Naturopathic Remedies for High Cholesterol

According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is listed as the leading cause of death among American adults. High cholesterol is more often than not a factor for those at risk for heart disease. Naturopathic remedies can help to reduce cholesterol levels, and provide a preventive means of maintaining good health.

Identification

• Factors that contribute to high levels of cholesterol in the blood are poor dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Individuals who smoke cigarettes and consume large quantities of alcohol are also at risk of developing high cholesterol levels. When high cholesterol levels persist over a long period of time, a person becomes at risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Naturopathic remedies include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight and incorporating natural supplements into a balanced dietary plan.

Nutrition

• Diets high in fats, carbohydrates and sodium provide too much cholesterol for the body's needs. Unused amounts of cholesterol don't get excreted, but are deposited along blood vessels, tissues and organs. Diets high in fruits, grains and vegetables are a naturopathic remedy that provide needed nutrients, and also aid in the elimination of fatty deposits. As a person ages cholesterol levels rise accordingly. After 45 years old, men may notice an increase in their cholesterol levels, whereas women start to see a rise at 55 years and older. So, a balanced diet becomes even more important throughout the aging process.

Natural Supplements

• The use of natural supplements is a way to further support the body's nutritional requirements. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can often affect the body's ability to metabolize foods properly. Supplements that act as naturopathic remedies for high cholesterol include flaxseed meal, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and calcium. Anyone considering taking supplements of any kind should consult with their primary physician.

Exercise

• As a naturopathic remedy for high cholesterol, exercise's greatest benefit is in improving the body's blood circulation. Improved circulation helps strengthen the heart muscle, which is needed if blood vessels are clogged with deposits. In addition, improved circulation helps to eliminate deposits along blood vessel walls, as well as keeping vessel walls open and durable. Recommendations from the American Heart Association advise that at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise on a daily basis is needed for healthy heart function.

Homeopathy

• Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that bases its remedies on the body's ability to heal itself. This approach works to support the already available healing systems within the body. Each remedy is made according to a person's own body make-up and chemistry. Treatments for high cholesterol involve reducing bad cholesterol levels (LDLs) while increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDLs) in the bloodstream. Homeopathic treatments come in pill and liquid forms, and are custom-made to match a person's particular body chemistry.