Lower Cholesterol Without Drugs

High levels of bad cholesterol are hazardous to your health but before you start taking drugs there are some things you can do. Here's how to lower cholesterol without drugs.

First of all a healthy dose of skepticism for anyone that claims they can lower cholesterol without drugs is a good thing. There are no magic bullets, no magical cures but there are healthy things you can do to reduce your bad cholesterol.

Don't get too hung on the individual cholesterol numbers but because what matters the most is the ratio of LDL to HDL that really matters. So for example if your LDL is 10x higher than your HDL you would be a high risk for a heart attack. Average risk is 4.4 to 7.1 and low risk is between 3.3 and 4.4. Get tested so you know where you stand.

Start by getting on a regular exercise program. Walk, jog, run, do aerobics, play ball, cycling, strength training, or what ever other physical activity you enjoy. You can do it by going to the gym but you really don't have to incur any costs because it can all be done at home.

The key is to get your heart rate up so that you are getting a cardiovascular workout. To keep those cholesterol levels healthy you will need to exercise daily for the rest of your life. We were meant to move and too many of us just don't do that on a regular basis anymore. We sit at a desk all day and then come home and stretch out on the couch. Comfy but not healthy!

The next thing you must do is eliminate junk food and processed food from your diet. Avoid packaged cereals, frozen foods, fried foods, junk food like chocolate bars, chips, and other foods. Avoid cow's milk, and eat only lean meats and reduce the amount of red meat replacing it with chicken and fish.

Red meat is known for causing bad cholesterol numbers. You also need to avoid chemicals like MSG, sodium nitrite, chemical sweeteners like aspartame, and food coloring. Stay away from soft drinks and instead drink plenty of water. Replace cow's milk with soy milk. Replace coffee with unsweetened green tea.

You should also consider adding some of nature's super foods to your diet. Vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements like the greens and herbs too. Add spirulina to your diet and eat lots of fresh green vegetables or take a nutritional supplement that gives them to you.

Eat at least 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. The more the better. You can never eat too many. You should also increase the fiber in your diet and eat lots of nuts. Replace all your oils with olive oil.

You can lower cholesterol without drugs by reducing saturated fats from your diet and increasing exercise. Those two things alone can make a huge difference and everything else will just make it better. A healthy heart means you can live to a ripe old age and stay healthy. Heart failure is no laughing matter and far too many people are suffering from it. Don't be a statistic.

About The Author

Morten Hansen has been focused on the health area for several years and is mainly writing about subjects, that makes it easier for people to understand and live a more healthy life. For more details about Cholesterol visit our website CholesterolTips4you.com [CholesterolTips4you.com]