Cholesterol Lowering Supplements

Taking supplements to lower cholesterol should not be a substitute for seeing your doctor. If you are on medication don’t stop. Knowing the right type of supplements can lower and even prevent high cholesterol known as bad or LDL. In many cases medication is lowered or cut back completely.

It is important to keep you LDL cholesterol level down to prevent a heart attack or stroke. It is good to get your cholesterol checked regularly and to know what a good cholesterol score is. Total score should be under 200. The score for the LDL (bad) cholesterol is desirable when it is between 100-129 mg/dL. A score under 100 mg/dL is considered optimal. Where as the HDL (good) cholesterol is better to get the score up and exercise is the best way to do this. A good cholesterol score for HDL is 60 mg/dL or better.

Triglycerides are the third part of Cholesterol. What are triglycerides? This is a type of fat often increased by sweets and alcohol. Present in blood plasma and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids. Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals. Excess amount of triglycerides in plasma is linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people and diabetes. A safe level for triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dL

Along with diet, exercise and supplements to lower cholesterol have shown significant improvement.

All these listed may reduce total cholesterol and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

Artichoke leaf extract (1,800 to 1,920 milligrams a day, divided into 2 to 3 doses) Benefits have shown to improve on digestion, liver function, lower cholesterol levels, indigestion, irritable bowl syndrome, and prevent heart disease. For treating high cholesterol, artichoke leaf extract may work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol.

Barley (3 grams barley oil extract or 30 grams barley bran flour a day). the Food and Drug Administration on December 23, 2005, announced that whole grain barley and barley-containing products are allowed to claim that it reduces reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Whole and dry milled barley products such have shown this claim on many products. Including: cereal flakes, grits, flour, meal, and barley meal bearing. Soluble fiber from foods as part of a diet low in

saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Barley may increase the intestinal fluid viscosity. The increased viscosity slows down the diffusion process decreases cholesterol absorption but increases cholesterol excretion.

Beta-sitosterol (800 milligrams to 6 grams a day, divided and taken before meals). Primarily used for treating high cholesterol and an enlarged prostate, there appear to be other potential benefits of beta-sitosterol. Some people take the plant sterol to enhance sexual performance, boost the immune system, and treat asthma; there is little scientific evidence to support these uses. The health benefits so not seem to affect children. Little evidence has been shown for other treatments, but some claim that it works for treating gallstones, enhancing sexual performance, boosting the immune system, treating the common cold and flu, treating asthma, relieving menopause symptoms, helping with hair loss or baldness.

Blond Psyllium (5 grams seed husk twice a day). Fenugreek seeds contain protein, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin (a compound that has properties similar to estrogen). Help increase libido and lessen the effect of hot flashes and mood fluctuations that are common symptoms of menopause and PMS. Countries of China and India has also have used this to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils), treat sore throat, and cure acid reflux. Fenugreek also has a long history of use for the treatment of reproductive disorders, to induce labor, to treat hormonal disorders, to help with breast enlargement, and to reduce menstrual pain. Recent studies have shown that Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels. May also be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Garlic extract (600 to 1,200 milligrams a day, divided into 3 doses). Garlic promotes the well-being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. It has the ability to enhance the body's immune cell activity. Garlic tablets have been promoted for years to help lower high blood pressure. Garlic has germanium in it, an anti-cancer agent. In lab tests, mice fed garlic showed no cancer development, whereas mice that weren't fed garlic showed at least some form of tumor growth. It has yet to be tried and studied in humans.

Ginseng (suggested around 400 mg). Ginseng used to simulate the mind and help with memory improvement. Ginseng is can alleviate some major effects of aging, such as degeneration of the blood system, and increase mental and physical capacity. It appears to help people with lowering the bad cholesterol and helping with diabetes. At the University of Toronto in March 2000, a study showed that ginseng could lower blood sugar 20% more than placebo.

Green Tea Extract (shown to improve the overall cholesterol). Besides helping in lowering cholesterol, green tea has shown to be a stronger antioxidant protection for the human body than vitamin C and vitamin E. The extracts of green tea have a wide-ranged anti-inflammatory characteristics and effective in oral hygiene maintenance.

Guggulipid Extract (50 mg). Guggulipid extract can help boost the immune system and promote overall health. Guggulipid is derived from the resin of the mukul myrrh tree, native to India. The resin of Guggulipid has been used for centuries to treat the reduce inflammation of arthritis and obesity. Research results suggest that the extract can help lower levels of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood while raising the “good” (HDL).

Oat bran (Up to 150 grams of whole-oat products a day). Oat bran contains B complex vitamins, protein, fat, minerals, and heart healthy soluble fiber. It may help to lower total cholesterol levels by 25 or more within one to three months. In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled oat bran to be the first cholesterol-reducing food. Oat brain helps reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Policosanol (pure extract of sugar cane wax, shows to also raise HDL). Policosanol increases protective HDL cholesterol levels while reducing LDL, the bad cholesterol. It has the ability to improve our blood lipid profile. Policosanol is derived from sugar cane wax and beeswax.

Red yeast rice shown to lower LDL by around 20 to 30 percent. It is also known to help in lowering blood pressure.

This was recommended to a family member from his physician to help lower his blood pressure.

Soy protein (25 grams). Besides lowering cholesterol levels, soy protein and its associated phytochemicals seem to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis and risk of cancer.

Sitostanol (800 milligrams to 4 grams a day). Sitostanol can lower blood cholesterol levels from 7 to 15 percent. Sitostanol and other sterols have a positive effect on DHT, the hormone that causes enlarged prostates and male pattern baldness.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) (amount varies). Vitamin B3 is important for converting calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates into energy. It also helps the digestive system function and promotes a normal appetite and healthy skin and nerves. Vitamin B3 has shown to reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol.

May reduce total triglycerides:

Fish oil capsules (2 to 4 grams a day). Claims for the benefits of fish oil make it look like a miracle drug. The health benefits of fish oil include its ability to aid in treatment of heart diseases, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, AHDH, low immunity, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, muscular degeneration and ulcers. It is helps in weight loss, pregnancy, fertility and skin care. The presence of Omega 3 essential fatty acids is what contributes to these benefits.

Flaxseed, ground (40 to 50 grams a day). Flaxseed oil is high in Omega 3 and used to prevent and treat heart disease and to relieve a variety of inflammatory disorders and hormone-related problems, including infertility. It may help in lowering bad cholesterol and preventing heart disease.

The copyright to this article is owned by Sandy Mertens (sandyspider). Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing. (You can, however, freely use the opening introduction and photo with a link to the article here on HubPages to read the remainder of the article.)