Cholesterol is something we all need in order to survive. However, high levels of cholesterol can lead to serious health problems. Most notably, a person with high cholesterol increases the odds that the person will suffer a heart attack. Individuals dealing with high cholesterol will often be prescribed medication that will help lower the cholesterol level. There are also several things you can do to bring your cholesterol level down without the use of drugs. Here are some natural ways to reduce cholesterol.
Instructions
1. Begin by cutting out unhealthy foods. Baked foods, sweets and fast food items are all examples of foods that will raise your cholesterol level and blood pressure as well as cause you to gain weight. No longer eating these foods should be the first change you make to your daily diet.
2. Exercise on a daily basis in order to stabilize your weight and shed excess pounds. People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high cholesterol and heart disease. Aerobic exercises, such as jogging, swimming or riding a bike, will strengthen your heart, help you to lose weight and reduce your cholesterol.
3. Substitute "good cholesterol" foods for your "bad cholesterol" foods. Drink low-fat or non-fat milk instead of whole milk. Eat meats that are low in fat such as turkey and chicken breasts, instead of red meat. By simply learning to read the labels of foods you eat every day and making smarter choices, you can reduce your cholesterol.
4. Add heart healthy foods and foods that will lower your cholesterol to your daily diet. A person who wants to lower his or her cholesterol should eat two to three servings of both fruits and vegetables every day. Whole grain breads and cereals (Cheerios, most famously), garlic, avocados and fish oils are all items that have been proven to lower cholesterol.
5. Talk to your doctor about having one drink of alcohol a day. Having a glass of wine or a light beer every day can help to reduce cholesterol. Drinking more than this, though, will actually raise your cholesterol levels.
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