In most situations there are herbs and supplements that are used to treat high cholesterol but you can also use various alternative treatments that can be considered. You obviously did not have modern medicine in the past. People did not have many high cholesterol problems mainly because of the nutrition that was popular then. There was no junk food and people were eating better. This brings us to many natural treatment options that will lower cholesterol, including the following.
Phytosterols – Stanols And Plant Sterols
There are foods that are fortified with the use of plant sterols, which are phytochemicals you can see naturally occurring in foods like seeds, legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits. These are substances that can reduce cholesterol according to various studies. Simply increase intake of such foods and you should get your bad cholesterol decreased.
Red Yeast Rice
This lowers triglycerides and LDL inside the blood. That is due to the monacolins that are naturally present. Such chemicals are useful as they interfere with the formation of cholesterol. There is a monacolin type known as lovastatin that is the active ingredient in various drugs used for cholesterol problems. Some people believe that red yeast rice should be banned but the truth is that this is highly effective and a great treatment to take care of high cholesterol problems.
Niacin
Niacin can drastically increase good cholesterol levels. It is a B vitamin that is available in many dairy products, eggs, fish, meats and multivitamins. You have to take really high doses in order to have an impact on cholesterol levels, which can lead to side effects like ulcers and liver problems. Always talk with the doctor in the event that you want to use this option.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
If you have cholesterol problems, the doctor will always tell you to eat fish. This is because of the high Omega-3 fatty acid content. Fish oil aids you as it lowers triglycerides. Just make sure that you do not consume too much and never take it if there are blood thinning medications that are utilized. As with niacin, it is vital that you talk with the doctor.