Simple Ways to Naturally Lower Your Cholesterol!

Let’s talk about ways to lower your cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in your blood, and your liver makes most of it, while the remainder comes from your diet. There are two main types of cholesterol, which are LDL and HDL.

LDL is considered the bad cholesterol because it can build up in your arteries and create plaque, while HDL is the good cholesterol because it moves the extra cholesterol from your arteries to your liver and then ultimately out of your body.

If you have too much LDL, it can lead to a wide range of potential health problems including cardiovascular problems, the increased risk of a gallbladder attack, and a higher risk of strokes.

There are cholesterol medicines available, and of course, you should always follow the guidelines given by your doctor, but there are natural ways that you can work on lowering your cholesterol as well.

Eat Fiber

Fiber is good for your body in general, and this includes its ability to potentially lower bad cholesterol. Foods that have a lot of fiber and are good if you have high cholesterol include grains such as oats and barley, yams, sweet potatoes, many types of beans, and also fruits and vegetables.

Vegetables that are excellent sources of fiber include Brussel sprouts, carrots and eggplant, while fruits include berries, apples, and oranges.

Get Protein From Plant Sources

Having protein is an important component of a healthy diet, but if you have high cholesterol, you may need to lower your intake of meat and in particular red meat and pork.

A good solution is to try and get some of your protein from plant-based sources rather than meat.

Plant-based sources of protein include lentils and beans such as red beans and white beans.

While on the subject of protein, having foods that are high in omega-3 fats can be good as well, and they can help reduce your overall risk of cardiovascular disease. This is found in certain nuts and cold water fish in particular. A lot of oils including olive oil and grapeseed oil, as well as avocados can be good for giving you the healthy fats you need.

Generally, if cholesterol is a big priority for you, you should try to focus on a few things with your diet. You want a low glycemic load, high fiber, and a diet rich in omega-3s. You want as much of it as possible to be plant-based and if you do go with meat, choose lean options.

Supplements

There are various supplements you can take to potentially lower your bad cholesterol. One option is to take plant sterols. You can take around 1 to 2 grams a day, and it can help lower your LDL levels.

Psyllium such as what’s found in Metamucil can also be good for lowering cholesterol. Other potential supplements include fish oil, CoQ10, and niacin.

Finally, along with eating things and taking supplements that can be beneficial specifically regarding reducing your cholesterol, making general lifestyle changes can go a long way in improving health and lowering cholesterol at the same time.

Getting enough rest and exercise are important to help you move toward optimal health and lower your LDL.