While the question of how to lower LDL cholesterol may lead one to think there’s one definite way to lower LDL, actually there are multiple ways to lower it.
In this article, you will find how I lowered my LDL naturally, plus understand why LDL levels rise. This last piece is very important since this understanding alone will help you lower LDL.
But before going into that, a quick but important look at LDL levels and workings.
LDL Levels & How does LDL hurt you?
Before you even think of lowering LDL you need to know whether you have high LDL levels first. You should aim for LDL cholesterol levels below 130 mg/dL or 3.4 mmol/L if you don’t have other risk factors like heart disease.
If you are suffering from heart problems, however, the optimum levels should be below 100 mg/dL or 2.6 mmol/L.
The LDL/bad cholesterol if above the normal levels will start building up slowly on the inner walls of your blood vessels called arteries.
Then it will combine with other similar substances and start building a hard and thick plaque on the surface of arteries.
Such buildup ultimately leads to narrowing and hardening of arteries and turns your arteries less flexible for smooth blood flow.
This condition is known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious health problems like angina, heart attack, poor circulation, stroke, and even early death.
5 Ways to lower LDL cholesterol naturally?
1. Cayenne
Cayenne also known as a “miracle herb” has extremely beneficial properties in lowering your LDL cholesterol. It improves your circulation and keeps your heart healthy. Once digested, it exerts powerful cleansing effects and removes LDL and other unwanted molecules from your body. Cayenne processes fats without allowing their absorption and lowers your overall fat burden.
2. Plant Sterols/Phytosterols
Plant Sterols are another group of chemicals naturally found in plants, that help to lower LDL cholesterol. Plant sterols prevent the absorption of cholesterol in your blood. Regular use of plant sterols helps your body to control its LDL cholesterol levels.
3. Niacin
Niacin is another miraculous and scientifically proven natural alternative for lowering LDL cholesterol levels. It belongs to the Vitamin B group and regular use of niacin reduces LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and also improves your “good” cholesterol levels.
4. Policosanol
Policosanol is a generic term used for a natural extract of plant waxes. Like niacin, policosanol also lowers your LDL cholesterol levels and also improves HDL cholesterol.
5. Lipi-Rite
Lipi-Rite is a natural supplement that I used to lower my LDL cholesterol naturally. It helps balance LDL/HDL cholesterol and promotes bile acid production to remove excess cholesterol. Also, support the management of excess blood fats
I’m including this as a separate way how to lower LDL cholesterol since for me it’s the most effective as compared to taking each ingredient separately.
3 Reasons Why LDL Levels Rise?
First, people who are obese or overweight are more likely to have high LDL cholesterol.
Second, genetics is another important risk factor for people to have high LDL cholesterol levels even if no other risk factor like obesity is present. High LDL cholesterol runs in families and children who inherit this problem from their parents and so on.
Third, foods with saturated fats and trans fats are the main dietary risk factor for you to have high levels of bad cholesterol. If cholesterol is present in your food, it can also raise your cholesterol levels but not as much as saturated or trans fats.
So even if you read a label like “Cholesterol Free”, saturated or trans fats may still be present in that food product.