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

7 Benefits of Kiwifruit for Pregnant Women and Fetus

Kiwi fruit benefits for pregnant women and fetuses in the womb are very big role because it contains vitamin C which is very high. Kiwi fruit is not typical Indonesian fruit but his fame is now rising dramatically. Not only because of its unique and fresh green colour so tempting just as well because it tastes fresh acids. But the kiwi fruit is also much sought after because it turns out the content in it is very good for health. For pregnant women are difficult to eat aka cravings certainly fits with kiwi fruit because it has a distinctive flavour with acidic taste.

Pregnant women and for the common people are usually very good eating kiwi fruit eaten regularly either in the form of fresh fruit or in processed form such as juice, cakes, salads and more. Especially when the pregnancy is the most awaited by the woman in this world. Pregnant women is obligatory to always provide nutrition and good nutrition for the baby in the stomach.

Here are some benefits that can be obtained from kiwifruit in pregnancy is good for pregnant women or for the baby in the stomach. Check out more of the following:

1. Kiwifruit is able to protect DNA

Kiwi benefits for pregnant women who first was able to protect the DNA. Inside there is a kiwi fruit contains antioxidants. The content of antioxidants is very good for the health of pregnant women, especially in protecting the DNA of the baby. Even in some studies indicate that kiwi fruit can also prevent the onset of cancer cells.

2. Helps boost immunity

Maternal health is very important, because it protected not only the health of yourself, but also the health of the baby. Therefore, pregnant women should not get sick when she is in the pregnancy, because it can affect the health of the baby as well. To maintain health during pregnancy, pregnant women can consume a kiwi fruit that is believed to contain high vitamin C and can be used as an antioxidant in counteracting all free radicals and increase the immune system for pregnant women.

3. Helps regulate body weight

In pregnant women is usually a natural thing if weight gain is a constant, because there is a baby in pregnant women also gain weight. But the weight gain of pregnant women is not normal or too fat is not good for pregnant women and can cause problems during childbirth later. Therefore, many pregnant women were told to diet. One good way for pregnant women to diet is to eat the kiwi fruit. Kiwi fruit is known to contain low glikemiks index, but the fiber content in them is very high. Therefore, it can bind more fat than the other pieces that can be easy to make the body lean.

4. Digestion

Because the kiwi fruit also contains a lot of fiber means can be used for pregnant women who have digestive problems. Digestive problems are also often hit the pregnant women you know, and this is not good for the development of the fetus in the stomach. You can cultivate kiwi fruit into juice or other preparations that can make you become more healthy digestion.

5. Help cope with nausea

Kiwi fruit benefits for pregnant women are also able to reduce nausea during pregnancy. Nausea in early pregnancy is a common thing experienced by pregnant women due to hormonal changes in the body of pregnant women and the way the body to adjust for these changes is with this nausea. In kiwifruit are a B vitamin that can help relieve nausea so that pregnant women can be more easily absorb food and beverages.

6. Help overcome the problem of hypertension in pregnancy

According to some research done to get the result that kiwifruit could be an alternative treatment for those who have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also often experienced by pregnant women, and if pregnant women develop high blood pressure is dangerous because it can inhibit the growth and development of the fetus and could lead to the risk of premature birth.

7. Helps overcome skin problems

Due to hormonal changes in the body of pregnant women, usually pregnant women will experience some skin problems such as pimples, blackheads, dark spots and others. Moreover, when the pregnancy of pregnant women should not use cosmetics that are not exposed to chemicals. Nutrient content in the kiwi fruit is very good for skin health.

Vitamin Contained In Mango

Vitamin Contained in Mango, a follow-up article of previous health article titled "Mango Benefits for Pregnant Women and Her Fetus".

Previously, we have discussed about the nutrients contained in fruit mango and benefits for pregnant women and her fetus. Now, we will discuss about the vitamins contained in fruit mango.

Vitamin A
Mango become one of the fruits rich in vitamin A. Vitamin A is one of the vitamins needed during pregnancy and nutritional intake of pregnant women were required from the start until the end of the first trimester. Lack of vitamin A would be very dangerous to the health of pregnant women and the fetus will be born. Here are the benefits of vitamin A found in mangoes.

• Vitamin A is found in mangoes will make a pregnant woman's body becomes more robust. Vitamin A will work together with other nutrients to form immune system takes more in pregnant women.
• Mango has a rich yellow colour with the carotene content. Carotene substances play a role in pregnancy, especially to prevent disease caused by the body of pregnant women are more susceptible to bacterial infections and germs.
• Vitamin A in mangoes will also assist the body in maintaining eye health for pregnant women and fetal development.
• Mango will also assist in the development and growth of the fetus because it contains vitamin A which is quite high.
• Vitamin A mango also play a role in increasing the growth and health of internal organs in the fetus such as respiratory, neurological and motor nerve development and maintain the development of heart health.
• Mango benefits for pregnant women deliver vitamin A which is important to keep the development of fetal organs such as the eyes, kidneys, lungs and bones.

Vitamin B6
In addition to the sweet taste and refreshing, mango also turned out to contain vitamin B6. Pregnant women and fetus in the womb of pregnant women in need of healthy foods containing vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 deficiency will cause a higher risk of defects in the fetus. Benefits of vitamin B6 in mango among others are:

• Mango become a source of vitamin B6, which plays a role to improve cognitive function development in infants. Besides vitamin B6 is also important to keep the nerves of the fetus grow well and normal.
• Pregnant women need vitamin B6 intake to keep the body healthy, keep your immune system, and helps in the formation of blood cells.
• Pregnant women who eat a mango from the beginning of the trimester will have a lesser risk of nausea, vomiting and weakness that usually occur in the first trimester.
• Vitamin B6 in mango fruit is also important to help the production of red blood cells, keeping the baby's developing nervous system and the developing nervous system.
• Sufficient intake of vitamin B6 will prevent fetal or mental disabilities and disorders of the blood system. One of them can be satisfied with mango benefits for pregnant women this.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C has a very important role for the pregnancy and the fetus in the womb. Vitamin C into one of the antioxidant agents that make up the immune system and to prevent pregnant women from infection of bacteria and germs. Here are some benefits of mangoes are rich in vitamin C.

• Vitamin C contained in mango fruit became one of the agents is important to resist and attack all substances or free radicals that harm the health of pregnant women and fetuses.
• Vitamin C is found in mangoes become one of the substances that can prevent the causes of cancer in pregnant women and fetuses. The fetus is getting full intake of vitamin C during pregnancy have a small risk of developing cancer.
• Mango will encourage the development and function of the central nervous system and cognitive abilities of infants.
• Health fetuses get the intake of mango becomes higher and form gum health in the womb.
• Vitamin C in the mango also helps pregnant women so that his body is able to absorb a variety of essential nutrients from other food sources, especially for how to cope with nausea during early pregnancy.
• Mango encourage pregnant woman's body to be able to absorb the iron that is essential for fetal growth and health during pregnancy.

In the next article, we will discuss the other content of mangoes are beneficial for pregnant women and fetuses, namely Copper Minerals.

Benefits of Basil as Herbal Medicine

Benefits of Basil as Herbal Medicine - Basil is a kind of small shrub that is often used by the public as part of the leafy vegetables or ingredients and spices. Typical aroma of basil is widely used to enhance the flavour and aroma of refined dishes such as sautéed and spiced.

Besides useful as herbs, basil leaves other benefits that can be maximized as a drug. Nutrient content in it is very beneficial for the body such as vitamins (A, beta-carotene, C, and K), minerals (potassium, calcium, iron, sineol, magnesium, etc.), substances and important compounds such as lutein, zeaxanthin, arginine, there are also oil essential as estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene and limonene.

With its content of it, basil can provide benefits to the body when consumed routinely and regularly, here are the benefits of the various elements contained in the leaves of basil for your good health, to prevent or treat disease.

1. Vitamins

• Vitamin A - This vitamin plays a role in maintaining eye health and protect it from various disorders that often occur in the eye.
• Vitamin C and beta-carotene - the content of both can stimulate antibodies that can increase endurance, anti-oxidants and vitamin C in leaves of basil role in lowering fever.
• Vitamin K - role in activating protein that plays an important role in the growth of cartilage tissue. Vitamin K also provide a very important role in the blood clotting process, so as to prevent bleeding.

2. Mineral

• Sineol and magnesium - to help stabilize the heart rate and widen the arteries so that blood circulation becomes smooth. Magnesium and beta-carotene can protect the cell walls from free radical damage.
• Calcium - helps strengthen bones and teeth

3. Substances and Other Compounds

• Substance arginine - play a role in increasing fertility in men and prevent infertility
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin - protect the eyes from damage as a result of radiation harmful rays.
• Essential oils - serves to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria resistant to antibiotic drugs.

Basil leaves are also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, so that it can serve to eliminate the less savory aroma of the mouth and the body, and prevent inflammation in the joints.