15 Home Remedies to Reduce Cholesterol

 15 Ways to Naturally Reduce Cholesterol and Lower the Risk of Heart Attack - Plus Cholesterol's Role in the Body and Side Effects of Statin Medication

Clockwise form top left – strawberries, magnesium salts to make magnesium oil, nettle and fish oil.

Under the new guidelines issued by the American Medical Association, roughly 1/3 of all adults should consider taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to control their cholesterol levels.  Many healthcare practitioners already feel there is an overuse of statin medication in the United States.  Statins may cause serious side effects, which I’ll get to in a bit.  Also, 50% of people who die suddenly from heart attacks do not have high cholesterol.   In this post we’ll discuss 15 home remedies to naturally reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack, the role of cholesterol in the body and side effects of statin medication.

 15 Ways to Naturally Reduce Cholesterol and Lower the Risk of Heart Attack

Home Remedy for Lower Cholesterol

#1 – Increase Your Magnesium Levels

In The Magnesium Miracle, Dr. Carolyn Dean explains how magnesium acts as a natural statin, limiting cholesterol production so that it covers necessary functions but is not produced in excess.  Foods that are high in magnesium include:  kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashews, molasses, brewer’s yeast, buckwheat, brazil nuts, dulse, filberts, peanuts, wheat grain, millet, pecans, English walnuts, rye, tofu and dark chocolate.  Many wild plants are also high in magnesium, such as burdock root, dandelion, chickweed and nettle.  It may be difficult for people to get enough magnesium through diet, so applying magnesium oil topically can also be helpful.

#2 – Get More Vitamin C

As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to reduce inflammation.  A 2008 study showed a significant decrease in serum LDL cholesterol and tryglyceride concentrations with the supplementation of at least 500mg/d of vitamin C.  Some good sources of vitamin C include:

citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes

kiwi

papaya

strawberries

pineapple

cantaloupe

sweet bell peppers – green or red

cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale

sweet potatoes

#3 – Drink Some Green Tea

Catechin, a major constituent of green tea, has been shown to reduce oxidized (damaged) low-density lipoprotein.  In a 2007 study, volunteers consumed the equivalent of 6 to 7 cups of green tea daily and experienced a significant change in plasma LDL concentration.

#4 – Add Some Vitamin K2 to Your Diet

In the book Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox, the author explains how vitamin K2 packs a one-two punch when it comes to heart disease.  While K2 can lower serum cholesterol, more importantly, K2 reduces atherosclerois, i.e. plaque accumulation in the arteries.  This plaque is the deposits of calcium, fatty substances and scar tissue that together cause “hardening of the arteries”.  With plaque build up, the arteries either clog up and reduce or stop blood flow entirely, or get fragile and have a blow out.  Vitamin K2 is not the same as vitamin K1, which is abundant in leafy greens and great for bone building.  Vitamin K2 works in concert with calcium and vitamin D, making sure the calcium gets where it’s needed – in your bones, not your muscles and arteries.  In addition, vitamin K2 can remove calcium build up in the arteries after it has formed and help restore arterial flexibility.  The best source of vitamin K2 is natto, a fermented soybean concoction with a stringy, slimy texture.  Other sources of vitamin K2 include goose liver pate, hard cheeses (such as gouda), soft cheeses (such as Brie), egg yolk, butter and chicken liver.  Most people in the US are low in vitamin K2, although regular cheese eaters tend to far better than the general population.

 #5 – Eat Your Oatmeal

As the much publicized commercials for popular cereal brands note, the soluble fiber in oats helps to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels.  Go ahead and enjoy a nice warn bowl of oatmeal (soak overnight for quick morning cooking and easier digestion) or sneak some oatmeal into your snacking with fun recipes such as these cranberry-walnut power balls.

#6 – Make Sure Your Thyroid is Functioning Normally

Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) often correlates with high cholesterol levels.  Talk to your health care provider about checking your thyroid.  Improving thyroid function may help to naturally reduce cholesterol levels.

#7 – Get a Cat

University of Minnesota Researchers studied more than 400 people for 10 years and found that cat owners had their risk of heart attack reduced by 30%.  Of course, this tip would probably not be helpful if you are a cat hater like my father-in-law.  This may be related to a cat’s ability to purr.  In the article “The Cat’s Purr and Sounds That Heal“, the author states that “The type of frequencies that are found in the cat’s purr are good for healing muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries, as well as for muscle strengthening and toning. They are good for any type of joint injury, wound healing, reduction of infection and swelling, pain relief, and relief of chronic pulmonary disease.”

 #8 – Eat some Blueberries

A recent study concluded that “blueberry intake acutely improves vascular function in healthy men in a time- and dose-dependent manner”. Blueberries are high in anti-oxidants, which reduce inflammation.  Learn how to grow your own blueberries.

#9 – An Apple a Day Really May Keep the Doctor Away

My grandmother Catherine always loved to say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It turns out she was probably right. A 2011 study by researchers from Florida State University found that older women who ate apples every day reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 23% within six months and increased HDL cholesterol levels by 4%. The apple eating women also lost an average of 3.3 pounds.

#10 – Choose Coconut Oil for Lower Cholesterol and a Slimmer Waist

In a 2011 study, woman consuming about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil per day experienced increased levels of HDL, decreased LDL/HDL ratio and reduced waist circumferences.  For a sweet treat that includes coconut oil, cocoa (for magnesium) and walnuts, check out our No Cook Coconut Oil Fudge recipe.

#11 – Enjoy Some Garlic

A study published in January 2012 analysed 26 clinical trials and found that garlic was more effective than a placebo in reducing cholesterol levels, specifically total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  Garlic did not appear to have a significant effect on HDL and LDL.  Garlic is also anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal, and may help lower blood pressure and improve liver function.  Fresh garlic packs more punch than cooked.  Learn how to grow garlic.

#12 – Supplement with Fish Oil

Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil is a nutritional powerhouse that reduces inflammation and clotting, lowers triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol.  Make sure to choose a quality brand that has been tested for mercury and other contaminants.

#13 – Get a Little Nutty

Walnuts, like fish oil, are also high in omega-3 fatty acids.  Nuts are also high in magnesium.  In an unrelated note, getting a little silly to reduce stress is also very good for reducing inflammation and improving overall health.

 #14 – Ditch Transfats, Don’t Smoke, and Eat Less Processed Food-like Products

What you shouldn’t eat is as important as what you should eat.  The FDA has *finally* admitted that transfats are bad, after allowing them to dominate the market for years.  Of course, manufacturers are likely to come up with some other modified gobbledegook that is equally as nasty.  When choosing fats (and other foods), look for less processed options.  As the saying goes, I trust cows more than chemists, which is why I eat butter.  Shop around the edges of the grocery store, looking for items that are minimally processed – real vegetables and fruit, fresh meat and dairy.  Learn to bake your own bread.  You can check out our Recipes page for a wide assortment of homemade fare.

#15 – Exercise

Although exercise is very good for many reasons, promoting circulation and strengthening the body, it’s not a magic bullet when it comes to cholesterol.  Cleveland Clinic states that “Exercise has the greatest effect on triglycerides (lowers them) and HDL, the good cholesterol (increases it). Exercise does not have much impact on LDL unless combined with dietary changes and weight loss.” Start out slowly and gradually increase your activity levels.

I hope this post has helped you to realize just how important cholesterol is for our bodies, and how many side effects statin drugs can have.  Remember that oxidized (damaged) cholesterol is more of a problem than high cholesterol.  Look to reduce inflammation so that your body doesn’t need to produce excess cholesterol to fight inflammation – don’t attack the firefighters for trying to put out the fire!

Related Posts :July 17, 2014 by Laurie Neverman 54 Comments

As Medicinal Herbs, What are the Benefits of Garlic for Health?

Medicinal Herbs - Garlic is well known not only as seasoning, but also believed efficacious for health. Various traditional herbs from ancient Egypt, India, to China, involving garlic as one of its main ingredients.

A number of studies have linked the consumption of a lot of garlic with a drop in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and improve blood circulation and keep the risk of heart disease in relation as a Medicinal Herbs.

However, the benefits of garlic for health has not been proven to be 100 percent, so it still needed further research. However, some studies have found possible benefits such as the following.

Good for Heart and Guts

From experiments on rats, found that natural compounds from garlic oil may help protect the heart from damage after a heart attack. Diallyl trisulfida, the name of the substance, believed to be used as a treatment for heart failure.

The same compound is also potentially able to fight the bacteria that cause infection in the intestine. This makes garlic potentially be used as an antibiotic to reduce diseases caused by bacteria in the food or in the environment.

Preventing Cancer

One study found that eating raw garlic twice a week could potentially prevent lung cancer. Garlic consumption is also expected to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. This is one of the benefits of garlic as a medicinal herbs.

Additionally, organo-sulfur compounds in garlic are known to eradicate the cancer cells of the brain. Research reveals that garlic can be a natural remedy that works to inhibit cancer in the brain. However, it is still necessary as a more thorough experimental medical procedure.

Lowers Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Garlic extract allegedly capable of lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Some findings of the study revealed that garlic can dilate blood vessels and relax smooth muscle.

Garlic is also alleged to afford slightly lowers cholesterol in the body, but it does not mean that garlic can be hypertension and cholesterol medications were effective because they require more extensive research.

Preventing Colds

Garlic is allegedly able to stimulate the immune system to fight the virus. Therefore, garlic may reduce the risk of colds. However, it is still a form of early findings. Thus, further research is still needed to determine whether garlic can be a supplement to prevent and treat colds.

If you intend to use garlic supplements for health purposes, you should ask your doctor first, especially if you have certain medical conditions. In addition, the properties of garlic can be maximized if consumed raw because cooking too ripe can destroy important ingredient.

So make use of garlic as a Medicinal Herbs for your illness.

Garlic, Overcome Poisoning

GARLIC white is not only tasty dishes, but also beneficial to health. One of them, helping to overcome the poisoning.

It was based upon the research of scientists who discovered the main ingredient in garlic, which is dialil sulphides (diallyl sulphide) efficacious to 100 times more powerful than the two well-known antibiotics (erythromycin and ciprofloxacin) to combat the main causes of food poisoning. In addition to powerful, diallyl disulfide also required less time to combat food poisoning, as reported by Dailymail.

The findings, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy can be a new method for treating food poisoning from raw or processed meat and food wrappers that can reduce the number of victims of food poisoning caused by Campylobacter bacteria.

Dr. Michael Konkel from Washington State University said, "This research is particularly interesting because it suggests that this compound (diallyl disulfide) has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and our food. Campylobacter is a bacterium that caused the most common food-borne illness in the United States and perhaps the world. "

If Campylobacter bacteria enter the body and cause symptoms of infection develop, such as diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, and fever. They have also sparked nearly a third of cases of a rare paralytic disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Most Campylobacter infections originating from poultry are eaten raw, partially cooked, or food that has been contaminated by surface and cross-utensils or dirty food.

According to the Food Standards Agency, Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK and causes 88 deaths in England and Wales in 2009.

Efficacy of Garlic

Bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum L.) efficacious as a herbs high blood pressure, relieve headaches, reduce cholesterol, and ulcer medications. Besides it is also used as ekspektoransia (on chronic bronchitis), karminativa (on the state of dyspepsia and meteorismus).
Knowledge of the benefits of garlic in treatment has been around since the year 1550 BC, when Egyptians used garlic to treat various diseases.

Efficacy of Garlic

Garlic herbs for the treatment of:
Hypertension: peeled, washed 2-3 cloves garlic, chew, and then swallow while drinking warm water. Do it 3 times a day.


Headache: mash the garlic bulb, place it on the forehead.


Flu: peeled garlic, onion, ginger with the same dose, wash, and brewed. Lid for 15 minutes. Set aside ginger, red and under eat garlic and drink the water.


Bronchitis: peel and wash 30 grams of garlic, then mash. Mix with sugar cube and a glass of boiled water. Let stand for 5-6 hours. Drink a tablespoon full every day for several days.


Dysentery: peeled, washed 2 cloves of garlic, then boiled with a glass of water. Drink before eating. Do 3 times daily for 2-3 days.


Ulcers: peel, wash, mash 2-3 cloves of garlic. Toss with 1 tablespoon of coconut until evenly distributed. Spread on the swelling.

Sulfur Compounds in Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is annual herbs. Trunk: small (corpus), 0.5 to 1 cm. Leaves: up lines, compact, flat, width 0.4 to 1.2 cm, base of midrib forming tubers, broad oval, the son of bulbs, angular, covered by white membranes, upper midrib forming pseudo-stem. The flowers: a simple arrangement of multiple umbrella, children appear in any of tubers, 1-3 leaf protectors, such as membranes. Tent interest: six leaves, the shape of elongated, tapered, white-white-green-purple. Allium sativum L. bulbs a bulb-shaped compound is almost circular, diameter 4-6 cm consisted of 80-20 whole cloves covered with 3-5 thin membrane like a little white-colored paper, each clove enveloped by two membranes similar paper, the outer lining of the colour white and a little bit loose, membranes in pink and attached to the solid part of but easy to peel cloves; cloves rounded section forms the back, next to the field of flat or slightly angled. 

Sulfur Compounds in Garlic

Chemical constituents of garlic that have biological activity and are useful in the treatment of organosulfur compounds. The content of organosulfur compounds include: 


Compound S-ak (en)-yl-L-Cysteine sulfoxide (ACSOs), for example, alliin and γ-glutamilsistein, the most numerous compounds in garlic. Alliin responsible for the odor and flavour of garlic, sulfur-containing amino acids, and is used as the precursor of allicin. Alliin sulfoxide and other compounds, except sikloalliin, soon turned into thiosulfinat compounds, like allicin, with the help of the enzyme alliinase when garlic is chopped fresh, chopped, or chewed directly. Alliin have potential as antibacterial. 


Volatile sulfur compounds such as allicin. Allicin is a compound that is less stable, the influence of hot water, air oxygen and alkaline environment, easily decomposed into other sulfur compounds like sulfide dialil. 
Sulfur compounds that are soluble in fat. 


Soluble sulfur compounds are non volatile as the S-allil cysteine (SAC), formed from the enzymatic reaction γ-glutamilsisteine when garlic is extracted with water. SAC is widely available in a variety of garlic preparations, are compounds that have biological activity, so the presence of SAC in garlic preparations are often used as a standard that garlic preparations are suitable for consumption or not.