Natural Remedies for High Cholesterol - An Alternative Approach
In recent decades, high blood cholesterol is considered as one of the major health threats in the United States. In the report published in 2007 by American Heart Association, nearly 105.2 million adults in the US have total cholesterol (TC) level 200mg/dL or above and approximately 35% of them have TC count over 240mg/dL. Although when someone is diagnosed with high cholesterol, he may need prescribed medication, some people still prefer natural remedies for high cholesterol management due to its minimum side effects. Please do not use this article as a substitute for a doctor's advice.
A Healthy Diet
In fact, healthy lifestyle and diet are the most essential cornerstones for managing cholesterol. No medication will be effective if you do not take proper care and attention of your lifestyle and diet. In that sense, these two components are the unavoidable natural remedies for high cholesterol management.
If you consume healthy food, it may lower down you low-density cholesterol. While designing your diet plan, you should concentrate more on including fresh fruits and vegetables, broiled or grilled fish and skinless chicken. You must choose low-fat or no-fat dairy products while limiting your intake over high-cholesterol and saturated fat foods like egg yolks, organ meats, shell fish, ice cream, butter and coconut oils.
Do Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the most desirable natural remedies for high cholesterol. Different scientific studies have shown that doing exercise on a regular basis, around 30 minutes per day, can increase the high density cholesterol level and decrease low density cholesterol level. The exercises that you can practice for managing your high cholesterol level are simply limitless, aerobics, swimming, dancing to name a few. When you exercise, it enhances the body's flexibility and perks up blood circulation, eventually preventing heart disease and many other serious health complications.
Count On Herbal Supplements
Discussions about natural remedies for high cholesterol management seem incomplete without considering the contribution of herbs to your diet. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a natural remedy for reducing high cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure. Studies have shown that fresh garlic as well as garlic supplements may effectively reduce cholesterol level. Guggul (Commiphora mukul) is another wonder herb considered a natural remedy for high cholesterol by elevating high-density cholesterol level. It is effective in lowering total blood cholesterol and triglyceride level. In addition, Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) also is an effective natural remedy for high cholesterol and other heart related complications.