7 Natural Remedies for High Cholesterol

Even though there hasn’t been much research done on natural herbal remedies in comparison to pharmaceutical treatments, there are proven ways, backed up by the experience of others, that some herbal products can indeed help you with cholesterol levels and improve your heart health.

[Always check with your doctor before taking any of these herbal remedies as some may interfere with your medication or have other negative side effects!]

Let’s see then what nature has to offer when it comes to treating high cholesterol:

1.  Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These are commonly found in fish like herring, mackerel,  salmon, sardines, tuna, anchovies and fish oil (cod liver oil contains some of the most omega-3 fatty acids) but can also be found in great quantities in oysters, caviar, different types of seeds like chia seeds and flaxseeds, and also in walnuts, canola oil and soybeans.

To learn more about foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, click here.

It is believed by experts in the field that omega-3 fatty acids are a great way to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids also has many other beneficial properties for your heart, which in combination reduces the risk of heart failure and a heart attack.

It is recommended that you eat one to two servings of fish containing large quantities of omega-3 fatty acids per week to maintain good heart health.

2. Garlic

Garlic has been a popular home remedy for thousands of years, and as it was used before, whether raw or cooked in some way, you can also use it today to treat various health issues, including high cholesterol.

Garlic can lower the levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol but also lower your blood pressure giving you an overall boost in heart health.

Keep in mind that this is traditional medicine, not really backed up by science, but still, some research has proven that it can be effective when taking it for one to three months. However, this is only short term, and the effects subside after you stop taking it.

3. Red yeast rice

Photo by Uranassbandit on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) 

This type of rice is made by culturing it with various strains of the yeast Monascus Purpureus. It is a traditional Chinese cooking ingredient but has also been used as a medicine, and still is today.

This type of rice contains monacolins, more specifically monacolin K, which is a type of substance that has the ability to lower cholesterol levels because it is chemically identical to "lovastatin" a pharmaceutical drug used to lower cholesterol falling in the category of statins.

It is good to know that there are two types of red yeast rice products, culinary and medical. 

That which is produced as food contains very little monacolin K and it can be harmful because it contains citrinin, a compound which can cause kidney failure.

For more information about Red Yeast Rice, click here.

4. Plant Sterols and Stanols

These are substances found in many fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, legumes but since it was discovered that they have cholesterol-lowering properties, they can be found in food products like margarine, yogurt, cereals, and orange juice.

The way these substances are able to help with lowering LDL or "bad" cholesterol is by preventing it to enter into the bloodstream because of its very similar molecular structure.

A great thing about eating foods containing plant sterols or which are fortified with them is that you can enjoy foods that actually cause an increase in cholesterol levels but at the same time they keep it under control.

For instance, one study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that an ounce of sterol-fortified margarine a day could lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by 14%.

Other research only confirmed this amazing cholesterol-lowering property of plant stanols and sterols which is now widely confirmed and agreed upon. 

5. Astragalus

Astragalus is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the immune system and for various health conditions like allergies, common cold, anemia, even HIV/AIDS.

The primary property of this herb is that it is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, but is also considered to be an adaptogen meaning it is toxic-free and it helps the body to get rid of different causes of stress whether they are psychological, physical or biological.

But it can also be used to treat high blood pressure and it is believed it has the capability to lower cholesterol levels.

Even though it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, still research hasn’t completely proven its effectiveness or safety.

6. Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a type of herb, more specifically a bush or a small tree in the family of roses.

It dates back to the time of the Greek physician Dioscorides when it was used for various types of health problems like kidney and bladder disorders, bad circulation and as an appetite stimulator, but was also used against stress, nervousness, and sleep disorders.

In Roman times, specifically in the time of the Roman Empire, hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers have been used to treat heart problems, and today it is used for heart and blood vessel diseases like cognitive heart failure, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, low and high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and most importantly, high cholesterol.

Research shows that it has the ability to lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol) as well as blood fats called triglycerides but also it prevents fats to accumulate in the liver and largest artery in the body called the "aorta".

For more information about Hawthorn and its uses, side effects, interactions, click here.

7. Monounsaturated fats

There are different types of fats in our bodies. One of those types is called monounsaturated fats.  These are a little bit different with regard to their chemical structure because they only have one double bond ("mono" means "one").

But, that’s not important for you to understand.

What is important for you to know is that these fats actually have the ability to lower blood cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.

So it would be good to replace foods with lots of saturated fats like beef, processed meats like salami, sausage or pepperoni, different types of cheese like Colby or Cheddar, cream desserts, butter or whole milk with foods high in monounsaturated fats.

This not only makes monounsaturated fats the reason for lower LDL but the fact that you removed foods causing it to rise in the first place.

Monounsaturated fats can be found in olives, avocados,  olive oil, canola oil, plant-based foods like almonds, peanuts, pecans, cashews or pistachios, and can also be found in animal products like pork and eggs.

Other ways to treat high cholesterol:

• Eat whole grain products like whole grain bread, brown rice, oatmeal or whole-grain pasta, or make dough from whole-grain flour
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and prepare healthy vegetable soups, stews or casseroles
• Exercise regularly, which helps not only lower your cholesterol but lose weight as well