Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Discover Ways to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level Without Prescription Drugs

Discover Ways to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level Without Prescription Drugs
Your doctor says that you have high cholesterol and he
wants to add a cholesterol lowering medication to your
growing list of prescription medications. High cholesterol
can contribute to heart attacks or strokes and should never
be taken lightly. But is prescription medication the only
way to reduce your cholesterol levels? Not really, there
are other ways you can lower your levels naturally. Read on
to discover some of these ways.

First and foremost, make the necessary lifestyle changes to
lower your cholesterol. Cut out the high fat foods and
start exercising. Eat more fruits and vegetables. It has
been proven that soluble fibers are effective at reducing
cholesterol levels. These fibers can be found in oats,
barley and rye. They are also found in peas, beans, apples,
prunes and berries. Do some more research on cholesterol
lowering foods to find the best ones for you.

A vitamin called niacin has been proven to lower
cholesterol, but must only be taken under the supervision
of your health care practitioner. There are a few side
effects when taking niacin which include diarrhea, gout,
worsening peptic ulcer disease, liver inflammation and
increased blood sugar. Niacin can also increase the
effectiveness of your prescription blood pressure
medication which could result in your blood pressure
dropping too low. But when taken the right way, niacin can
go a long way in lowering your cholesterol levels.

Garlic is another great natural supplement that may lower
your cholesterol levels. It has also been proven to prevent
blood clots and to reduce the amount of plaque buildup in
the arteries. This plaque can be very dangerous as it
builds up and narrows the arteries and other blood vessels.
It a blood vessel becomes completely blocked, a heart
attack can result causing irreversible heart damage. So it
is best to do everything you can to keep your cholesterol
levels under control.

Artichoke leaf extract has been getting some buzz lately
for its cholesterol lowering properties. While more studies
need to be performed, there have been some promising
results from the few studies that have been done. It is
thought that artichoke leaf extracts work by limiting the
synthesis of cholesterol in the body, therefore lowering
your levels. It also contains a compound that increased
bile production and helps to excrete bad cholesterol from
the body.

So if you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, try
some of these natural ways to lower your cholesterol. Most
importantly, make the needed lifestyle changes. All the
supplements and medications in the world will not help your
cholesterol levels if you don't change your destructive
lifestyle.


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Discover Ways to Reduce Your Cholesterol Level Without
Prescription Drugs
http://www.1thinkhealthy.com/

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