Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber. Food with soluble fiber reduces your body’s ability to absorb fat. Research has shown that eating just one cup of oatmeal a day can lower your bad cholesterol by 24%. As an added benefit, oatmeal also stabilizes blood sugar levels and improves the immune system.
If you love the taste of orange juice in the morning, then you’ll love this next home remedy. In addition to helping your digestion and warding off cancer, orange juice helps to increase your good cholesterol and lower your bad. In fact, studies show that people who drink 3 glasses a day have 20% higher HDL and 16% lower LDL.
Getting active, whether it is swimming laps, doing yoga, taking a Zumba class, or walking through the neighborhood will help you increase your good cholesterol. Plus, exercise lowers your blood pressure and increases the strength of your heart muscle. Both keep your blood vessels in great shape. Finally, exercising will help you lose weight, which will help you lower your bad cholesterol levels.
Studies have shown that coriander seeds can cut your cholesterol levels. To make the tea, add 2 tsp of powdered seed to one cup of boiling water. Stir and then strain to remove any undissolved powder. Add milk or honey to make it more palatable. As an added benefit, coriander seed tea helps keep your blood sugar stabilized.
When you hear the word “fat,” you might assume that you should avoid it. However, when it comes to Omega-3 fatty acids, you should say yes! Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish such as tuna and salmon. Eating Omega-3’s will help reduce your bad cholesterol. For those that don’t like fish, consider taking 1,000 mg fish oil supplements twice a day. For vegetarians, consider adding ground flaxseeds to your cereal or smoothie. Two tablespoons of flaxseed a day can lower your cholesterol by 18%.
If you stop frying your foods, you’ll stop eating so much fat. This will bring your LDL levels down. Instead, broil or steam your meats and vegetables. Additionally, look carefully at the meat you buy. Always buy ‘select’ cuts rather than ‘prime’ or ‘choice’ cuts.
Very popular in China, red yeast rice is a fermented product that stops cholesterol from synthesizing. Monascus purpureus is the fermenting agent that does the trick. By taking a 2400 mg supplement of red yeast rice a day, you can drop your LDL by 26% in just two months. You can find red yeast rice in pharmacies and health food stores.
CAUTION: Do not take if you are taking a statin drug, certain antidepressants, or antifungal medications. Check with your doctor if you are on any of these medications.
Eating nuts is a great way to lower your cholesterol levels. This is particularly true of walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. These nuts contain both fiber and plant sterols. Walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids, making them a perfect choice for lowering cholesterol.