How to Lower Cholesterol Safely and Naturally

Cholesterol plays an important part in the functioning of our body. Many people are interested in knowing what is it used for, and you should understand how it works in our bodies.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by our liver and this occurs naturally in most of the people and animals. It helps in building cells in our body and is found in every single body cell. The problem arises when people consume large quantities of unhealthy food rich in cholesterol. As our bodies make cholesterol naturally, we only need small amounts of cholesterol from the foods we eat.

Cholesterol is carried to different parts of the body through lipoproteins. Our bodies have two types of lipoproteins, that is high-density lipoproteins (HD cholesterol) and low-density lipoproteins (LD cholesterol). Now, LDL cholesterol is not good for our body and should be kept below 100 mg to maintain good health. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) should be above 60 mg. If the sum total of these two cholesterol’s is higher than 200 mg, then you are said to be on the borderline of high cholesterol and if total of these two numbers is greater than 250 mg, then you are said to have high cholesterol.

There are several things that contribute to the high levels of cholesterol in the body. This makes getting it under control a difficult task. But besides understanding the foods that cause high cholesterol, let’s have a look at some other causes of high cholesterol:

1. Low Activity – Being physically inactive is a sure way to have high cholesterol levels. People who are active and do regular exercises often have low LDL levels and high HDL levels, which is what everybody wants.

2. Weight – Excess weight can put extra strain on the body. It places strain on the body and makes it work harder to deal with all the cholesterol that is coming into the system. Many studies have indicated that overweight people have a much higher triglyceride levels and lower HDL levels.

3. Family History –If there is a family history of high cholesterol then there are chances that you will too. Genetics is one of the main causes of higher cholesterol. If you are still not sure about it, it is necessary for you to find out your family history for this purpose.

4. Diseases –There are few diseases that can lead to high levels of cholesterol. People with thyroid disorders, kidney disorders and diseases can have high cholesterol levels.

5. Age – With your increasing age, cholesterol becomes an issue. In may cases, people have cholesterol since their young age, but come to know of it only in their old age. Aside from this, after the age of thirty, body increases the production of cholesterol, thereby increasing its levels in the body.

So, all the factors discussed above can lead to the high levels of cholesterol in your body. But the real question is, which of the foods cause high levels of cholesterol in our bodies. The foods we eat have a much greater role than any of the factors listed above in increasing the levels of cholesterol in the body. By knowing all about the foods that cause high cholesterol, you can make better food choices to lower your cholesterol levels.

Foods that cause high cholesterol:

•Trans Fats- They are not only bad for the arteries, but for overall health as well. Trans fats are actually synthetic foods. When any food product has hydrogenated oil, that mean it has significant amounts of trans fats.

•Saturated Fats- These fats are worst for cholesterol. Saturated fats become hard at room temperature and come mainly from animal-based sources, such as diary, meat and eggs. You should eat such fats in moderation. Any long-term exposure to such fats can lead to increased cholesterol levels and hardening of arteries.

When considering foods that can cause high cholesterol, you should properly read the labels. Many foods are high in cholesterol and are not good for your health, so you should find out the amount of Trans fats in them so that you can cut back on such foods to control your cholesterol levels.

These ten natural foods can help you in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in your body:

•Soy protein –Many studies have revealed that daily intake of about 22 grams of soy protein can help you in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. There are high amounts of vitamins, fibers, polyunsaturated fats and minerals in soy products and they are great as replacement for the animal products.

•Blueberries-They help in lowering the cholesterol levels as effectively as is done by statin drugs! Blueberries help in preventing the oxidation of bad cholesterol they are very rich in antioxidants.

•Brown rice bran and oat bran- They are one of the best foods for lowering cholesterol levels. They are very rich in soluble fiber and lower cholesterol level by binding heavy metals and fats.

•Garlic-Garlic has allicin, which is quite powerful antioxidant and lowers the blood pressure and cholesterol.

•Plant Sterols- They are found in plant membranes that can block cholesterol absorption. Sterols are present in various types of vegetables, vegetable oils, seeds, vegetable oils, legumes and fruits.

•Fish-It is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids and proteins, which lowers the levels of LDL cholesterol and increased the levels of HDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fatty acids also help in lowering the triglyceride levels.

•Nuts-They are rich in antioxidants (selenium and vitamin E) , phytonutrients, and fibers. Nuts also have healthy fats and plant sterols that help in maintaining triglyceride levels in the body.

• Apples-They are rich in insoluble and soluble fiber, which helps in reducing the cholesterol levels and decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke and hardening of arteries. The insoluble fibers in apple help in flushing out LDL cholesterol from the body.

•Beans- They are rich in soluble fibers, lower the bad cholesterol, and raise the level of good cholesterol. Other foods that are rich in soluble fibers are peas, ground flaxseeds and lentils.

•Olive oil-It reduces the LDL cholesterol levels and increases the HDL cholesterol levels in the body.

Editors Note:

While its always best to get your nutrients directly from food, in our busy lives its often very tough to make this a reality. Thats why we recommend using a cholesterol supplement to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to naturally and safely lower your LDL Cholesterol while at the same time increasing your HDL cholesterol. Due to incredible staff reviews as well as unbelievable reader feedback, our favorite cholesterol supplement is CholesPro. You can find out more information about it here. No matter what you do, start today. Bad cholesterol levels is no laughing matter and is the main contributor to the #1 killer in the United States which is heart disease.