Did you know that your body itself produces cholesterol? That’s because cholesterol is important for various bodily processes. For instance, the liver requires it for its proper functioning.
It is a different story, however, when there’s too much cholesterol present. This is usually brought about by having a diet that’s rich in cholesterol. You don’t want to have high cholesterol levels because it can clog up the arteries, resulting in high blood pressure as well as increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
While there are drugs that can help lower cholesterol, there are also some home remedies available. Here are some of the best ways to combat high cholesterol naturally:
A Diet High in Fiber
Everyone knows that a diet that’s high in fiber is very good in warding off constipation as well as excess pounds. Did you know that it’s also something that is superb in fighting off high cholesterol? By adding fiber-rich foods in your diet on an everyday basis, it’s very much possible to have your cholesterol levels lowered.
Fruits and vegetables — these are the best food sources of fiber. With so many of them to choose from, you are not going to have a hard time making sure that your everyday diet consists of good amounts of fiber.
Medical experts say that fiber works just like a sponge — it absorbs some of the cholesterol in your food as well as those that are inside your arteries, and then sweeps them out of the body.
Omega-3 Rich Foods
It’s also a wonderful idea for those who are trying to lower their cholesterol to consume foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are healthy types of fat that help elevate the levels of good cholesterol — yes, there are bad as well as good cholesterol — by lowering the levels of the bad ones.
Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids also help control inflammation, which is something that is often linked by the experts to high cholesterol as well as high blood pressure. What’s more, omega-3 fatty acids help keep the blood vessels stay healthy, thus minimizing the deposition or collection of bad cholesterol in them.
Some of the best food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, sardines and tuna. You can also obtain these healthy fats from various nuts and seeds.
Green Tea
The consumption of green tea on a regular basis is something that can actually help lower high cholesterol levels. Who knew that a beverage as common and popular as green tea is very effective in keeping your arteries clog-free?
Scientists say that green tea helps lower bad cholesterol by stimulating the production of good cholesterol — it works pretty much just like omega-3 fatty acids! Similarly, green tea’s antioxidants also help prevent some of the cholesterol in food from ending up in the bloodstream and potentially clogging the arteries.
How many cups of green tea should you consume per day to keep high cholesterol in check? According to studies, drinking up to 5 cups of green tea each day can work wonders. However, you may consume less green tea if you tend to have all sorts of unfavorable symptoms upon the consumption of anything with caffeine in it.
Coriander Tea
There are plenty of herbs that are scientifically proven to help lower high cholesterol, and one of the most impressive of them all is coriander. Experts say that this common culinary herb is also very good at lowering high blood pressure by encouraging the kidneys to produce more urine.
You can employ coriander in your attempt to normalize your cholesterol levels by boiling 2 tablespoons of it in 8 oz. water. Allow to cool, filter and divide into 3 equal portions — you should take 1 after every meal.
