Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

Lowering cholesterol naturally is the easiest way for your body to get back in balance, and reduce high cholesterol.  Using holistic (whole body) methods stresses your body far less than prescription drugs.

But you see, on TV and in magazines, all kinds of drugs to lower cholesterol.  Your doctor may want to prescribe them if your blood cholesterol levels get out of hand.  (After all, that’s what they learned in med school.)

Here are some good reasons to take action before it reaches that point!  Or if you are already on prescription cholesterol drugs, here’s where you can learn how to reduce or eliminate them.

Why Lowering Cholesterol Naturally Makes Sense

Your body, especially as it gets older, has a tough time dealing with prescription drugs.  And while at times they may be necessary, you still want to be off them as soon as you can.

Statin drugs, those most often prescribed for high cholesterol levels, can have serious side effects.  I’ve seen first-hand with family what these side-effects can do.  They can even be more life-threatening than any cholesterol reading! Granted, in some cases these prescriptions are the only thing that works, but you’ll want to check out information on the side effects of statin drugs, which can be scary.  It’s just one of the reasons that lowering cholesterol naturally make sense.

How to Lower Cholesterol — Natural is Cheaper

Lowering cholesterol with natural methods ends up being cheaper than prescription medications and doctor visits.  Instead of spending hundreds of dollars a month on pills and trips to your doctor’s office, why not spend less and feel healthier?

For example, eating foods to lower cholesterol can help reduce your readings faster than you might think.  And it’s not all “boring” foods, either — dark chocolate anyone?

There’s an inexpensive (less than $10 a month) vitamin that can raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol by 15 to 35 percent, while at the same time lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides.  Find out more about niacin and cholesterol, and why you want this vitamin!  (Hint — the drug manufacturers have recently gotten on the bandwagon for this natural cholesterol-lowering supplement.)

And don’t forget about the benefits of red yeast rice — an often unsung hero when it comes to cholesterol reduction.

And yes, exercise is also a natural way to lower blood cholesterol levels.  You don’t have to train for the Olympics, either — even just 15 minutes a day can make a difference!  You’ll learn even more in these pages on how to lower cholesterol (naturally, minus the drugs).

What Are Triglycerides and Cholesterol?

If you’re just starting your research, you may have the question, “What are triglycerides and cholesterol, and what do they do in my body?”  You’ll discover that both are necessary for your body’s well-being; the problems come only when they are significantly out of balance.

Lower Cholesterol Naturally — Now!

Take steps today to get healthier, naturally.  You don’t need to spend lots of money to do it, either.  Lowering cholesterol naturally is usually less expensive, not to mention much less stressful on your body.  It makes sense that if what you eat an do causes the high readings, then they can also help to lower the readings as well.

One note you should be aware of, though — if you are on prescription medications, approach these natural methods slowly.  This will give your body time to adjust, and will give your doctor a chance to lower your prescriptions more gradually (to help prevent and symptoms of withdrawal that may arise).

Explore these posts and learn how you can reduce LDL cholesterol, raise HDL and feel better.  All it will cost you is a little time, and it may end up saving a life — yours!

What is cholesterol, anyway?  You hear about it on TV, in magazines and (maybe) at your doctor’s office.  You know you don’t want it too high, and even perhaps that there are two types.  But you still want to know why cholesterol is so important!  Let’s take a look at the role it plays in your body.

What is Cholesterol?

First, you need to know that this is a substance that is naturally produced in your body, and has a role in your overall good health.  Don’t be scared of it!

Cholesterol is a waxy substance, called a sterol, that floats in your bloodstream.  It’s used by your body to help your cell membranes be permeable and flexible – good things.  It’s also an important component in creating bile acids (used for digestion), hormones and even vitamin D!  As you see, cholesterol is something your body needs in order to be healthy.

Here’s the deal, though — you don’t want too much of a good thing, because that’s where you can run into problems.

Types of Cholesterol – HDL and LDL

As you may already know, there are two different types of cholesterol – HDL and LDL.

HDL is also known as high density lipoprotein, and it’s the “good” cholesterol.  The way you can remember is the “H” means you want it high in your blood.

LDL is also called low density lipoprotein, and it’s often referred to as “bad cholesterol”.  And similar to before, the “L” tells you that it needs to be low in your bloodstream.

Those are the two types; let’s see how they actually function in your body.

LDL Cholesterol in Your Body

LDL is usually called bad cholesterol because it’s (for lack of a more scientific term) “stickier” in your bloodstream.  This means that it’s more likely to stick to your artery walls and start building up into something called a plaque.  If you look at the photo above, you can see the plaque represented in yellow.

Plaque can build up until it actually blocks the blood flow in your arteries, which is definitely not something you want to have happen.  Especially if that artery is on your heart or leading to your brain, because that may mean a heart attack or stroke.

What is HDL Cholesterol – What Does it Do?

When it comes to HDL, it’s almost the reverse — it’s less sticky and actually helps to escort the LDL out of your bloodstream.  HDL ushers LDL back to the liver, or to where it’s needed for your body’s functions (like making vitamin D or hormones).  This is why you want a higher level of HDL, since it “chaperones” the LDL when it’s in the blood, to makes sure it gets to where it needs to be.

Cholesterol Readings and Your Health

Based on the above definitions, you’re probably wondering if a total cholesterol reading tells the whole story.  And you’d be right!  The total score doesn’t tell you about the balance between HDL and LDL in your body.  So the next time you have your cholesterol levels done, you’ll want to ask about the ratio between the two types.

How to Lower Cholesterol Without Drugs

If you’re not keen on the idea of statin drugs with their myriad side-effects, you’ll want to know how to lower cholesterol naturally.  In these pages you’ll find information about the niacin-cholesterol link, not to mention foods to lower cholesterol.  And don’t foget about the benefits of red yeast rice!

Now that you know the answer to the question, “What is cholesterol?” it’s time to learn about lowering cholesterol naturally.

Do you know what high cholesterol symptoms are?  If there are warning signs in your body to let you know that there might be a problem?  And if so, what are the symptoms of high cholesterol levels?

Here is information you need to know; warning signs that something might be very wrong.  And you do need to get to a doctor pronto if they show up.

Cholesterol Levels and Heart Disease

You’ve probably heard again and again how high cholesterol levels and heart disease are linked.  And that symptoms of heart disease also signal that it’s time to get your blood cholesterol readings done – now!  But before we go over high cholesterol symptoms, let’s do a quick overview on what cholesterol is and isn’t.

First, your body needs cholesterol, and in fact, if you don’t have enough, you will die!  It’s because this substance helps to build cell membranes, as well as maintain them.  Another way cholesterol works in your body is to aid in manufacturing bile salts and vitamin D (both of which are also necessary for life).

On the flip side, too much of a good thing is tough on your body.  Cholesterol is a gooey substance, and it’s transported by your blood stream.  If there is too much in your blood, it can start irritating your arterial walls.  When that happens, it can stick to the walls, and then more cholesterol can stick to it.

You probably see where this is going; once there is a build-up that can’t be “washed away” fast enough, it can clog your arteries.  If blood can’t get through and that artery is on your heart – that spells a heart attack.

High Cholesterol Symptoms

Remember I said that there aren’t really any high cholesterol symptoms, per se?  However, there are symptoms of impending heart problems that can signal you have a problem with too much cholesterol in your blood.  Here are some things to look for, which can spell high risk.

• Are you sedentary?  When you do even mild activities does your heart race, or do you get out of breath quickly?
• Do you have a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides?
• Do you smoke?  Yes, this is a risk factor for high cholesterol, so it’s just another reason to quit.
• Do you have a chronic condition like diabetes or thyroid problems?  These put you at risk for elevated blood cholesterol levels.
• Do you eat a lot of foods high in cholesterol?  The worst offenders are trans fats and saturated fats, but there are others (click the link to find out).

It’s unfortunate that there aren’t any direct symptoms of high cholesterol, but if you look at the above risk factors and recognize one or more of them, it’s time to get your blood levels taken.

Cholesterol Readings

One thing more, quickly. When it comes to cholesterol readings, there are two types of cholesterol – HDL and LDL, and they are quite different.

HDL is short for high-density lipoprotein, and is usually called “good cholesterol”.  LDL is the abbreviation for low-density lipoprotein, and is often called “bad cholesterol”.  One way to remember which is good and which is bad is that you want LDL to be low in the blood, and HDL should be higher in the bloodstream.

LDL fills a need in the body, but it is more likely to irritate your arteries.  HDL, however, helps to whisk LDL out of your body.

This means that you don’t just want an overall reading; you need to know if the balance of LDL to HDL is out of kilter — too much LDL can spell trouble, even if your total score is in the normal range.  Meanwhile, here’s more information on blood cholesterol levels, as well as lowering LDL cholesterol.

So now you know; there are no real high cholesterol symptoms, only symptoms of heart disease and risk factors that point to high cholesterol levels.  It’s one more reason to have your levels checked at least once a year, just to be safe.