5 Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Despite the bad press, LDL cholesterol isn't really "bad." Its job is to patch and repair inflammation in the arteries, much like spackling a hole in the wall...the bigger the hole, the more spackle you need. Problems with LDL levels arise when you have a lot of inflammation in your body. Your body sends more and more LDL to patch up the damage, potentially creating a blockage. So, it’s not that you have too much LDL cholesterol; it’s that you have too much inflammation, creating the need for more LDL cholesterol.

If you have higher than normal LDL, you also need higher HDL. HDL cholesterol is the scavenger that mops up excess LDL cholesterol from the blood. Unfortunately, the poor food choices and lack of physical activity that cause the inflammation and the greater need for LDL cholesterol also reduce HDL cholesterol. Medications such as beta blockers, anabolic steroids, progestins, and benzodiazepines can also lower HDL. The goal should be to reduce inflammation versus “lower cholesterol,” which is simply just a marker, telling us there is a problem. The foods mentioned in this Health.com article: Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally do so by reducing inflammation and increasing HDL, which is the right way to balance cholesterol.

Balancing cholesterol is simple when you consume healthy foods and engage in appropriate physical activity. If you feel you need assistance with making dietary and lifestyle changes in a fun and rewarding way, please feel free to contact me for a complimentary Wellness Breakthrough Strategy Session.