Many people wonder whether or not they will need medication to control or lower their cholesterol and would rather find alternate, more natural solutions to their high cholesterol. Fortunately, for many, there is no need to take cholesterol lowering medication.
Blood Cholesterol is made by the body for many reasons. For some people, the body produces cholesterol that exceeds their needs. This is particularly true if your diet is loaded with saturated fat. Sources of saturated fat include animal products, such as meat, eggs and cheese, as well as fast food. These foods, if not eaten in moderation, may increase your cholesterol levels.
There are two types of blood cholesterol: Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is known as the 'bad cholesterol' because it is deposited on the artery walls and therefore restricts blood flow. HDL is known as 'the good cholesterol' as it removes the buildup on the artery walls. Our bodies need both types of cholesterol. However, problems arise when levels are too high for our bodies to handle.
Desirable levels of cholesterol for most people are an LDL level of 130 mg/dL and an HDL level of 35 mg/dL or total cholesterol that is below 200 mg/dL. Many people, however, have high LDL and low HDL which indicates a problem maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. If you suspect that you are at risk of high cholesterol, you should see your doctor to find out what your LDL and HDL levels are.
If you suffer from high cholesterol or are trying to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, there are a number of natural ways to do so.
Eating a High Fiber, Low Fat Diet. Starting your day with a cup of warm oatmeal or bran cereal goes a long way in reducing your cholesterol levels. In fact, Cheerios advertises the following, right on their cereal box, "Lower Your Cholesterol by 4% in 6 weeks." That is quite a boast for a major cereal company to make. You had better believe that they have tested this claim before putting their cholesterol lowering claim for all to see. General Mills is not willing to be hit with a lawsuit for liability. If they are willing to stand behind this claim, you can too. If you want to step it up and really reduce your cholesterol, try increasing your fiber intake throughout the day. Of course, you will also need to reduce your consumption of saturated fat.
Regular Cardio-Vascular Exercise. As with exercising for weight loss, positive outcome will be directly correlated to effort put into working out. If you go for a low impact walk 3 to 5 times a week, you can improve your cholesterol condition. However, a daily 40-minute concerted effort on the treadmill will yield even greater results. Most fitness instructors advise starting off slow and working your way up to progressive cardiovascular resistance and intensity.
Regular Supplementary Vitamin Intake. Studies are now coming out that seem to point toward the veracity of claims made by vitamin companies. The most well accepted supplement related to cholesterol reduction is the Omega 3 fatty acids. Specifically, pharmaceutical grade fish oil seems to help with this issue. It is also important to take a high quality multi-vitamin on a daily basis.
Please note that there are cases in which medication is needed and only your physician should be trusted to give you advice.
Reducing squidoo.com/naturally-lower-cholesterol high cholesterol is vital to a healthy life. Learn how to squidoo.com/naturally-lower-cholesterol lower cholesterol naturally without the need for medication.
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