4 Unexpected Ways to Lower Cholesterol

"Bad" cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) plays a major role in increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, LDL levels provide a greater influence than the total cholesterol levels. The optimal LDL levels below 100 milligrams per deciliter. To keep levels remain below this limit, then someone needs to limit risk factors, such as implementing a healthy diet and regular exercise. In addition, there are also foods that can help lower cholesterol levels rapidly.

How to lower cholesterol levels become a very important issue in recent years. The effects of high cholesterol are quite frightening for health because it can lead to heart disease and stroke. As is known, a healthy diet and a balanced, regular exercise, and medication assistance could be the best way to get change cholesterol levels significantly. But, in fact there are also unusual method that has been done a lot of people to obtain normal cholesterol levels. Most of these methods is quite successful in reducing the cholesterol level of 5-10 percent.

1. Onions and garlic extract: In a recent national study, extracts of onion can lower total cholesterol levels in experimental diabetic rats. Other studies also showed garlic extract can lower both bad cholesterol (LDL) and blood sugar. However, these studies were conducted in mice, not humans. Deepika Gopal, cardiologist at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, believes that the onion and garlic contain cholesterol-lowering. Especially in ancient medicine onion is known to have healing properties.

2. Brown rice mushrooms: Rice mushrooms, the type of fungi which were grown in the fermentation of rice, contains a component called monacolin K. It is the same components as in the type of statin drugs such as lovastatin. Just as in medicine, monacolin K also block the liver form of cholesterol that the body needs to protect the cells. Because there is no cholesterol being produced, will change the LDL receptor liver to dispose of bad cholesterol. This fungus can be found in supplement form.

3. Laxatives: Laxatives not only as a constipation remedies, but also lowers cholesterol if we eat properly. Soluble fiber is found in laxative, such as Metamucil, will inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the blood. Because Metamucil only take cholesterol from food, not produced by the body, then the drug is more effective if taken in the period of a great meal. In addition to inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol, soluble fiber like Metamucil also has the effect of lowering cholesterol by making us feel full longer.

4. Phytosterols: type of cholesterol is produced from plants, namely phytosterols, may improve cholesterol levels by changing the cholesterol in the body. Phytosterols is similar to soluble fibers such as Metamucil. They will bind to cholesterol in the food we eat so immediately metabolized. We can get phytosterol of foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, or oatmeal.

High cholesterol can usually be solved by changing lifestyle, but if cholesterol remains high despite someone already made lifestyle changes, your doctor will give you medication to lower cholesterol and triglycerides as well for al: statins include fluvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin and atorvastatin, which works to eliminate cholesterol in the liver cells and causes the cells that take cholesterol from the bloodstream. Statins also help the body reabsorb cholesterol from plaque, thus gradually reopen the road in the blood vessels. These drugs are usually safe, just not recommended for patients with liver.

Nicotinic acid is actually a vitamin B complex, giving an effect on HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Acid group fibrates including gemfibrozil and fenofibrate, this drug effect on HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.