Mangano Method to Lower Cholesterol

Frank Mangano is the author of two books, "The Blood Pressure Miracle" and an e-book titled "The 60 Day Prescription-Free Cholesterol Cure," both of which detail his all natural, multi-faceted approach to lowering cholesterol. The Mangano Method is described as a combination of various cholesterol lowering approaches designed to present many options for sufferers of high cholesterol and utilize as many of these options as possible. Mr. Mangano believes that simultaneously attacking cholesterol on multiple fronts is the key to success as opposed to using single different remedies one at a time, which he claims is usually ineffective.

Foods

• The first facet of the Mangano method is to adjust the diet and eliminate foods that contain high levels of saturated fats, particularly dairy products and eggs. These items should be replaced by foods that are soluble or high in fiber. Fibrous food include fruits such as raspberries, pears (with skin), apples (with skin), strawberry halves, bananas, oranges, dried figs and raisins; grains such as whole wheat spaghetti, cooked barley, bran flakes, oat bran muffins, oatmeal, air-popped popcorn, brown rice, rye bread and whole wheat bread; legumes, seeds and nuts such as split peas, black beans, lima beans, baked beans, sunflower seed kernels, almonds, pistachio nuts and pecans; and vegetables such as artichokes, broccoli, turnip greens, sweet corn, Brussels sprouts, baked potatoes (with skin), tomato paste and raw carrots.

Herbs

• The Mangano Method also emphasizes the use of herbs as a means of lowering cholesterol. Herbs that are believed to lower cholesterol include guggulipid, green tea, cayenne pepper, turmeric, artichoke leaf, olive leaf and ginger. Beyond herbs, there are other natural nutrients that are believed to help lower cholesterol including niacin, chromium polyniconate, policosanol, vitamin C, lecithin, calcium, chondroitin sulfate, flaxseed oil, L-carnitine, magnesium, pantethine, vanadium and vitamin E.

Exercise

• Another crucial element of the Mangano Method is exercise. In 2002, the Duke University Medical Center conducted a study that indicated that the more vigorous the exercise is, the better it is at lowering low-density lipoproteins (LDLs or "bad cholesterol") and raising levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs or "good cholesterol"). Moderate exercise, which was not effective, included walking two-three miles per day, while vigorous exercise was jogging four miles per day at a fast pace.

Statin Drugs

• The Mangano Method also warns against using a class of cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs called "statin drugs," which Mr. Mangano claims are effective in lowering cholesterol but at the price of serious side effects that range from vomiting and headaches to muscle weakness and kidney failure. Among the common statin drugs on the market that are designed to lower cholesterol are Lipitor (atorvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), and Crestor (rosuvastatin).