Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Lower cholesterol naturally can be obtained by consuming some foods. How to lower cholesterol naturally and know foods that lower cholesterol is very important. These foods such as fatty fish, walnuts, oatmeal, and oat bran, and foods fortified with plant sterols.

Since the 1950, scientists have known that certain naturally occurring properties in plants known as plant sterol esters lower blood concentrations of  cholesterol. The compounds work by competing with cholesterol in the digestive system. Simply put, there is only so much capacity for cholesterol absorption in the intestines and because the plant sterol esters are similar in structure to cholesterol, they block the absorption sites.

As an added benefit, the plant compounds are not easily absorbed by the intestines, and are virtually eliminated from the body. More than 20 scientific studies in the United States and Europe support the use of plant sterol esters to lower cholesterol. In decades of medically supervised clinical testing, no significant adverse effects have ever been observed.

Plant sterol esters are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and other plant foods, but not in quantities needed to provide a cholesterol-lowering effect. And, of course, most people don’t eat enough of those foods anyway. Knowing this, the FDA has issued a health claim for plant sterol esters, so adults can take advantage of their cholesterol-lowering abilities.

This is great news for the 105 million adults in the U.S. with high cholesterol. Making good food choices is easy way lower cholesterol naturally. It also puts less strain on your pocketbook. A trip to the grocery store is bound to be cheaper than a trip to the pharmacy. Also, many people can’t handle the side effects from cholesterol drugs. Focusing on diet gives us all a new option.

But you must remember that these foods aren’t cure all. A handful of walnuts or a bowl of oatmeal won’t make you invincible. It won’t give you a free pass to eat all the high-fat foods you want. You still must eat low-fat foods, watch your weight, and get more exercise to lower cholesterol naturally.