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Natural Alternatives to Statins

Sara
By Sara . Updated: January 16, 2017
Natural Alternatives to Statins

Statins are medical drugs which lower cholesterol. Statin works by inhibiting the enzyme which is responsible for cholesterol production in liver. It is considered by many people as a miracle drug as it allows a person suffering from cholesterol to eat anything they wish. But taking statins has some side effects too like joint and muscle pains, vomiting or nausea. Furthermore, statins also have bad effect on the kidneys and liver along with other negative effects. Statin side effects can be seen especially in those people who have an underlying health condition or who are taking other medications. This is the reason why many people are choosing to replace this drug with natural products. In this OneHowTo article we're going to explain which are the best natural alternatives to statins so you can start including them on your diet from now on.

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Contents

  1. Garlic as a natural alternative to statins
  2. Red yeast rice to inhibit cholesterol production
  3. Gugulipid, a product from traditional medicine
  4. Fenugreek, Asian spice as an alternative to statins
  5. Soybeans to lower triglycerides
  6. Psyllium to lower LDL cholesterol

Garlic as a natural alternative to statins

Garlic decreases the level of bad cholesterol in human body and hence can be used as natural alternative to statin. It also raises the level of good cholesterol in blood along with decreasing blood pressure and thus prevents heart disease. It is quite a popular ingredient in cooking and hence can be found in most kitchens. It can be consumed raw, cooked or in the form of powdered supplement.

Red yeast rice to inhibit cholesterol production

Chinese red yeast rice contains monacolins which when consumed are converted by our body into a chemical which inhibit cholesterol production. So, it helps in balancing the normal cholesterol level in our body. If this ingredient is extracted from rice and taken as supplement by it can cause muscle and kidney injuries. For this reason it's best to consume red yeast rice as a part of our overall diet instead of taking its supplement. You should only consume it in supplements if your doctor prescribes it to you.

Natural Alternatives to Statins - Red yeast rice to inhibit cholesterol production

Gugulipid, a product from traditional medicine

Gugulipid has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since a very long time. It is actually the gum resin of mukul myrrh tree. According to some studies gugulipid helps in reducing cholesterol level in blood quite significantly and hence it can be used as statin alternative. To this moment the safety of this herb has still not been properly determined, so we recommend starting with the other alternatives to statins.

Fenugreek, Asian spice as an alternative to statins

Fenugreek is another spice commonly found in Asian kitchens. It contains steroidal saponins which lowers the cholesterol level in our body. You can take this spice if you want to lower the levels of cholesterol in your body in a natural way. However, you need to bear in mind that this spice has some contraindications. Fenugreek should not be consumed by pregnant women, as it may cause miscarriage. Therefore, be very careful if you're pregnant and always consult your doctor before taking any alternative medication.

Natural Alternatives to Statins - Fenugreek, Asian spice as an alternative to statins

Soybeans to lower triglycerides

Soybean is often consumed as a vegetarian substitute of other proteins. It is quite beneficial for people suffering from heart disease as it lowers triglycerides and LDL. If a person doesn’t like soybean then he/she can consume tofu, soy milk, soy nuts and other products which contain soy protein.

Psyllium to lower LDL cholesterol

The herb psyllium is used to treat medical condition such as diabetes and constipation. It can also lower LDL cholesterol which is the bad cholesterol when added to a low fat and low cholesterol diet thus forming a great natural statin alternative.

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 Natural Alternatives to Statins, we recommend you visit our Drugs & supplements category.

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Natural Alternatives to Statins