Finding Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol is All About Making Smart Choices

When talking about natural ways to lower cholesterol we are really talking about weight loss if you are 15% or more overweight, smoking cessation, decreasing the total amount of fat and cholesterol consumed through diet modification, and increasing physical activity. By implementing these natural ways to lower cholesterol you will not only be reducing your risk of heart attack and stoke but improving your overall health as well.

It is fair to say that weight loss, smoking cessation, and excise pretty much speak for themselves, so in this article titled "Finding Natural Ways To Lower Cholesterol Is All About Making Smart Choices" we will be focusing in on diet.

There are two basic types of cholesterol LDL (bad) and HDL (good). A diet low in fats and cholesterol can reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Doctors and nutritional experts alike recommend that a person consume no more than 30 percent of their total calories from fat.

But while these guidelines are a good place to start, in our quest to find natural ways to lower cholesterol, they don't tell the whole story, with the type of fat consumed playing a major role. Fats come in three garden varieties, saturated (bad), polyunsaturated (good), and monounsaturated (neutral). Saturated fats should make up no more than 10 percent of total calories consumed each day. Polyunsaturated fats (which include the very beneficial omega 3 and omega 6 fats) and monosaturated fats should make up the other 20 percent.

In our battle to find natural ways to lower cholesterol saturated fats are the enemy and should be eliminated or reduced dramatically. Large amounts of saturated fats are found in meats (especially liver and franks), full fat dairy products, poultry skin, macadamia nuts, and coconut. Vegetable oils contain smaller amounts of saturated fat, but only some vegetable oils are truly low in saturated fats. Two of the best choices are canola and avocado oil.

Margarine, which is made from polyunsaturated vegetable oils, was once advertised as a health food substitute for butter (60% saturated fat). However, we now know that some margarines contain trans fatty acids, which increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels. But some manufacturers have responded to the challenge by producing margarines made primarily from liquid oils containing such cholesterol busting ingredients as omega 3, stanols, and sterols. This is one example where good old ingenuity has been able to take an unhealthy product and transform it into something entirely different that can lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Another one of our natural ways to lower cholesterol revolves around eating fruits, vegetables, and grains which are low cholesterol alternatives. Another suggestion would be consider foods rich in soluble fiber which binds fats in the intestines and helps lower cholesterol levels. On this list are such family favorites as oat bran, oat meal, apples, beans, peas, barley, rice bran, and strawberries.

What Next? Lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decreasing LDL (bad cholesterol levels). Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risk have made purchaseremedies.com/Cholesterol.html natural cholesterol reduction supplements containing such beneficial ingredients as lecithin oil, pumpkin seem oil, D-limonene, phytosterols, and antioxidants such as selenium, theaflavin, and tea catechins an alternative treatment option worth considering.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternitive health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at purchaseremedies.com Purchase Remedies.com