While the consequences of high LDL cholesterol levels are life-threatening, much can still be done to reverse these. Lowering cholesterol levels may be very hard to do but several ways are easy to follow.

Your top two top choices are a healthy diet and some exercise. These two should work together and are the most effective in lowering cholesterol levels naturally. A healthy diet would sound so stiff. Some would even hesitate, imagining that food choices would be limited to tasteless veggies and bland stuff.

A most common misconception among people on diet is aimed at lowering cholesterol levels. These healthy diets are not out to make your eating time a living hell. A lot of recipes for lowering cholesterol are so much like the foods that we are accustomed to eating, without the harmful contents of the course.

Knowing what food contents are safe and those that are not will help a person in lowering cholesterol down to a desirable level. Food labels should be carefully read. Dietary cholesterol from foods is not as harmful as the saturated fats found in foods.

Trans fats, mostly sourced from foods said to contain hydrogenated oils, are as dangerous as saturated fats. These fats are responsible for the overproduction of cholesterol by the liver in the body. The excess cholesterol, building up on the walls of the arteries, forms plaque resulting in a heart attack or stroke. While much ado has been given to cholesterol-free foods or low cholesterol foods, a person should not neglect the saturated fats and trans fat contents too.

The good thing about lowering cholesterol levels is that it is not a lifelong, tedious process. The beneficial results of those healthy diets and constant physical activities can be seen in as short as six months. By then, the risks of developing heart disease would have been reduced as the cholesterol numbers are lowered.

Lowering cholesterol levels should not be the only way to achieve a healthier heart. Increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol levels can be as effective in eliminating the dangers of having coronary artery disease.

The good cholesterol acts like a broom, sweeping away excess cholesterol thereby reducing plaque formation. If lowering cholesterol levels are done simultaneously with increasing HDL levels, you’re on your way to a healthier heart. 

Have a low cholesterol diet. A low cholesterol diet is the best way in reducing cholesterol.

Diet and Cholesterol Reduction

The most essential yet difficult thing for a high blood cholesterol level individual would do is eat a healthy diet.  That’s why reducing cholesterol intake in the body is difficult.  This diet contains lots of fruits and vegetables (more like a penance for meat lovers) and is rich in antioxidants.

Foods that are rich in fibers are good for reducing cholesterol in the bloodstream. It is simply because fibers absorb the cholesterol in the bloodstream and are then passed through the liver before being excreted out of the body. Cereals, bread, rice, and pasta are high-fiber starchy foods.

The human body also needs a certain amount of fat. Have a reasonable amount of protein-rich foods such as fish, meat, nuts, and pulses. As much as possible, avoid foods that are highly saturated with fat such as butter, ice cream, mayonnaise, and pastries. Instead, substitute them with low-fat alternatives or unsaturated fats.

Salt Reduction and Health

Salt, as we all know, contains sodium which is associated with high blood pressure, heart diseases, and strokes. Losing weight is also a factor. An overweight or obese individual has more chance of having heart problems, circulatory problems, and cancer. Reducing weight is also important in reducing cholesterol.

Working out to improve one's health

Exercise boosts the metabolic rate and keeps the heart healthy. Also improves the stamina, strength, and tone of the body. Quit smoking. It will not only make you look better it will also make you live longer. Stopping can be hard for some individuals but just imagine the benefits to your health. Relax, take it easy.

Stress is the number one contributor to poor health.  Stress influences the immune system. It increases blood pressure and disrupts your eating and sleeping patterns and behavior.

Although it doesn’t have a direct effect on your cholesterol level, if you can manage stress then your chances of staying healthy will increase.

Avoid too much alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol raises the level of triglycerides, which leads to high blood pressure, heart failure, and an increase in calorie intake. Excessive drinking spree drinking can lead to heart stroke.