High cholesterol leads to blockages in the arteries, particularly the arteries that feed the heart muscle. If these cholesterol blockages become too obstructive, a heart attack can occur. Having high cholesterol does not necessarily mean you must take special medication to lower your cholesterol. Natural remedies are available to lower cholesterol; however, you should seek your doctor's approval before trying home remedies.
Fiber
According to the Mayo Clinic, certain foods can help lower cholesterol. In fact, dietary changes are the first order of business when trying to lower cholesterol naturally. The Mayo Clinic notes that adding soluble fiber to the diet can help lower LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol. The recommended LDL cholesterol level for people with no other risk factors for heart disease is lower than 130. For diabetics and those with other risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension, the LDL should be less than 100. Foods such as oatmeal, apples, kidney beans, pears, barley and prunes are high in soluble fiber. Five to 10 g of soluble fiber a day should reduce your LDL cholesterol.
Losing Weight and Exercise
According to the website Prevention, losing weight can help lower cholesterol. Being overweight affects the way the body metabolizes dietary fat. Losing five to 10 lbs. may have a significant impact on how cholesterol is metabolized. Include daily exercise not only to help with weight loss but also to help lower cholesterol. Thirty minutes of daily brisk exercise, such as fast walking, can improve the HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol that helps eliminate the LDL cholesterol in the body. The recommended number for HDL cholesterol is 60 and above in both men and women. After two months of regular daily exercise, your HDL cholesterol level may rise by 5 percent.
Stress Reduction
According to the website Prevention, stress releases chemicals within the body that constrict the blood vessels, raise blood pressure and elevate the heart rate. People under stress oftentimes deviate from healthy lifestyle practices and negatively impact their cholesterol. Emotional eating of high-fat comfort food is one way that stress affects cholesterol. People who are stressed may reach for other emotional stabilizers, such as cigarettes and alcohol. Smoking reduces HDL, or good cholesterol, and nicotine constricts blood vessels. Although a very small amount of alcohol may be beneficial for cholesterol, people who are stressed tend to overindulge. Binging on alcohol harms the liver, where cholesterol is produced, and may negatively impact liver metabolism.
