High cholesterol occurs when there are too many fatty substances in the blood. Ignoring this can cause serious problems.
This can be caused by many things, including a fatty diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history.
For every 1% reduction in cholesterolthere is a 2% reduction in risk of developing heart disease, according to Webmd.
So whether you're trying to prevent heart disease or further damage after a heart attack, lowering high cholesterol is important.
Weight loss and more Apart from the many obvious factors such as exercise, there are several ways to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of serious illness.
Eat more pectin
Images:
Getty Images)While increasing fruit intake is a surefire way to stay healthy all the time, eating more oranges, especially the bitter white peel, has been found to help lower cholesterol.
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According to a study by Dutch doctors, the fiber in pectin can lower LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or "bad cholesterol") by 7-10%.
Pectin helps bind dietary cholesterol before it can be absorbed.
Get enough sleep
Published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing Studies show that too little sleep can raise cholesterol levels.
Another study found that men who slept less than 6 hours most nights had higher LDL cholesterol, whereas women who slept the same hours had lower LDL cholesterol.
} Previous studies have found that people who get less than six hours of sleep each night have a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Avoid Binge Eating
Limiting alcohol can help lower cholesterol levels.
"When you drink alcohol, it is broken down in your liver and rebuilt into triglycerides and cholesterol," Heart UK said.
The health charity added: . in your blood
"Excessive levels of triglycerides can accumulate in the liver and cause fatty liver disease.
"The liver cannot function properly and remove cholesterol from the blood. Cholesterol levels rise because it cannot be removed.”
Add licorice root supplements to your diet
Images:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)Several small studies have found licorice root both reduce LDL cholesterol and fat storage, but more needs to be done to determine why and how well they work. Research is needed.
Licorice root can have dangerous interactions with other medications, including insulin, laxatives, and birth control pills, so talk to your doctor before trying it.
If diet and lifestyle changes do not lower your cholesterol levels, or if you are at high risk of heart attack or stroke, you may need cholesterol-lowering drugs. The
NHS said:
"Reduces the amount of cholesterol the body makes. Take one tablet a day."
Normally, a person must take statins for life.
