If you've just discovered you have high cholesterol then you've also probably been given a prescription for lipitor, lipostat or zocor for example.
Unfortunately, the prescription medicines that successfully lower your cholesterol, also come with some unwanted side-effects.
Side-effects can range from insomnia, gastric upsets to a general unwell feeling.
The Normal Levels of Cholesterol
- Total Cholesterol – less than 5.5mmol/l
- LDL – less than 3.5mmol/l
- HDL – greater than 1.0mmol/l
- LDL :HDL – less than 2.0mmol/l
The aim of any cholesterol lowering medicine is to lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) and to increase the good cholesterol (HDL).
To date, there are only eight natural medicines or substances that have been proven to lower high cholesterol. Here are 5 examples:
Proven Natural Remedies For High Cholesterol
Policosanol
Policosanol comes from the waxy layer of the sugar cane. It works by blocking the synthesis of cholesterol.
Policosanol can lower your LDL by 31% and increase your HDL by 7%. This natural medicine is a powerful and well tolerated alternative to prescription medicine. Many people are choosing to use this product compared to prescription statins as there is no general unwell feeling. Some users have reported having minor gastric upset.
Artichoke
Artichoke has been shown to decrease the bad cholesterol (LDL) by 23%.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin has the ability to lower bad cholesterol by up to 25% and increase the good cholesterol by an astonishing 35%.
These figures sound great but it comes at a price. For niacin to have this effect it must be taken at a high dosage and can cause some unpleasant side-effects.
Side-effects may include flushing, headache and stomach upsets. Niacin can also cause toxicity, check with your doctor if considering using this approach. Alternatively you could use another product like policosanol and supplement with a lower dose of B3.
Plant sterols
Sterols that are added to spreads such as margarine have been shown to decrease LDL by up to 17%. They must be used twice daily. Many food companies are incorporating sterols into foods generally consumed by people with high cholesterol such as butter. However it is a misnomer that most people with high cholesterol consume a high fat diet.
Cholesterol can also be familial, inherited from our parents. There are many people with highly nutritious diets that suffer from high cholesterol.
There have been many natural medicines that have been tested for high cholesterol and many of them have been dis-proven. Make sure that what you are taking has had some research and has shown some proof that it is beneficial.
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