Lower your cholesterol without drugs

Nowadays high cholesterol is a common issue among many of us. As always, prevention is better than cure. But, if you have it you have to face it. So, let’s see what you can do to lower your cholesterol level without getting drugs.

Of course, your body needs cholesterol to build new cells, insulate nerves and produce hormones, but if you have it too much you are at a risk of having heart diseases. When there’s too much cholesterol in your blood, it narrows down your blood vessels by building up in the walls of your arteries. It narrows the blood flow and if it doesn’t pump enough blood and oxygen to your heart you will get a heart disease.

There are two types of cholesterol called Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL or Bad Cholesterol) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL or Good Cholesterol). High LDL is the main source of heart disease and HDL works to clear cholesterol from the blood. So, you have to work on to increase your HDL level and reduce LDL level.

Many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are high. It is very important to know what your cholesterol levels are and make necessary things to lower them. There are many factors that affects your high cholesterol level and you can follow many home remedies to lower your cholesterol numbers than just getting pills everyday.

Go for a heart healthy diet

Your diet contributes lot for your cholesterol levels. There are good foods and bad foods for cholesterol. Follow a low saturated fat, low refined carbohydrate eating plan. Ignore foods like palm and coconut oils, eggs, red meat, butter, whole milk, chocolate, doughnuts,cheese, fried foods, nuts and cream, etc. Try to eat meatless meals, more fish especially salmon, wide variety of vegetables, more garlic, grains and fruits.

Only fatty foods are not the source of raising cholesterol levels. Sugar can also be harmful. Limit your daily sugar intake to 6-9 tsps.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle matters a lot for cholesterol. Being stressed affects negatively on cholesterol. Always try to be cool and follow some meditation programs or Yoga to reduce your stress.

For smokers cholesterol is not a surprise. Cigarette smoking lowers your HDL level. Therefore, quit smoking, not only to reduce cholesterol but to avoid wide range of your health problems.

Your weight

Being overweight can always increase your cholesterol. Do everything to maintain a healthy BMI. Aerobic exercise can help to maintain a good health and raise desirable HDL levels.

Exercise

Not only for reducing cholesterol, exercising is very good for your overall health. Being physically active for 30 minutes everyday will do a magical change in your body. Walking, swimming, dancing or bicycling would help a lot for you.

Age

You have to be more careful when you get older because blood levels of cholesterol tend to increase as we age. Also, women have less LDL levels before the menopause and it increases after the menopause due to hormonal changes. Do regular medical check ups when you get older.

Heredity

Heredity or genetics is another reason for high cholesterol. if you have a family background with high cholesterol level better to take precautions. Monitor your cholesterol time to time to reduce the risk of heart disease.