Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

We hear talk about blood cholesterol levels; high LDL and low HDL are bad and the reverse is good.  That’s all well and fine, but what does that mean to your and your body?

HDL and LDL Blood Cholesterol Levels

When your doctor gives you the test to check your cholesterol levels, the result is how much of the two types of cholesterol are circulating in your blood.  The two types are HDL (high density lipoprotein) and LDL (low density lipoprotein).

The thought is that HDL removes cholesterol from within the arteries and take it back to the liver for excretion or re-utilization.  So now you know why HDL cholesterol is called “good cholesterol”.  The level to shoot for is over 40.

LDL cholesterol on the other hand, transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver and to various areas of the body.  And your body needs cholesterol and triglycerides to function properly, so this is a good thing.  But the reason why LDL cholesterol is called “bad” is really when there is more cholesterol being deposited in your body than the HDL can clean up.  The limit to a “normal” LDL reading is 129.

Your Body Makes Cholesterol

While a balance of cholesterol is what’s best used by the body, keep this in mind; with few exceptions, your body makes the cholesterol it needs.  Some people can be perfectly healthy with readings that are considered borderline high, because their body is producing what it needs, in the amount it needs and in the proper proportions.  (This is supposing a healthy diet to begin with.)

However it’s also true that many people throw their blood cholesterol level out of whack with the food and lifestyle choices they make.  Even with a “normal” total cholesterol level, they can have far higher LDL level than is good for the body.

Do You Need Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?

Maybe yes, maybe no, even if your levels are considered high.  While I’ll go into it more in another post the problem is this:  all cholesterol-lowering drugs have side-effects, sometimes worse than the high cholesterol levels themselves!  And the drugs can raise the levels of another of the body’s substances (homocystine) that contributes to cardiovascular disease.

There is a natural cholesterol-fighting “drug” called niacin that is even more efficient at balancing out your readings.  And the “drug” is a vitamin!  You can read more about it on the niacin and cholesterol post.

While it’s a good idea to have your cholesterol levels checked from time to time (especially if you tend to eat an unhealthy diet), the final readings are not the be-all and end-all.  But your blood cholesterol levels do need to be in balance.

Comments are closed.