How to Lower Lipids Naturally

Lipids are a group of organic compounds that include waxes, fats, sterols, oils, nucleic acids and triglycerides. Lipids account for most of the fat present in the human body. For example, cell membranes are mostly composed of lipids. Therefore, there are good lipids and bad. Specifically, there is good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Triglycerides and trans-fatty acids are two more types of bad lipid. To reduce the bad lipids, one should ingest fiber, which competes with them for absorption by the body. Additionally, polyunsaturated oils lower HDL while monounsaturated fats don't.

Instructions

Triglycerides

• 1

  Take omega-3 supplements to reduce triglyceride levels. Make sure the label says the fish from which it is extracted is low on the food chain or has had heavy metal toxins removed.

• 2

  Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Men should get eight servings per day--women, five.

• 3

  Eat less sugar, high-glycemic foods, and foods containing high-fructose corn syrup. Avoid fructose in drinks, since it is quickly turned into liver fat--as opposed to fructose in fruit, which does not cross into the liver.

• 4

  Exercise more.

LDL

• 5

  Take niacin (vitamin B3) supplements.

• 6

  Eat artichoke leaf. It reduces cholesterol production and helps the liver produce more bile, which excretes cholesterol from the body.

• 7

  Swap vegetable oils with olive oil, which has a lower concentration of polyunsaturated fat. (Poyunsaturated fats are highly unstable, breaking down quickly once in the warmth of the body, and binding with compounds to interfere with basic organic processes throughout the body. They also reduce levels of HDL, the good cholesterol.)

• 8

  Replace margarine in your diet with butter. Margarine is made of vegetable oil treated to turn into LDL-raising trans-fats.