Why do so many people choose to take a pill designed to control cholesterol, when we can lower cholesterol naturally?
Granted, some people genetically have higher cholesterol levels and in those cases medication is warranted to help bring those numbers down. However, most of us who have high cholesterol because of what we eat and lack of activity. Yep, it comes back to eating a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise.
A couple of years ago some friends and I took advantage of an opportunity when our community offered to run some medical tests at no charge. Out of seven of us, two learned that their corroded arteries were 50 percent blocked. One woman and one man. The woman’s doctor told her that wasn’t all that unusual for someone her age (in her mid 50s) and they’d keep an eye on it. The man in his early 40’s had a doctor who wanted to put him on a pill to lower his cholesterol. The man asked if he could try changing his diet first. He ate low fat, lost weight and exercised. Within a year the artery showed no signs of blockage and his cholesterol had dropped to healthy levels. This really stuck with me. The woman who ignored her blockage has since had a heart attack at age 62.
When we lower cholesterol naturally we avoid possible side effects and harmful drug interactions. In rare cases side effects can lead to liver failure, kidney failure and even death. For me I have a real life example when I look at my two friends. Both had high cholesterol—one still does and is now on medication. The other goes for a walk 3-5 days a week. Which kind of medicine do I want to take? I’ll try the natural way first. Statins are a great backup plan.
October 16th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Best way to lower cholesterol naturally?
What is the best way to lower my cholesterol naturally? I am a vegetarian who has a reading of 205.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:53 am
The total number is not important. The important numbers are the LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol). LDL should be less than 100 and HDL should be over 50. HDL can be increased by exercising. Some natural products that can be used to decrease cholesterol are garlic and fiber. An over-the-counter medicine call Niacin will also help. Good luck!
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October 17th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Garlic pills – Cheerios? They both claim to lower bad cholesterol.
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October 17th, 2009 at 3:57 am
I’m young and my cholesterol is raging too. Am only 24.
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October 17th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Fish oil capsules. Make sure they are from cold water fish containing Omega3 with both EPA and DHA fatty acids. They are especially good at lowering triglycerides. Also, plant sterols such as policosanol will lower total cholesterol.
Taking the two together on a daily basis should lower your cholesterol by 20-25 points.
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October 17th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Two things before directly answering the question:
1) There are some doctors who question whether cholesterol is a problem at all. In the modern scientific community we have a lot of problem with "cascades", where a few scientists generate a cogent rationally, reasonable study that either confirms what people already believe, or just makes a lot of sense, and other scientists who’ve not studied it accept it and give it weight, and then it’s "common knowlege" and is almost impossible to dislodge. Cholesterol leading to cardiovascular disease MAY be this.
2) A big part of cholesterol levels is genetic. You may be about as low as you can naturally go.
That said, from what I understand in doing a lot of reading on this subject:
1) Lose body fat. Lifting weights *and* mild cardio workouts.
2) Avoid "starches". As you are vegetarian this is going to be more difficult, but skip the pastas breads and potatoes (in your case you might want to eat just the potato skins if there is stuff in there you need. If you’re not a vegetarian for religious or moral purposes, I’d suggest adding a bit of fish into your diet (tuna and salmon) this will help you get a better protein/carb/fat balance.
I’m not going to get into whether a vegetarian diet is "healthier" than one that includes meat, but it certainly isn’t better in regards to cholesterol.
My attitude is that how well you live is more important than how long, and cholesterol just isn’t worth worrying about. If I get my numbers lower by doing stuff I think is necessary anyway, great. If not, well you gotta die from something.
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October 17th, 2009 at 4:03 am
THE LOW FAT DIET IS UNNATURAL FOR HUMANS AND IS NOT STONE AGE TYPE FOOD
STONE AGE MAN DID NOT EAT LOW FAT AND DID NOT DO LONG STEADY STATE CARDIO LIKE RUNNNG
WE LIFTED SPRINTED AND WALKED
YOU SHOULD EAT LIKE THE GENETIC BLUEPRINT WE HUMANS EVOLVED ON
THE CHOLESTEROL THEORY IS A SHAM
LOOK INTO IT
LOOK INTO ANTHONY COLPO
THE CHOLESTEROL THEORY GOES AGAINST NATURE FOR ONE AND ALSO HAS BEEN DISPROVEN MANY TIMES OVER IN CLINICAL TRIALS
DO NOT BE A VEGETARIAN
IYT IS NOT, NOT HEALTHY IN THE LEAST
NOT ONE SINGLE STONE AGE SOCOETY WAS VEGETARIAN NOT ONE
YOU SHOULD EAT MEAT LIKE THE STONE AGE PEOPLE.
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October 17th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Nice to hear from you, I think 50% of the job is already done, all that you have to do is PHYSICAL and avoid sugar too. Simple isn’t it.
Hope answered your question.
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I am a doctor.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:07 am
Statins.
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October 17th, 2009 at 4:09 am
eat healthy
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