Reducing Cholesterol:  Pharmacological vs. Natural Choices

Reducing Cholesterol: Pharmacological vs. Natural Choices

When faced with the task of reducing cholesterol, you have a choice to go the natural route or go the pharmacological route.  Not every person that has high cholesterol will do well on "statin" drugs (drugs that lower cholesterol).  It helps to know what they are and how they work to make a decision on which route to take to bring the cholesterol levels down to a healthy number.

Pharmacological Options

A statin drug works by keeping the body from producing cholesterol in abundance.  There are certain substances in the blood that makes the cholesterol and the statins will stop this substance from producing in the body.  Certain statins may also help the body to reduce the plaque buildup in the artery walls by reabsorbing it.  This build-up can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Statin Drugs

While statins do help people to lower their cholesterol, they do have their side effects.  If someone has to take a statin and their cholesterol levels drop, they will more than likely have to continue to take them indefinitely.  The side effects include digestive issues and more series are the damage they can do to muscles and the liver.  When a patient takes statins they must be monitored for these series side-effects.  Normally a simple blood test yearly or twice a year is all that is required.

Please note that statins may work alone some of the time it is always best, even when taking statins to also alter the lifestyle to include healthy changes and the breaking of unhealthy habits to help the body be as healthy as possible.

6 Ways to ReducE Cholesterol Naturally

Natural means of lowering cholesterol are obviously better for the body.  The smart choice is always to try to lower it with lifestyle changes first before seeking pharmacological medications.  Here are some methods for naturally lowering cholesterol:

  • Stop smoking,  Smoking tobacco is one of the number one causes of plaque buildup in the arteries and blood vessels.

  • Stop drinking alcohol.  Alcohol is tough on the liver anyway; it raises the likelihood of having higher cholesterol levels.
  •  Eat a well-balanced diet.  Stay away from junk foods made with excessive sugar, fats, and white flours.  Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean cuts of meat.
  • Exercise regularly.  Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every other day.  Ideally, 30 minutes a day is optimum.
  •  Learn how to de-stress.  Getting plenty of rest and remaining calm as much as possible helps the body to stay healthy. (Lavender essential oils can help!)
  • Take krill oil, which contains high levels of omega 3 and antioxidants.  Krill oil helps to naturally lower cholesterol if taken as a supplement daily. A high quality Antarctic krill oil can lower cholesterol quickly and effectively.   (We like this one.)

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