· D-limonene (citrus rind extract)

Many of these nutrients are sold as stand-alone supplements for lowering cholesterol. While any one of the ingredients may be somewhat effective, together they may work in synergy to produce results as good as those of prescription drugs.

The results are actually better, because you get lower cholesterol naturally without the side effects of prescription drugs.

By Larry L. Taylor

Natural Remedy For Hereditary High Cholesterol

There are a number of reasons why a person with hereditary high cholesterol might be searching for a natural remedy. Examples would be, their statin medications aren't producing results, they have grown tired of the constant muscle aches and pains, or perhaps they are just finding out they have hereditary high cholesterol and are looking to avoid the prospect of a lifetime of prescription medications. Whatever the reason I am glad you are here and hopefully you will not only leave with some additional information about your condition but perhaps a new found enthusiasm about your future prospects.
Hereditary high cholesterol is know in medical terms as familial hyperlipidemia (FH), familial combined hypercholesterolemia (FCH), and familial hypertriglyceridemia (FT). These conditions are uncommon, affecting less than one half one percent of the population. Nevertheless, if you have one of these conditions your chances of having it are 100 percent, and you are probably looking for solutions. In these genetic form of high cholesterol the liver never gets the message to stop producing cholesterol, triglycerides, or lipids due to a defect in the LDL receptor. Thus a flood of blood lipids, cholesterol, or triglycerides are released into the body presenting serious risk for early heart and artery disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia has also been linked with a number of other age related diseases including macular degeneration and diabetes.
Finding a natural remedy for hereditary high cholesterol
The trick to gaining control of this condition from a natural health prospective is taking steps to encourage your body to increase the number of LDL (bad cholesterol receptors). According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Health these seven steps will help you achieve this. It also points out that results may vary depending on any number of additional factors.
* Keep animal product consumption to minimum by substituting tofu or other meat substitutes. Example vegetarian or bean hamburger patties.
* Eat more fiber rich plant food (fruits, vegetables, and grains)
* Lose weight if you are more than 15 percent over your ideal weight.
* Exercise 4 days or more a week. Inactivity for those with this condition is a very serious concern.
* If you smoke quit. Also, you should make an effort to stay away from second hand smoke.
* Keep coffee consumption to a minimum. There is some evidence that a chemical in coffee aggravates familial hypercholesterolemia.
* Eat two servings or cold water fatty fish weekly or supplement the diet with 700 milligrams of the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.
Additionally, another beneficial natural remedy for hereditary high cholesterol can be found in the form of cholesterol reduction supplements. These products can be purchased without a prescription and are a safe and effective alternative treatment worth considering.

By Rob D. Hawkins

Lower Cholesterol Naturally - Alternatives to Statin Drugs

Huge topic. I can write a book on this but best not yet! Two more years of med school yet and by then I'll be even more versed in how to lower cholesterol naturally.
First: What is cholesterol?
According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, cholesterol is "the most abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gall stones, and present in food, especially rich in animal fats, circulates in plasma complexed to proteins of various densities and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atheroma formation in arteries."
What is pathogenesis of atheroma? It is the beginning stage of atherosclerosis which is the building of lipid [cholesterol] plaques within the structure of arteries. These plaques narrow the vessel wall thereby limiting the flow of blood. Limiting the flow of blood causes turbulence which causes further deposition of plaque. The slowed speed of blood through the arteries helps lay down more plaque as well.
Ways to lower cholesterol naturally:

1. Exercise: damn. How many times do you have to hear it - everyone says it. Because it works better than any drug out there. Why does it work? Simple biochemistry and physiology. Exercise requires energy. Energy comes from sugars, fats and proteins. When the sugars and proteins are burned, fats must be converted into useable forms of energy. The liver steps up by making good cholesterol, HDL. HDL goes around and picks up bad cholesterol, LDL. It converts this into useable energy. So, by exercising, your energy requirements increase thereby lowering cholesterol naturally. Exercise 30 minutes a day as often as you can in a week. Try one day a week and build up. You'll become addicted to it. Better that than statins.
2. Eat soluble fiber: Where can you find that? In beans and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber actually binds to cholesterol removing it from your body. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stools making you more regular - which is extremely vital as well.
3. Limit animal fat foods: damn again. Even Stedman's Medical Dictionary said cholesterol is the most abundant steroid in animal tissues. They didn't say plant tissues. I'm not saying avoid it completely. Just keep an eye on it - don't chomp down endless roast beef sandwhiches with mayo and four kinds of cheese.
4. Inositol: This is time-released niacin in the no-flush form. Niacin is a main player in cellular metabolism. If one is low in niacin, then the energy reactions do not go forward. If they do not go forward, lipids accumulate which is directly tied to high levels of choleterol. A study on time-released niacin shows its effectiveness. The study I found used pharmaceutical time-released niacin but I believe these two are very similar - with the natural form being superior. The bottom line of the study: "The results show that niacin ER [extended release] produces a beneficial effect on lipoprotein subclasses, specifically decreasing the more atherogenic small, dense LDL particles and enhancing the cardioprotective large HDL particles." Remember what I said about bad LDL and good HDL? The inositol sounds pretty good now doesn't it?
5. Red Yeast Rice: This is what the pharmaceutical companies make some statin drugs from - directly! So why not take it in its natural state? It works quite well. It works by limiting the cholesterol reaction from going forward. This means that cholesterol's production is slowed down thereby lowering cholesterol naturally. I have found a great research article on PubMed for Red Yeast Rice. The research was done by the Center for Human Nutrition and is not biased by a natural supplement company. Here is another study about the cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement.
6. Policosanol: This is sugar wax. Sound safe? It is. It does not turn off the cholesterol forming reaction as strongly as statin drugs. Our bodies need some cholesterol formed. Without it, numerous hormones would not be made and we would be dead. Thus, it is better to moderately limit production rather than severely limit. Policosanol has also shown to increase the levels of HDL. Do statin drugs do this? No. There is a good study on Policosanol that I found on PubMed. You'll notice it is not a study made by a natural supplement company or with biased interests. The title of the study is: Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol with atorvastatin in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia.
7. Bio Lipotrol: Bio-Lipotrol has been shown to naturally lower cholesterol  Bio Lipotrol has Red Yeast Rice, Inositol, Policosanol and Guggal Gum extract. I have visited with physician after physician that have used Bio Lipotrol and the results are seen within a few weeks. Now this doesn't mean you can sit on your couch eating hamburgers and pizza while popping Bio Lipotrol capsules. I have already stated that exercise is the best medicine - along with the limitation of animal fats and an increase in soluble fiber. I did not know about Bio Lipotrol until a classmate kept buying it. I found her in the hall one day and asked her what it is. She told me it is working very well on her grandmother's high cholesterol levels. Then I became more interested. The benefits of being in med school - you find what works and what doesn't.

What are the dangers of Statin drugs?I don't know all of the dangers but I know one that is not often addressed. Statin drugs give the false impression that the one taking them does not have to be proactive in lowering cholesterol. If a drug is lowering cholesterol without them doing anything, why not chomp on fatty foods? I'll tell you why. Statin drugs limit the production of cholesterol. They do not limit the intake of cholesterol. You do.
Also - statin drugs seriously limit the production of Coenzyme Q10. This is a major energy source for the human heart and electron transport chain. So if you are on statin drugs, take CoQ10. I believe statin drugs also limit the conversion of active Vitamin D. This I need to check on but it makes sense if following the reactions down from HMG-CoA, which is the limiting step in cholesterol synthesis.
If you want to lower cholesterol naturally, these steps will no doubt help you. I recommend having a sit-down chat with your physician. Most docs will listen to you and be supportive and knowledgable about this arena. If not, find a licensed and qualified naturopathic physician who will listen to you.
This information is not telling you to stop taking your statin drugs. It is merely information. Do not stop your statin drugs without consulting with your physician. Only then, under their direction, stop the meds if you implement other means.
If you are not on statin drugs and you don't have money to see a doctor, these steps may help you lower cholestrol naturally. But as I am not a doctor yet, I am not prescribing any of this information to you. It is up to you.
I hope you are still awake. That is a ton of information. I know I'm wiped. I've got to get away from this computer now.

Take care and stay healthy. And again - if you have any health questions, do ask me. I am here to help.
In health,
Ben Lynch