Methods To Reduce Cholesterol Without Medication

By Owen Jones


Most people think that cholesterol worries just have an effect on older individuals, but this is not true. High degrees of cholesterol can also be discovered in the young. In one study, 75 % of those checked had a yellow waxy substance in their blood - LDL cholesterol - it is thought to be a reliable indication of future heart problems. The astonishing thing concerning this study was that they were all fit American soldiers with an average age of only 21.

Now we do require some LDL cholesterol because it is used by the body to control some vital functions and we definitely need HDL cholesterol because it assists regulate LDL cholesterol. The only problem is the quantity of these substances. High levels of LDL have been linked to atherosclerosis, which leads to heart disease.

If you would like to begin working on your cholesterol levels in a maintenance type of way, you can do so with the aid of exercise and diet. The exercise element does not have to be arduous. Walking for an hour a day will do the trick if it is in conjunction with healthy dieting.

The diet ought to include plenty of fibre and roughage because not only will it lower LDL cholesterol, but it will also help your bowels to function properly which reduces your chance of acquiring bowel cancer, the rate of which is rising these days.

Foods that are rich in fibre and roughage are fruit and vegetables, especially greens; beans, pulses and grains, particularly oats as in porridge; nuts and soya. It is fairly simple to increase your consumption of these foods without drastically changing you main diet, although it is wise to substitute skinless chicken and fish for beef and pork.

For example, you could eat porridge for breakfast and add a handful of barley to your soup. You could add a few leaves of lettuce to your sandwich and eat fruit as snacks throughout the day. You could have beans on toast every now and again. Whole grain bread, obviously.

Some foods have a particularly good reputation for reducing cholesterol levels. Avocado is one because it contains a lot of mono-unsaturated fats which raise the degree of HDL and HDL counteracts LDL. Raw carrots are another one. Raw carrots contain plenty of pectin, which reduces LDL. Pectin is also there in substantial quantities in citrus fruits, apples and berries such as strawberries, raspberries and red and black berries.

Then there are other famously healthy foodstuffs like garlic and shitake mushrooms which are also considered to ward off cancer and boost the immune system as a whole. Ginger is another healthy food that is easily incorporated into dishes.

Nuts, particularly walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and almonds are high in Omega 3 fatty acids which has a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol. Sesame seeds contain phytosterols, which also lowers LDL. Other foodstuffs containing phytosterols are: celery, lettuce, asparagus, spinach and tomatoes.

You ought to strive to eat mono- and poly-unsaturated fats as they will improve your HDL. You can find these fats in cannola, safflower, soya bean and olive oil. They also contain Omega 3. Other sources of Omega 3 are fish, especially the fatty fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel.




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