Medication Vs Natural Remedies
Controlling our high cholesterol is possible with medication, but there appears to be lots of evidence saying we can also use specific foods and supplements to improve our wellness. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that makes lots of different processes in our body possible, such as sending messages along nerve fibres. We can get lots of it from our diet, with some foods increasing good cholesterol (HDL) and other ingredients raising our bad cholesterol, putting our wellbeing in jeopardy. Taking all this into account it seems to make perfect sense that certain foods can be used as natural ways to keep our cholesterol at healthy levels.
Do they work?
Garlic has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes and research has shown that it can lower our LDL readings. But on closer examination by health publications, the effect was found to be temporary, meaning we may not benefit over the longer term. Fenugreek is a seed that’s also gained a reputation as an ingredient that could have an impact on our cholesterol, with tests reporting a 38 per cent drop in LDL levels. Although these experiments have attracted criticism for being low in quality, the results have motivated experts to call for more scientific studies into the foodstuffs. Fish oil can seem to do no wrong when it comes to our health. It has been found to lower triglycerides in the bloodstream, which are connected with heart disease. This sounds promising but tests have also showed that fish oil is associated with small increases in our LDL cholesterol, showing how important it is to get medical advice about eating to lower our cholesterol levels.