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Lower Your Cholesterol Levels, Naturally

Cholesterol is a fatty substance present in the human body, 80%
of which is manufactured by the liver. The other 20% comes from
your diet such as meat, eggs and dairy products. We have always
considered cholesterol to be bad. But that is not the case;
there are two types of cholesterol, good cholesterol - HDL
(High-density lipoproteins) and bad cholesterol - LDL
(Low-density lipoproteins) . High levels of LDL cholesterol
present in the body enter the inner walls of the arteries and
harden it, leading to coronary artery disease. Similarly, high
levels of HDL cholesterol minimize the harmful effects of LDL
cholesterol. Some measurements you can keep in mind to maintain
healthy LDL cholesterol level.

Less than 100 mg/dL would be optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL is near optimal/ above optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high
160 to 189 mg/dL is considered high
190 mg/dL and above is very high

Regular check up or screening of your cholesterol level is very
important. It is recommended for men and women of 20 years or
above to get the test done every five years. This kind of
screening helps to keep your health in check. It also helps if
the patient has a family history of diseases like diabetes,
obesity or cardiovascular disease.

Tips to remember

Do your exercises regularly to keep your heart healthy. It also
helps in burning out the excess fat you have been carrying
around.

Avoid trans fatty acids like French fries, cookies, cakes and
many other fried fast foods.

Consume fewer carbohydrates by avoiding sugar, flour, potatoes
and white rice. Avoid food which contains too much cholesterol
like egg yolk, liver, kidney, brain etc. Stop smoking, it
increases HDL levels by seven points.

Natural Ways to Increase HDL

Red wine consumed in reasonable quantity gives a positive
result. It contains antioxidants such as Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Pinot Noir that slows down oxidation of HDL and LDL
cholesterol. By drinking wine HDL level does not shoot up, but
it contains higher level of various types of blood fats, thus
making it useful for the body.

Drinking orange juice every day increases HDL level by nearly
21%. This is possible due to the presence of flavonoids.

Kidney and red beans are another source to increase HDL level.
They contain low-glycemic carbohydrates which do not require
insulin spikes during digestion.

Eating fish several times a week is very useful in increasing
HDL level as it contains omega-3 fatty acids. Fishes like
sardine, salmon, sea bass, herring and many more are some of
the sources of good cholesterol. If you do not like fish, you
can have fish oil supplements.

Olive oil contains the highest number of mono-saturated fats.
Having 1-2 teaspoons in your daily diet would help you
tremendously.

Oat bran lowers LDL and increases HDL. Studies have shown that
two ounces of oat bran per day helps in reducing 16% LDL and
15% increase in HDL.

Half raw onion per day increases HDL level by 30%.

Soy products increase HDL level thereby decreasing LDL.

Soluble fiber found in fruits like apples, grapes and citrus
fruits are useful in increasing HDL level.

Guggul lipid a native herb used mainly for Ayurvedic medicine
also helps in maintaining healthy cholesterol and triglyceride
levels.

Green tea lowers LDL levels by increasing HDL levels.

Eat more fiber and include raw garlic in your diet, these are
very useful in lowering cholesterol levels.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all
precautionary measures while following instructions on the home
remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if
you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader
and not with the site or the writer.

About The Author: Sharon Hopkins handles many websites relating
to natural home remedies such as
http://www.home- remedies- for-you.com, which has lot of
information on home based natural cures and remedies.
Cholesterol levels can be lowered with the help of natural
herbs and fruits.

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