Best supplements to lower cholesterol for better heart health
Let’s take a look at the best supplements to lower cholesterol for better heart health, you have high cholesterol but you don’t want to put drugs into your body.
Supplements work to lower cholesterol, they contain natural ingredients without a lot of harmful side effects that can happen when you take statin medications for a long period.
If you have high cholesterol or a history of heart disease in the family, now may be a good time to consider taking all-natural supplements that will reduce low-density lipoprotein or “bad cholesterol” before it becomes a bigger problem.
So, what are the best supplements to lower cholesterol, what is cholesterol, what should your cholesterol levels be, what causes high cholesterol, what foods are bad for cholesterol, and what can you do to lower cholesterol?
Let’s dive in and find the answers for you.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is naturally produced in the body, it is a type of fatty material in our blood that flows around our bodies, you can also find cholesterol in certain foods.
Cholesterol is carried in the blood by Lipoproteins and there are two types one is LDL-C or low-density lipoprotein and the other is HDL-C which is high-density lipoprotein.
The “good” lipoprotein is the high-density one. It assists the body to keep cholesterol from building up in your artery whereas the “bad” lipoprotein is the low-density one because it is the primary source for the build-up of bad cholesterol in your artery.
Statin drugs are usually recommended to reduce bad cholesterol, however, many people don’t like taking them because of side effects, so they look for the best supplements to lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol levels
The normal way to find out your total cholesterol levels is to have a blood test done, the results will be a reading of the good and bad cholesterol.
Other elements raise the “bad” cholesterol one of which is triglycerides, it is a type of fat in your blood that increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Triglycerides are connected to the levels of LDL-C.
When LDL-C levels are elevated in the blood plaque build-up begins to form on the walls of the arteries, this is progressive and over several years the plaque will harden making it difficult for the blood to flow normally around the body.
A symptom of hardening of the arteries would be chest pain, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness or high blood pressure.
Foods high in cholesterol
Causes of high cholesterol
There are several reasons why you have high cholesterol, some are genetic, and some are lifestyle factors:
- Family history
- Your diet
- Age & sex
- Smoking
- Inactivity
- Underlying medical condition
- Weight issues
- High-fat-content foods
1. Family history
You may have high cholesterol because of an inherited gene that handles cholesterol differently, your liver especially regulates the LDL “bad” blood levels.
Because you inherited a particular gene your liver cells don’t remove the “bad” cholesterol as efficiently as other people so you will always have a high LDL blood reading (over 6.5mm/l).
This condition is called a lipid disorder even if you watch the foods that you eat your body will remove the bad cholesterol as efficiently.
2. Your Diet
The food that you eat has a bearing on your blood cholesterol levels, a diet that is high in for example saturated fat can drive up blood cholesterol levels, saturated fat plays a role in the regulation of cholesterol and how the liver accomplishes this job.
Two types of fats
There are two types of fats, saturated and or unsaturated based on their chemical structure. Saturated fats are found in dairy products and animal meat, saturated fats are considered “bad” because they can elevate blood cholesterol levels.
The opposite is true of using vegetable oils to cook with because it contains unsaturated fats which don’t raise blood cholesterol levels and may lower them.
NB, Not all vegetable fats are good because the hydrogenation process during manufacturing can turn unsaturated fats into trans fats, trans fats are almost as bad as saturated fats in the sense that they can raise the LDL in your blood.
LDL is the dangerous type of cholesterol that becomes part of what is called plaque build-up inside the walls of your arteries, calcium is another part that affects blood flow otherwise called calcification of the arteries.
A quality supplement can help to reduce both lipoprotein and calcium levels, one of the best supplements to lower cholesterol and calcium levels is Cholesto now called Cholesterol Optimizer by Dr Sam Robbins to find out more click here.
3.Age & Gender
As you age high cholesterol can become more of a problem most men and women over the age of 55 will have symptoms of elevated cholesterol levels.
Because of oestrogen levels, women will tend to have more of the “good” HDL cholesterol compared to men although this will decline after menopause.
Some research showed that high triglycerides are more of a risk for heart disease in women.
4. Smoking
Smoking can lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) which causes heart attacks and stroke, some research shows that smoking can decrease the “good ” cholesterol and may cause inflammation in the bloodstream by oxidising the “bad” cholesterol.
The good news is levels of HDL “good” cholesterol have been reported to increase in those who have quit smoking, if you smoke try to cut down or cut them out altogether.
5. Physical activity
Over the years studies have shown that physical activity can increase the “good” HDL cholesterol, getting a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise daily will make a difference not only in how it can affect your “good” cholesterol but you know that it is good for your heart and mental health.
6. Underlying physical condition
Cholesterol levels are affected by certain underlying medical conditions such as thyroid, diabetes, and ovarian syndrome.
Controlling these conditions with medication can contribute to normal cholesterol levels and reduce the associated risks of heart disease.
7. Weight Issues
Obesity or overweight is known to increase “bad” cholesterol (LDL) it also lowers “good” cholesterol (HDL) 25-29 kg/m2 overweight and above that is obese.
By trying to lose weight you increase your “good” cholesterol and you decrease your “bad” cholesterol, you can achieve much by losing weight in addition to taking the best supplements to lower cholesterol.
Recommended cholesterol levels for adults
Desirable total cholesterol levels for adults are less than 200 mg per decilitre
Between 200-239 is borderline Above 240 mg/dl is high
HDL 40 Male 50 Female satisfactory 60 desirable
LDL Normal 100 Borderline 130 High 160 Excessive 190
Triglycerides Normal 150 Borderline high 200 High 500 Excessive 500+
Which Foods Help Lower Cholesterol Levels?
Watching the foods that you eat may help to lower cholesterol by different processes, for example, foods high in fibre can stick the cholesterol together and make absorption difficult.
Plant sterols and stanols also make cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream more difficult some examples of these would be:
- Barley, whole grains and oats
- Nuts
- Strawberries, grapes and apples
- Citrus fruits
- Beans
- Fatty fish
- Soy
Foods to avoid
Some foods are known to increase “bad” cholesterol blood levels and should not be eaten if possible, these are:
- Bacon or other processed meats
- French fries, hamburgers and fried chicken
- Red meat
- Dairy butter and cheese
- Snack foods or high-salt foods
- Lard or baked foods from animal fats.
- Egg yolks
Recommended Best supplements to lower Cholesterol
L-Carnitine Plus CoQ10
The benefits of CoQ10 plus carnitine are three-fold, it helps the body to stop fat building, especially in the heart and liver.
It does this by oxidising the long-chain fatty acids in the heart. CoQ10 plus Carnitine also supports cell growth and fights against free radical damage, to learn more about the best l-carnitine plus CoQ10 supplement go to this page.
UB8Q10
UB8Q10 is a Coenzyme Q10 that is up to 8 times better absorbed compared to ordinary CoQ10.
This all-natural product contains Coenzyme Q10 a powerful ingredient to fuel each cell and every process in the body.
As we age our bodies become depleted of CoQ10 so we need to supplement our bodies with UB8Q10.
The heart uses a constant supply of ATP, which is a source of energy for our bodies, the production of ATP is dependent on a good supply of CQ10, to purchase one of the best supplements to lower cholesterol UB8Q10 go here.
Krill oil best supplement to lower cholesterol
Krill oil has been favourably thought of as an all-natural way or alternative to cholesterol supplements, Krill oil doesn’t produce side effects that are normally associated with long-term use of prescription cholesterol medications.
Studies have shown that krill oil is one of the best supplements to lower cholesterol, especially the bad cholesterol LDL, not only is it good for your heart but also helps with arthritis pain and PMS.
To learn more about Krill oil and how it can help to lower cholesterol go here.
Cholesterol Optimizer by HFL Solutions
Cholesterol Optimizer by HFL Solutions is a best-selling cholesterol supplement for the past 22 years, the main reasons why Dr Sam Robbin’s cholesterol supplement is so good are:
- The product maintains healthy cholesterol inside the normal range
- Cholesterol Optimizer supports serum lipid metabolism
- The all-natural product supports a natural cholesterol balance
- Cholesterol Optimizer promotes detoxification and a healthy liver
- Cholesterol Optimizer (used to be called Cholelso) promotes healthy triglycerides and homocysteine in the normal range.
Why not give Cholesterol Optimizer by Dr Sam Robbins a try, go to his website here.
Conclusion
I sincerely hope I have given you enough information on the best supplements to lower cholesterol, in conclusion, I believe that by using a combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise, ceasing smoking, take the best supplements to lower cholesterol you will be healthier and happier.
Best of all you will reduce your chances of having a major heart attack, many have passed away too soon, and now is the time to act.
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Thanks for sharing this informative and educative post on cholesterol. This is a must read for everyone. I never knew smoking causes cholesterol not until I read this , I really need to share this post to my smoking friends to save their lives, and it will enable them pick one of the cholesterol supplements to purchase as I will be purchasing one of this for my aunt.
Lots of good information here on cholesterol. My husband suffers from high cholesterol, but fortunately I do not. Your article was good in mentioning the types of foods that would help someone with high cholesterol. It’s primarily food that is high in fiber as well as proteins with Omega-3s
I’m not a big proponent of supplements, but those you listed look interesting and I will have to research them further.
Thanks,