How do you lower your cholesteral?

Answer 1

There are medications that can lower cholesterol, but diet and exercise is the best way to lower it. You need a diet low in fat and cholesterol, as well as high in fiber. Fiber is one of nature's best remedies for many illnesses. You need at least 25 - 30 grams of fiber in your diet every day.

When you have high cholesterol, it builds up plaque in your arteries, which can result in heart attack and stroke. Diets that are high in fiber reduce cholesterol levels by actually cleaning the build up of plaque from the arteries. But you have to make a committment to changing your way of eating to ensure you get plenty of fiber. Some foods that are high in fiber are vegetables, whole grain breads and dried beans. You also need to drink plenty of water every day to help 'flush out' your system.

Answers

Even with changes in diet, the body often needs help to eliminate the "bad" cholesterol. Changes in diet are one of the first lines of defense against high cholesterol. Too many people eat a high fat diet, short on fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

With education, individuals are learning to eat lean meats, cooking with low fat oils like canola and olive oil, and snacking on fruits and vegetables rather than baked goods and high fat dairy foods.

Doctors may prescribe medication to combat high levels of cholesterol and bring the numbers down to a safe level. Statin drugs are common high cholesterol medicines, recommended to block the liver's ability to naturally create cholesterol. Another drug used to control cholesterol is bile acid binding drugs.

People fail to realize high cholesterol and high blood pressure both contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Not adhering to a heart-healthy diet and taking the recommended medication is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with life.

Answer 2

Taking statins is the treatment for high cholesterol. A low fat diet will help but is only satisfactory on its own if the cholesterol is only slightly high and there are no other risk factors such as high blood pressure or Diabetes.

Answer 3

Often, life-style changes can make a major dent in high LDL; exercise is number one-get on your sweats and get going, working up a sweat at least 3X a week, for at least 30 minutes each time; start eating raw, whole foods; no fried, no sodas, no fast-food, and cut out the big macs. My friend eats brown rice, beans and fresh foods, and has dropped her LDL and blood pressure significantly. Exercise, especially enough to get you sweating can help reduce stress as well as get you healthy without drugs.

Answer 4

Stop smoking, cut down alcohol, cut down animal meat and fats.

See your physician to enquire about cholesterol lowering medication such as a statin.

Answer 5

High cholesterol can put you at much higher risk for many problems, including heart attack and stroke (the two leading causes of death in the United States). The problem with high cholesterol is that there are no symptoms, you will feel completely normal. Remember that cholesterol comes from 2 sources-

1) you eat it in your diet and

2) your body makes its own.

There are many things you can do to lower cholesterol. Here, I will list some of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to do so.

Stop Smoking- this can be the single most important thing you do to lower your cholesterol.

Drink in Moderation- excessive alcohol can be bad for your cholesterol, however, studies show that one glass of red wine a day can be very beneficial to your cholesterol. (more than 2 glasses, and the beneficial effect goes away)

Exercise more- Increase your daily physical activity, and you can decrease your cholesterol (and risk of cardiovascular problems) dramatically

Cut down on foods high in cholesterol- Read the nutrition facts, try and decrease your daily intake. For example, try using egg whites instead of whole eggs. A bowl of Cheerios for breakfast every morning can actually help do the trick too!

If these lifestyle changes don't give you the results you want, there are many drugs that can lower your cholesterol. Some stop cholesterol absorption, while others stop your body from making its own cholesterol. Some drugs can even stop both (Vytorin)!

Nicotinic Acid- this is an over the counter product that is very cheap and can be just as effective as prescription drugs like Lipitor! It can decrease your BAD cholesterol and increase your GOOD cholesterol (Yes, there are good and bad cholesterols).

(So, you ask, why do people spend all their money on prescription drugs when they can just use this? It is really just as effective?) The answer is that yes, it is very effective. But, there can be a few side effects, like skin flushing and stomach upset. However, these side effects go away soon after starting the regimen. It is VERY IMPORTANT to consult a doctor before starting nicotinic acid, as they should monitor your liver function while you are on it. But, you can still be dollars ahead, and get the same effects as a big brand name drug. DO NOT try and start taking this on your own without a doctor monitoring you.

Other pharmaceutical products- Statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, etc.) are very popular and very effective. These can only be prescribed by your doctor.

Final Word: If you have high cholesterol, it is important to take care of it. It may be the most important choice you will ever make. There are not always second chances, so it is best to take care of it as soon as possible, or you may end up with much bigger problems.

Answer 6

You will need to adjust your diet to foods that contain no cholecterol. You can also take certain dietary supplements such as Metamucil that reduce some of the cholesterol that is absorbed into the blood. In severe cases where cholesterol is very high, your doctor will likely prescribe medications that lower cholesterol.

Answer 7

There are many things you can do to get rid of high cholesterol. You should talk to your doctor and see if there are any medications you can get on that can help lower them. Also do not eat anything high in cholesterol like eggs, and other types of foods with it. Another thing is by eating healthy cereals like cheerios; This can improve your cholesterol significantly!

Answer 8

It may seem like a trivial way to lower your cholesterol, but eating cheerios on a daily basis can truly improve your cholesterol. Also, take fish oil vitamins regularly.