A Drug free Way To Lower Cholesterol
In the recent years the number of people suffering from high cholesterol levels has increased substantially. Studies have proven that many heart diseases are caused primarily due to high levels of cholesterol in the body. This results in hear attacks and strokes which can even prove fatal if unchecked. In industrialized societies like that in the US, the most widespread cause of death is coronary hear disease. Usage of saturated fats, bad lifestyle, and smoking are leading causes of high levels of cholesterol of the people in such places.
Many drugs to decrease cholesterol levels are now being sold world over. Reductase inhibitors like HMG-CoA or better known as statins are some of the most popular drugs available in the market today. This group of drugs is marketed under various names and helps in greatly lowering cholesterol levels in patients with high risk. They also help in increasing HDL widely known as “good cholesterol” in the body.
Even though these drugs have been proven effective time and again, some people prefer not to use them and instead use other methods to reduce cholesterol levels in the body. One such method is leading an active life. Exercise and physical activity form an integral part of many therapies for low cholesterol. This results in reduction in weight, lowering of blood pressure and also greatly reduces risk of diabetes.
A proper diet with low cholesterol content can also greatly lower cholesterol levels in the body. A good and a healthy diet contain low levels of “bad cholesterol” but sufficient quantities of “good cholesterol”. It has been shown that such a diet can lower cholesterol levels up to 29 percent in just one month’s time. Therefore proper diets, just like drugs, can be effectively used for controlling cholesterol levels. Eating foods with high fiber content can reduce levels of cholesterol by almost 7 percent.
By eating unprocessed or non-hydrogenated fats, the risk of various heart diseases can be greatly reduced. Nuts, soy proteins, foods with high fiber content such as barley and oats are some of the food stuffs that help in reduction of bad cholesterol accumulated in the body. Fishes and some plant sources contain Omega-3 fats also help in lowering cholesterol levels. Fruits and vegetables can also be used for this purpose.