If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, chances are you are definitely looking for ways to lower cholesterol. Even if you have not been diagnosed, if you follow a diet which includes a lot of foods high in saturated fats, learning about natural ways to lower cholesterol is worth your time. It can be a great way to preserve your health and keep cardiovascular problems at bay before they can cause irreversible health problems.
Cholesterol lowering medications are prescribed when levels in the blood get above 240 mg/dL. They may be prescribed when levels reach between 200 and 239 mg/dL. They may not always be prescribed when blood levels are at this point because they can actually be slightly elevated due to good cholesterol in the blood stream.
Both natural and prescription ways to lower cholesterol have similar methods of action. Depending on the type of medication you have been prescribed, you may find that the absorption of cholesterol from the liver or the intestines is lessened. This can be replicated naturally through the increase of soluble fiber in the diet. Oatmeal or psyllium husks can be used to bind to the cholesterol so it can be eliminated naturally. Bile acid resins such as Colestid and WelChol also work in this fashion.
Another important way of reducing your cholesterol levels involves raising HDL levels. HDL cholesterol can actually help prevent the formation of arterial clogs and can help keep your cardiovascular system in good shape. Eating sources of Omega 3 fatty acids such as fish and flaxseed oil can do this naturally. Chemical equivalents include fibrates and nicotinic acid. Again, these medications can have serious side effects so if your doctor agrees to let you try natural methods first, you should try this route first.
A general change in your diet can really help you keep your levels of LDL cholesterol under control. You want to think about replacing saturated fats with more heart-healthy options. Making changes such as using olive oil instead of butter can be a great and delicious way to prevent heart disease.
Foods can help increase the effectiveness of your prescription medications but they can also hinder the way they work. If you are on prescription medications, you need to avoid drinking excessive amounts of grapefruit juice. Eating fresh grapefruit can also be a problem since both of these things can actually prevent your liver from metabolizing the medications. This can make them much less effective and there can be serious complications which can develop.
Learning how to mesh your diet and your medications can be an important part of staying as healthy as possible. By working with your doctor you can often get in great shape quickly and lower your chances of developing heart disease or other general health problems.
Author Resource:
Learn more about how to lower your cholesterol naturally without dangerous drugs at http://controlling-cholesterol.com . Find out ways to lower cholesterol .
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")