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

Other Ingredients in Mango Helpful for Pregnant Women

This article is the third article in a series, of a series of articles on the benefits of mangoes for pregnant women and fetuses.

After we discuss the nutrients and vitamins contained in fruit mango, now we will discuss about the minerals copper, fiber, folate and potassium, calories, protein, and magnesium in the mango.

Mineral Copper

Did you know that pregnant women requires that contain copper intake during pregnancy. Although copper is needed in small quantities but has a very big role for pregnant women and fetuses. Benefits of copper found in mangoes are:

• Copper become important resources for pregnant women, especially to encourage the production of red blood cells along with the benefits of iron and vitamin B. Lack of copper will cause a pregnant woman is tired and stressed.
• Copper contained in mango fruit also helps in the formation of a wide variety of very important organ in the fetus such as the vascular system, bone formation system and the liver.
• Mango benefits for pregnant women become very good intake to maintain health and bone system. Pregnant women have needs that are essential for bone intake because it would be beneficial to support the system and the strength of the body of the fetus during pregnancy.
• Pregnant women usually require the production of higher blood than women who are not pregnant. This condition must be balanced with the amount of copper in the body so that the body remains healthy pregnant women.

Fiber

Mango becomes a very pleasant meal for pregnant women. Mango flavour is sweet and slightly acidic digestion will help pregnant women get better. If you're on a diet during late pregnancy period then it could be a snack mango very useful because the fiber content. Here are the benefits of mangoes for pregnant women, because the fiber content.

• Mango-containing fibers very well to help the digestive system of pregnant women, especially in times of the characteristics of those young pregnant. Pregnant women will face some different digestive conditions such as constipation and excessive hunger.
• Mango consumption is also strongly recommended for pregnant women who experienced some problems with blood pressure, such as hypertension in pregnancy. The content of fiber in mango fruit is also beneficial to help normalize high blood pressure therefore reducing the risk pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

Folate and Potassium

Mangoes also contain potassium and folate as in avocado benefits for pregnant women. Although it is found in small quantities, but also helps pregnant women to stay healthy throughout the pregnancy. Here are the benefits of potassium and folate found in mango fruit.

• Potassium is found in mangoes has a very important role to help the blood pressure and heart rate system in pregnant women and fetuses.
• Potassium is found in mango fruit is also important to keep the amount of electrolytes in the body of pregnant women are always balanced and in accordance with the needs of the body.
• Potassium would make a pregnant woman's body becomes more comfortable, fatigue and avoid stomach or leg cramps.
• Potassium also helps pregnant women to improve the nerve and muscle system.
• The benefits of folic acid found in mangoes will help the fetus to avoid the risk of neural tube defects and helps in the production of red blood cells, the cardiovascular system and fetal proteins to DNA.

Calorie

Calories are needed by pregnant women as a source of energy. Throughout the pregnancy, pregnant women should still perform a variety of activities, including work and other activities. Shortage of calorie intake will cause a pregnant woman's body becomes more weak and easily hurt. In addition, the calorie needs for pregnant women will be higher when the third trimester.

It is necessary to prepare for the birth, milk production and power source. So, the consumption of fruits like mango for pregnant women, it's important to be an important source of energy during pregnancy.

Protein

Proteins found in mangoes has a very important role to ensure that pregnant women stay healthy. Proteins found in mango benefits for pregnant women, have a role to become a source of energy and reduce excessive tiredness. This makes the mango fruit becomes very refreshing and makes the digestive system becomes better.

Magnesium

Pregnant women have a variety of needs and changes are very different from women who are not pregnant. Pregnant women need a higher intake of magnesium to relieve stress during pregnancy. Magnesium is found in mangoes is also important to keep the muscles to relax so that pregnant women do not get tired easily. Magnesium deficiency can cause pregnant women easily stressed due to fatigue and stress of hormonal changes.