How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

The blood in our body contains fats and lipids. Within these lipids there is a wax substance known as cholesterol. We need some cholesterol in our blood in order to develop healthy cells, however, too much can lead to serious problems such as heart disease. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to the formation of fatty deposits in blood vessels that will constrict the blood flow through the arteries. If the blood vessels are constricted it will be more difficult for oxygen to pass through our body and finally reach the heart, which could lead to a heart attack. Fortunately, high cholesterol is treatable and it is possible to lower by making some changes in our daily lives. Often, people that are diagnosed with high cholesterol start taking medication because they think it is what will help them more. However, some changes in our lifestyle are much better in this case. In this OneHowTo article we're going to explain how to lower cholesterol naturally.

Steps to follow:
1

The first thing you need to do in order to lower cholesterol naturally is to carry out physical activity. Practising some sport will allow you to lose weight, which will balance the levels of cholesterol in your blood.

Try to do physical activity a part of your daily routine. Think about signing up to the gym or start biking to work instead of taking the car. Moreover, if you have a sedentary office job, make sure that you get up to walk around a bit every hour or so. In this OneHowto article you can check the best exercises to lower cholesterol.

2

You also need to know which foods increase cholesterol and avoid their intake. If you supress these foods from your diet you'll achieve a healthier life and you'll reduce the risks of high cholesterol for health.

Fried foods are the ones that mostly increase cholesterol levels in your blood. Excess oil and transgenic fats create an imbalance in the levels. For this reason it is important to stay away from fried foods and switch to a healthier diet low in fats.

Besides fried foods, saturated fats also make cholesterol levels rise. The most dangerous saturated fats are the ones found in the most fattening meats and in junk food. An important change in your diet will be for instance to switch pork sausages for chicken sausages. It is a very small change but it can truly affect the health of your blood vessels.

3

Oats are a very good cereal to lower cholesterol naturally. You can consume oats for breakfast or you can also prepare oatmeal water. This product, besides helping you to lose weight, will fight cholesterol due to the high amounts of fiber it contains. The fiber will mix with the cholesterol in the intestine and it will take it out instead of it being absorbed. This is the reason why oats are essential to lower cholesterol.

To prepare oatmeal water you only need to pour 3 teaspoons of oats in one litre of water and leave it rest for the night. On the next day strain it and drink the water. Your cholesterol levels will start decreasing.

4

If you don't like the taste of oatmeal water you can also reduce cholesterol levels with apple juice. Eating apples everyday helps increasing good cholesterol and decreases the formation of the bad one. For this reason, including this fruit in your daily diet will help you have a healthier life.

Apples contain pectin, a fiber that helps absorb the excess of cholesterol making it easier for the body to eliminate it. Adding one apple or a glass of apple juice to your diet will help you eliminate excess of cholesterol in your body. But besides this, there are other juices that can help you reduce cholesterol levels such as lemon, pomegranate or pineapple.

5

Another way of eliminating cholesterol from your body is to leave behind those habits that accentuate its levels. Alcohol and smoking are two habits that increase cholesterol and triglicerides. Smoking damages the blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular diseases, for this reason it is important to quit both habits and have a healthier life.

6

If you like tea you can also try the benefits of some medicinal herbs that can lower cholesterol. Dandelion is one of the best herbs for this purpose, given that it helps the organism to detoxify and regulates cholesterol. Red tea is also great to control our health given that it has lovastatin, a component that can decrease levels of cholesterol in blood. However, red tea is quite strong so it is recommended to consult your doctor before you start taking these infusions.

In this OneHowTo article you can read more about the best teas to lower cholesterol.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally, we recommend you visit our Family health category.

Tips
  • Try grilling or eating baked fish to reduce the intake of unhealthy fats.
  • Eat a handful of nuts like walnuts or almonds to reduce blood cholesterol.
  • Try eating egg substitutes, skim milk and lean cuts of meat, rather than egg yolks, whole milk and viscera.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  • Limit your consumption of alcohol.