How You Can Reduce Cholesterol Naturally

Prior to putting this post together, we had a look at how many posts we had on this site that touches on the topic of cholesterol, since it’s not a pet topic of ours. Surprisingly, we’ve had a fair few! Since we usually respond to our fan base by writing about topics they are interested in, we have identified this as an area of concern. Lo and behold – another article on this topic today! Enjoy!

Although we might have the tendency to brush it off, high cholesterol is a serious problem for many today. This has been said to be due to many of us getting accustomed to a diet rich in fats, bad habits such as smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, having high cholesterol is not an end point in itself as it often leads to heart disease.

Now, let’s begin with the basics – cholesterol is classified into two categories. The first is called LDL or low-density lipoprotein. This is better known as bad cholesterol. Having too much of it can cause problems in the health of an individual. On the flip side, there is HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, which is called good cholesterol. The only way for the patient to know the levels in the body is through a blood test. Those who fall within 4.4 to 7.1 have a small chance of experiencing a heart attack. Any figure above that is bad and anything below means the risk are much lower.

Before we mull on the doom and gloom, there is a piece of good news. The development of heart disease is actually highly preventable. That being said, we’re not going to lie – it takes a lot of effort. The one that is talked about most is lowering cholesterol through diet. This would mean eating low cholesterol foods such as soy products, vegetables and fruits. Sound familiar?

It is not just fruits are vegetables. High fibre foods are also known to help in the fight to lower cholesterol. Natural supplements that are known to help people lower your cholesterol  levels include B-complex vitamins, specifically Niacin, as well as supplements fortified with Lecithin. The latter helps with this by enabling excess fat and cholesterol to be dispersed in the water instead of building up in the arteries.

Regular exercise is also a good habit to develop if you are really serious about lowering your cholesterol levels. No surprises there, right? Exercise helps in increasing HDL, otherwise known as “good” cholesterol, in the body. Other benefits include strengthening your heart muscle, keeping your blood pressure at normal levels and even helping you in shedding of those excess kilos.

Ok, today’s article ends here. When it comes to cholesterol, it really is that simple. That being said, always be wary of your individual circumstance. For example, if your levels are really sky high, we would recommend at least some form of medication. Apart from such a scenario, just be sure to pay attention to diet and exercise. Those interested should get the Strategic Nutrition Guide, which is part of the Granite Fitness Masterclass.