Ways to Fight Cholesterol Naturally

Cholesterol is a big problem, especially in the United States. Being overweight and eating fast foods has contributed to this problem which has resulted in strokes, high blood pressure, cardiac arrests and a variety of splinter illnesses.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, compared a diet of known cholesterol-lowering, vegetarian foods to a standard cholesterol-reducing drug called lovastatin. "The special diet lowered levels of LDL cholesterol - the 'bad' cholesterol known to cause clogging in coronary arteries - in subjects by almost 29 per cent, compared to a 30.9 per cent decrease in the lovastatin subjects. The special diet combined nuts (almonds), soy proteins, viscous fibre (high-fibre) foods such as oats and barely and a special margarine with plant sterols (found in leafy green vegetables and vegetable oils), reports Science Daily.

The Medical Center at Princeton reports, "The National Institutes of Health recommends an LDL level of under 100 for those with known coronary artery disease; an LDL of under 130 for those who have risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as a family history, hypertension, smoking, diabetes and obesity; and an LDL of under 160 for the rest of the population. However, some cardiologists take a more aggressive stance, recommending an LDL level under 130 for the general population."

Whether you're at risk or not, there are dietary changes that can be made right now to guarantee you won't be fighting high cholesterol now or later in life. Most of it has to do with lifestyle and choices of foods and drink.

Ways to Reduce Cholesterol

As mentioned above, some of the best foods to reduce cholesterol naturally "plant sterols found in vegetables; nuts (almonds); seeds and legumes, which interfere with intestinal absorption of cholesterol; soy protein, which decreases hepatic production of cholesterol and reduces blood levels of LDL-cholesterol; and soluble fiber, which binds intestinal bile acids, stopping them from being recycled into cholesterol," reports The Natural Pharmacy.