How to Reduce Cholesterol

How to Reduce Cholesterol Levels Naturally

Cholesterol is the fatty and waxy substance that is found in animal tissue. Most of the cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, and it is an important ingredient in cell and hormone production. There are two types of the cholesterol. The good stuff is called high-density lipoprotein or HDL, and the bad type is called low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Both types are naturally produced by the liver, but additional cholesterol enters the body through food, and that additional amount can increase the amount of LDL as well as HDL in the bloodstream.

A good how to reduce cholesterol plan has been the subject of debate in the medical community because cholesterol is the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of modern medicine. Seventy-five percent of all cholesterol in the body comes from the liver. The liver has the ability to adjust production as additional cholesterol enters the bloodstream, but that adjustment may not be enough to prevent plaque from accumulating in the arteries. Most doctors like to prescribe lifestyle changes like losing weight and increasing calorie use through exercise, but there are other doctors that immediately prescribe medications like the popular statin drugs that have saturated the market. Those medications may not be the best way to safely reduce cholesterol if you are just overweight and lethargic.

The main issue with LDL cholesterol is the fact that it accumulates as plaque on blood vessel walls, and it eventually ruptures and can send blood clots to the brain. LDL cholesterol is found in dairy products shell fish, and red meat. The first step in your how to reduce cholesterol plan is to examine the foods you eat. Other factors like genetics, alcoholism, and obesity play a role in changing your cholesterol ratio so they must be addressed before an effective how to reduce cholesterol plan is incorporated in your daily routine.

Triglycerides Reduction as part A How to Reduce Cholesterol Plan

Triglycerides are fat lipids that circulated through the body in the bloodstream. A high percentage of triglycerides in the blood stream can cause heart attacks so a good how to reduce cholesterol plan should include triglyceride control as well. Your normal cholesterol level should be around 200 and the ratio should be 4 to 1. (including triglycerides)

The best overall how to reduce cholesterol plan starts with diet and exercise. Oatmeal and oat bran contain soluble fiber that blocks cholesterol accumulation in the intestines, and yogurt, orange juice, and margarine contain plant stanols that also block cholesterol absorption. You need at least 2 grams of stanols a day to receive this benefit. Just a handful of almonds, walnuts, and other nuts each day contain enough polyunsaturated fatty acids to help reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and olive oil also has enough antioxidants in it to lower the LDL level.

A couple of servings of salmon, trout, mackerel, or albacore tuna a week should be part of a how to reduce cholesterol plan. The omega-3 fatty acids in those fish also lower LDL levels. Statin medications are popular, but they can produce some nasty side effects. There are other natural medications on the market that can help lower cholesterol levels if you need them. An alternative to taking statin medications is taking a daily supplement. A supplement will provide you ingredients that are difficult to get from a healthy diet and have been proven to reduce cholesterol. You can visit www.vasacor.com for more information about treatments to reduce cholesterol.