What Are the Best Supplements for Cholesterol Lowering?
If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol it is only natural for you to want to get back to a healthy level as quickly as possible. High cholesterol levels are dangerous for your health and will increase the risk factor for developing heart disease. So, making sure you know about the best supplements for cholesterol lowering is particularly important if you want to improve your health.
Why Is Your Cholesterol Level So Important?
A healthy cholesterol level is essential for your overall health and physical well-being. Cholesterol is synthesised in your liver and plays a key role in many essential body functions such as:
- Producing steroid hormones.
- Forming of reproductive hormones.
- The structuring of your cell membranes.
- Production of vitamin D.
Poor cholesterol levels can lead to a dangerous build-up in your blood vessels which can lead to heart disease and strokes amongst other serious health problems.
Therefore, you must maintain a good cholesterol level if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What Causes High Cholesterol?
As we mentioned above cholesterol is naturally synthesized in the liver, but you also increase cholesterol levels with your lifestyle and food choices. A poor diet, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol can all contribute to a raised cholesterol level and the accompanying health risks.
Once you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you need to take action to rectify the situation by improving your diet and exercise regime. You can also use the best supplements to lower cholesterol to support you in the process.
What Are The Best Supplements to Lower Cholesterol Levels?
Here is a breakdown of some of the best supplements for cholesterol which you can start implementing into your daily life to support your health.
Omega 3 Fish Oil Reduces Triglycerides and Improves HDL Cholesterol
According to the Mayo Clinic, the Omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in fish oil can lead to a significant reduction in triglyceride levels. A high triglyceride level will increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
This dietary supplement can also lead to an improvement in High Density Lipoprotein HDL cholesterol. HDL is considered to be the "good" type of cholesterol that can help to remove LDL cholesterol (the bad version) from your body.
Flax Seed Helps to Reduce LDL Cholesterol Levels
Studies have shown that including flax seed in your diet will help lower bad kinds of cholesterol such as LDL cholesterol. High density Lipoprotein LDL is considered bad cholesterol and elevated levels of LDL can lead to build-ups in blood vessels which can lead to strokes or heart disease.
Garlic Dietary Supplements Can Help to Improve Your Cholesterol
Garlic includes both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help lower your cholesterol levels, decrease cholesterol absorption, and hamper the synthesis of fatty acids.
You can start implementing more garlic into your diet or cooking, or else get a hold of some garlic supplements that will allow you to ensure a healthy regular intake without having to think about it!
Green Tea Will Help To Reduce Bad Cholesterol Levels
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has conducted a meta-analysis which found that including a green tea supplement in your diet can help to reduce your total cholesterol and reduce the levels of LDL in your blood.
Niacin can help to Improve Cholesterol and Triglycerides Levels
Niacin supplements can help to reduce triglyceride levels by up to 25%. And they can also raise your "good" HDL cholesterol levels by approximately 30%. So, when looking for supplements to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, this is definitely one to consider.
Plant Sterols Help to Reduce LDL Levels in Your Blood Stream
The British Heart Foundation has found that stanols and plant sterols have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol. Because of this, they can help with the absorption of LDL cholesterol and lower the levels of cholesterol in your blood as a result.
What Foods Should You Include in Your Diet to Improve Your Cholesterol?
As well as including the best supplements for cholesterol lowering in your daily routine, you may also need to make significant adjustments to your diet and exercise regime. Responsible food choices can help you to improve your overall health and your cholesterol levels in particular. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you head to the supermarket:
Buy Foods with Unsaturated Fats
Food with unsaturated fats will help you to reduce the level of unhealthy bad cholesterol in your body. So, you should make sure to switch out all of your regular saturated fat heavy food with lighter options.
Use vegetable oils such as olive oil, sunflower, and rape seed oil to reduce the number of saturated fats in your cooking. You should also switch to fat spreads which include vegetable oils to improve how healthy your meals are.
Avocadoes, seeds, nuts, and oily fish are also good choices if you want to make sure your diet is more heart healthy.
Include More Fruits and Vegetables
Vegetables and fruits include lots of healthy minerals, vitamins, and natural chemicals which can help to reduce your risk of heart disease, strokes, cancers, and a multitude of other diseases. A healthy diet with lots of greens will also help to reduce obesity levels which are contributing to high cholesterol levels.
Consume More Barley and Oats
Grains such as barley and oats include the fibre beta-glucan. Consuming this grain every day can help you to lower cholesterol levels and limit the amount of cholesterol that travels from your digestive system to your blood.
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