Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

Here's some facts to get you started. If you're an American over age 20, there's a 1 in 4 chance that you have high cholesterol. That by itself is frightening. But consider that more than 50% of all Americans have levels that are borderline high, and you can see that this is a huge problem. Maybe you don't have heart problems, but if you have high cholesterol now would be a good time to think seriously about lowering cholesterol naturally, before you need medication or before you have heart trouble.

The problem in this country is directly related to our diet. Think about the foods we eat. Fatty meats (think hamburgers), processed meats (hoagies and deli sandwiches), fried foods (french fries anyone), and eggs are likely all in your diet. Throw in those commercially baked cookies or cake you had for dessert and it's evident that we don't eat well. And while it's true some people can eat these foods and not have a cholesterol problem, most of us are not that lucky.

The fact is that we really don't need cholesterol in our diet because our body makes what it needs. The extra we put in is either eliminated, or gets stuck in our arteries. And that's where the problem starts.

And while this can be a bit frightening, it's not cause for immediate alarm is your levels are slightly elevated. It's doesn't mean a heart attack is coming tomorrow. But it does mean you are at risk. And even if your levels aren't elevated, why not take the necessary steps to keep it that way. It's really not that hard. Add a few things to your diet, remove a few others, and you are on your way to lowering cholesterol naturally.

Realize first of all that saturated fat is the biggest problem, not eating cholesterol in and of itself. Like cholesterol you'll find saturated fats in animal products, and that's not just meats. It's also cheeses, butter, ice cream and milk, all things that come from animals. Certain oils are also high in saturated fat. Just because the label says vegetable oil doesn't mean it's good for you. Things like coconut oil and palm oil should be watched carefully.

That means a little extra work for you because you'll need to read the labels on the foods you buy. Especially when you purchase baked goods and even non-dairy whipped toppings.

And even though we mentioned that eating cholesterol is not as bad as eating saturated fats for your levels, you would be wise to go easy on things that are extremely high. Did you know an egg yolk contains 213 mg of cholesterol? Organ meats like liver are also very high in cholesterol.

The good news is that not all fats are bad. Quite the opposite. Unsaturated fats like polyunsaturated or monounsaturated have been show to have the opposite effect. They can actually drop your blood cholesterol levels. So where do these come from? Well polyunsaturated fats are found in plants and vegetables. Common examples would be cottonseed, soybean and corn. Sunflower seeds and sesame seed also have high levels of polyunsaturates, as do walnuts and pecans.

Monounsaturated fats have an added benefit. Things like olive oil will help to lower your blood pressure. Increasing these fats while decreasing saturated fats can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, helping you to live a longer, healthier life.