Statins are a class of prescription drugs used to treat high blood cholesterol levels. Many factors can contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels in the body that lead to disorders such as heart disease. Statins have been suggested by physicians to help improve cholesterol levels, but research now shows effective and natural alternatives to prescription medicine are available.
Red Yeast Rice
Red yeast rice is a natural extract derived from the byproduct of yeast grown on rice. It has been used and sold in Asia for centuries as a natural alternative to statins because of its cholesterol-lowering properties. According to studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), red yeast rice contains naturally occurring compounds known as monacolins that are beneficial for total cholesterol health. Human clinical trials have reported that red yeast rice decreases total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These decreases in cholesterol numbers from red yeast rice have been comparable to popular statin medications. Besides supporting cholesterol health, red yeast rice has been suggested to prevent coronary heart disease by improving blood flow and cardiovascular health, according to research from the NIH.
Flax Seeds
The seeds of the flax plant have been used for nutritional and therapeutic purposes since ancient Egypt. The University of Maryland Medical (UMMC) reports that flax seeds and oil contain fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that promote well-being and cardiovascular health. Clinical studies suggest that individuals who consume a diet rich in the essential fatty acids found in flax seeds consistently have higher HDL "good" cholesterol blood levels. Laboratory trials supported by the UMMC report that flax seeds and flax seed oil contain properties that lower cholesterol and can improve lipid profiles in individuals diagnosed with high-cholesterol levels.
Garlic
Garlic is another natural statin alternative that has yielded good results in researched studies. Garlic is characterized by its powerful taste and smell, but what makes it beneficial to health is its ability to lower cholesterol. Multiple studies by the NIH show that garlic significantly lowers total blood cholesterol and LDl cholesterol after only 4 to 12 weeks of use. Garlic has also shown to inhibit cholesterol deposit growth in blood vessels that promote hardening of the arteries and lead to disorders such as Atherosclerosis.
Niacin
Niacin is a well researched water soluble B Vitamin that is found naturally in many foods such as meat, fish, milk, grains and certain green vegetables. Evidence from the NIH suggest that Niacin is an accepted treatment for high cholesterol levels. In fact, Niacin has been reported to have better results than popular prescription statins such as atorvastatin. Multiple clinical studies show that the vitamin has favorable impacts on total cholesterol by decreasing LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol levels. This decrease in bad cholesterol levels have been shown to reduce the risk of many cardiovascular complications such as Atherosclerosis.
