Types of Cholesterol-Lowering Herbs and Vitamins

You normally find cholesterol as a naturally occurring substance in the diet and made by the liver. It is important for many functions within the body, but you can also have too much of it. A high level of cholesterol may cause stroke, atherosclerotic vascular disease, heart attack, diseases of the peripheral arteries in the legs and heart disease. If left unattended and high, cholesterol clogs arteries and narrows them, causing poor blood flow. You can lower your cholesterol level with herbs and vitamins.

Green Tea

• Green tea lowers the LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood. It also increases the HDL, or "good" cholesterol, at the same time.

Policosanol

• This is an extract made from sugar cane wax. It shows promise of lowering cholesterol levels. It also raises the HDL level and lowers the LDL level.

Artichoke Leaf Extract

• Artichoke leaf extract may work by limiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the body. A German study showed that artichoke leaf lowered a groups cholesterol by approximately 18 1/2 percent after 6 weeks.

Guggulipid

• This herb from India is more effective than many of the prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol, according to initial clinical trials.

Vitamin B3, Niacin.

• Physicians often recommend niacin to increase the benefit from cholesterol medication. It helps raise HDL levels and lower LDL.

Lecithin

• Lecithin aids in dispersing the cholesterol from the body and preventing the fat from building in the arteries.