Millions of Americans have dangerously elevated levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. This is due primarily to unhealthy diets and a lack of exercise. However, some people have a genetic predisposition to elevated cholesterol levels.

Many doctors prescribe statins to treat high cholesterol levels. These drugs are effective in reducing LDL levels, but they can have dangerous side effects. If you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, there are many ways you can lower your LDL levels safely and naturally without the use of statins.

Diet

A healthy diet is extremely important to lowering cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that the average person get no more than 300 milligrams per day of cholesterol. If you have heart disease, the AHA recommends you get less than 200 milligrams per day.

In addition to limiting cholesterol intake, a healthy diet is low in fat and includes many important nutrients like fiber and niacin which help to lower cholesterol naturally. There are several types of foods that actually help to lower levels of LDL and can be included as part of a natural, balanced diet. These include:

• Fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon.
• Soy products like tofu, soymilk, and other soy products.
• Oat products like oatmeal, oat bran, and whole oat flour.
• Nuts that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, and other nuts.
• Foods fortified in plant sterols and stanols.
• Red yeast rice has been shown to decrease LDL levels by up to 20%.

Natural Remedies

If you still have elevated LDL cholesterol levels after adjusting your diet, you may need extra help. There are many natural remedies on the market to treat high cholesterol. Many of these natural supplements can reduce cholesterol as effectively as statins without harmful effects on your health.

They are also often a fraction of the price of these dangerous drugs. Natural remedies are usually formulated with safe, effective ingredients. However, not all products are created equal. It is important to be sure that the product you buy is of a high quality and a good reputation. Important things to look for are:

• All natural ingredients
• No fillers or artificial additives
• High customer satisfaction rating
• No negative side effects
• FDA-approved manufacturing facilities

How Natural Remedies Work
Natural remedies should treat both causes of high LDL levels and should attack the root cause of the problem from multiple directions. The natural remedy should:

• Inhibit the absorption of cholesterol into the intestine by reducing cholesterol’s solubility.
• Directly reduce LDL levels by helping the body excrete cholesterol and fat.
• Naturally inhibit LDL production in the liver.
• Reduce circulation of LDL in the blood.
• Encourage the liver to remove excess LDL from the blood.

These effects should be accomplished by the use of natural ingredients like:

• Niacin: Niacin is a naturally-occurring B-vitamin, also known as Vitamin B3. Niacin has been shown to reduce cholesterol more effectively than prescription drugs in mild to moderate cases.
• Policosanol: Policosanol, which is refined from sugarcane, has been shown to be as effective as statins, without harsh side effects.
• Natural herbs and plant products like Guggul: a shrub from arid climates such as North Africa, Central Asia, and northern India, it has been shown to decrease the likelihood of blood platelets sticking together. If platelets stick together, they can cause coronary artery disease and stroke. Garlic: this aromatic herb has been shown to significantly reduce LDL levels as well as total cholesterol levels. It also defends against bacterial and fungal infection. Plant Sterols: these natural compounds have been shown to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine without side effects.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/guide/cholesterol-lowering-foods
www.americanheart.org