Cholesterol: How To Lower Your Cholesterol And Protect Your Heart Without Harmful Statin Drugs

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), on average 9 out of every 100 adults will die from a heart attack, while another 21 will suffer from a heart attack but survive.

These statistics make worrying reading but the good news is that this situation neednt be a foregone conclusion. The AHA goes on to claim that if these adults took steps to reduce their cholesterol levels, only 5 would die from a heart attack and only 14 would have a heart attack and survive. While cholesterol is a well-known problem the steps you need to take to lower it are simple and, as the AHA report, can be highly effective. 

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried in your bloodstream by different proteins the two most important being Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is commonly referred to as the bad form of cholesterol, because it carries cholesterol all over your body and allows it to be deposited in your arteries, which can then become clogged. In contrast, HDL is referred to as good cholesterol as it carries cholesterol from your bloodstream back to your liver, where it can be safely stored and eliminated by your body.

For this reason, its not just your overall cholesterol level thats important; your HDL and LDL readings also need to be taken into account as the amount of LDL that is present indicates the amount of cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream and the amount of HDL shows how well your body is able to neutralise cholesterol. A healthy person should have low levels of LDL and high levels of HDL. If both are low or both are high, your heart health remains at risk.

What causes your LDL levels to become high?
Your LDL level depends on a combination of factors, including your genes and diet. Some people are genetically predisposed to have high concentrations of LDL. A diet high in saturated fat is also detrimental, as is being overweight.

A fail-safe way of keeping LDL low and HDL high is to take plenty of exercise such as aerobics, swimming, brisk walking and weight-lifting. Steps should also be taken to reduce stress, stop smoking, lose any excess weight and only drink alcohol in moderation.

Taking these measures in addition to following a diet that is low in saturated fat and carbohydrates can help maintain low cholesterol levels. While saturated fat is bad for your heart, unsaturated fat can be beneficial as it possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help counteract inflammation in your arteries, which causes damage.

Doctors commonly treat high cholesterol with statin drugs. However, as weve reported before in NHR, these drugs are linked to causing a wide range of harmful side-effects including liver damage, sexual dysfunction and decreased insulin sensitivity to name just a few.

5 ways to lower your cholesterol without prescription drugs
As well as making lifestyle changes like those already mentioned, the following can also help to lower your cholesterol:

Curcumin (turmeric root). A member of the ginger family, this plant has been used for thousands of years as a general health booster and for treating heart problems. Scientists believe that curcumin attaches to cholesterol and prevents its ability to pass from the bowel to the rest of your body, where it can do harm.

Another way curcumin helps to keep your cholesterol levels under control is by helping your liver eliminate any excess cholesterol. Not only does curcumin have an overall beneficial effect on cholesterol, it is also able to specifically increase HDL levels and reduce LDL (Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry 1995, 152/1: 13-21).

Another therapeutic action linked to curcumin is that it helps keep your blood thin, which prevents blood clots from forming in your arteries and lowers your risk of having a heart attack.

The recommended dosage for curcumin is 900mg taken once or twice a day.

Gugulipid (commiphora mukul). Commiphora is a tree that grows in India and produces a resin called gugulipid. This active ingredient of the tree has been traditionally used to treat everything from acne to viral infections. Modern research findings have now discovered that it is also able to lower cholesterol levels.

In a study performed by Indian scientists, 125 patients suffering from high cholesterol were treated with gugulipid for several weeks. The results showed that there was an 11 per cent drop in the levels of cholesterol in the patients blood, and a 60 per cent increase in HDL levels (Clinical Trials with Gugulipid. J Assoc Physicians India 1989, 37 (5): 323-328).

The recommended dosage for gugulipid is 140mg taken once or twice a day.

Fibre. A high fibre diet is often recommended. Fibre helps lower cholesterol in a similar way to curcumin, by preventing it from passing from your bowel to the rest of your body. However, the problem with consuming a lot of fibre is that it can cause nausea, abdominal bloating and indigestion. Fortunately certain supplements, such as chitosan, have been found to provide the same cholesterol-lowering benefits as fibre but without its harsh side-effects (British Journal of Cardiology, 1998, 5(3): 156-163).

The recommended dosage for chitosan is three 500mg capsules taken twice a day.

Niacin. Also known as vitamin B3, niacin works by reducing levels of LDL. It also reduces other substances that are detrimental to heart health such as triglycerides these are blood fats that, like cholesterol, contribute to your arteries becoming blocked (Am J Cardiol 1998, 82:12A, 35U-38U).

You should be aware that niacin must be taken at a high dose in order to be effective. However, high amounts can cause facial flushing (a sudden redness and hot sensation in the face). The recommended dosage is 1,000mg up to three times a day. If you do experience facial flushing then lowering the dose to approximately half or a third of the recommended amount should help clear the problem up while still remaining effective.

Soya. A soya-rich diet has been found to help reduce cholesterol and has now been approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective way to lower heart disease. It works in a variety of ways. Apart from lowering cholesterol and increasing HDL levels, it also prevents blood clots from forming within the arteries.

In addition, it acts as an antioxidant, which means that it helps prevent toxic damage from occurring inside your arteries. To benefit from soy include more tofu, soy milk, tempeh and other soybean products in your diet.