3 Natural and Easy Ways to Lower Bad Cholesterol

Bad cholesterol is very dangerous for our health, especially when it comes to heart health and if you have noticed that you’ve crossed the line, it is a good idea to take special care of your eating habits. Certain foods can bring back the normal levels of cholesterol in the system in a completely natural way and you actually don’t have anything to lose if you apply some changes in your diet.

Medical exams can help people determine level of LDL or so-called “bad” cholesterol which can be dangerous because it contributes to the creation of layers in the arteries and eventually result in heart disease and HDL or “good” cholesterol which cleans the arteries. A healthy level of cholesterol is the one that’s below 200 milligrams per one deciliter of blood. LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 mg while HDL slightly above 60 mg. If the results of the medical exams show increased values, you need to take some measures as soon as possible and these foods can certainly you help you with this task.

Oatmeal for breakfast

Few recent studies have confirmed that oatmeal can reduce the level of bad cholesterol by about 5% for a period of 6 weeks. The main reason for its efficiency is the presence of beta-glucan in it. This compound prevents the retention of LDL cholesterol in the system. So, eat oatmeal for breakfast at least once a week.

Artichokes

Artichokes are Mediterranean plants which often grow wild on some islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Just like almost every green vegetable, it is rich in vitamin C and K, fiber, but it is also part of the list of the 10 foods packed with highest level of antioxidants. After you clean them properly, you need to boil them for about 45 minutes with a small amount of lemon juice. When you start taking medications to lower cholesterol you will increase the level of statins in the system. On the other hand, artichokes have a different effect or influence and they degrade the cholesterol in a natural way.

Red rice

There is a chance that you have not tried this food yet, but if you have problems with LDL cholesterol then now it’s the perfect time. Red rice is a perfect addition to fish and this food is known as an ancient Chinese remedy too. You can make a combination of red rice and some other grains like brown rice or quinoa. Some studies suggest that red rice lowers the level of cholesterol in general after eight weeks of taking a red rice supplement. Red rice is produced through a process of fermentation with the help of red mold and it contains 14 monacolins and the one that is especially useful for lowering bad cholesterol is monacolin K because it contributes to balancing normal level of cholesterol in the system.

Source: Everyday health