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A Natural Remedy for Reducing Cholesterol

Cholesterol is not always a bad thing. Produced by the liver, it is a critical component in cell structures. In addition to making cholesterol within our bodies, we also accumulate it within our tissues as a result of the foods we ingest. Cholesterol-laden foods such as egg yolks, whole milk and butter are major contributors to "bad cholesterol" levels, or LDL. Individuals with an elevated level of LDL have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Luckily, there are a number of simple steps you can take to lower your cholesterol and reduce the related health risks.

  1. What to eat

    • To help reduce your cholesterol level, try adding oat bran to your daily diet. This can easily be done with low-fat breakfast cereal or with an evening bowl of warm oatmeal. Also, increase your daily intake of garlic, onions and ginger, because these foods have all been found to reduce LDL with regular consumption. Chew on sunflower seeds when you're craving an afternoon snack. They are a great source of linoleic acid, which helps to remove cholesterol from the capillaries, improving blood circulation throughout the body. Also, with each meal, you should consume one cup of tea made from coriander seeds. Simply pour boiling water over 3 tablespoons of seeds and allow it to stand until the mixture reaches room temperature. Then pour the tea through a coffee filter to remove the seeds and drink. Coriander flushes excess cholesterol from the system via the kidneys.

    What to avoid

    • Adopting healthy new habits can be hard. Giving up unhealthy ones can be even harder. In order to effectively reduce your cholesterol and keep it low, you have to make a few permanent changes to your regular routine. Fry your foods in olive oil rather than butter and switch from whole milk to skim, for starters. Reduce the quantity and frequency with which you indulge in both alcoholic beverages and sugar-loaded sodas. Eliminate or ease up on the amount of red meat in your diet and substitute with fish, chicken, turkey or tofu at least four times a week. Read the labels of the food you buy. Take note of the total grams of fat per serving. Avoid any food with saturated fat or trans fat and opt for a lighter version of the original. If you're not sure what to buy, look for items with a "heart-smart" logo on the packaging, indicating that they have a reduced fat content.

    What to do

    • Adopt a healthier lifestyle. Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor in the development of heart disease. Also, exercise increases the amount of HDL--the "good" cholesterol--in the blood. HDL circulates through the blood, removing LDL as it goes. So, the faster your heart is pumping, the more cholesterol you're getting rid of. You should also be sure you're drinking at least eight glasses of water each day to help remove unwanted wastes from your body more efficiently.

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