High Cholesterol and Natural Cures

Published on 22 January, 2012 | Holistic Therapy

Do you have high Cholesterol?

The cause of high cholesterol can be varied. Sometimes it is indicative of a genetic disposition to develop high cholesterol. If high cholesterol runs in your family, there is higher risk of you also obtaining it compared with someone who does not have a family history of high cholesterol.

Genetics is but one cause of high cholesterol in people of all ages. Inherited high cholesterol is called familial hypercholesterolemia.

The other more well known cause of cholesterol is of course diet related. Eat enough high cholesterol foods for long periods of time, and your cholesterol will rise. Couple this with little or no exercise and you turn into a walking time bomb for all sorts of health conditions.

It is known that cholesterol levels, on average, are higher in certain parts of the world compared to others. For example, northern European countries have higher average cholesterol levels than southern Europe. Asia has still lower levels than both of these regions.

Could this dramatic fluctuation in cholesterol levels in certain parts of the world indicate that diet is the major factor in causing high cholesterol? All factors point to that being correct.

The cause of high cholesterol is most often either genetic or diet related. While you can’t help your genes, you can certainly go a long way to reducing your cholesterol levels simply by eating a well balanced, healthy diet and of course, by exercising.

Reduce fat in your diet

One of the best plans is covered previously in our chart on saturated fat. But there is more you can do. Buy the leanest cuts of meat you can find. Regularly substitute poultry (without the skin) and fish for red meat.

Both are lower in saturated fat. Switch to low fat cottage cheese and yogurt, reduced fat hard cheeses and skim or 1 percent milk.

Many people don’t have to worry about eating cholesterol. Normal bodies adjust to increased intake by cutting back on regular product.

You probably don’t know if you fall into this category so play it safe.

Eat no more than four egg yolks a week. An average egg yolk contains 213 milligrams of cholesterol!

Eliminate fried foods

Buying low fat is just the beginning. You need to institute low fat cooking methods to keep the cholesterol from sneaking back in to your diet.

Remove fatty skin from chicken and turkey.

Don’t fry foods. Roast, bake, broil, grill or poach them instead.

Use fat free marinades or basting with liquids like wine, tomato or lemon juice.

Use olive or canola oils for sautéing or baking. Both are very low in saturated fat.

Use diet, tub or squeeze margarines instead of regular. Watch for the term “hydrogenated,” which means some of the fat is saturated.

Eat vegetables and complex carbohydrates

Lowest fat foods of all are vegetables, fruits, grains (rice, barley and pasta), beans and legumes. Try substituting some of these for meat and high fat dairy products.

Don’t douse your pasta with butter or your potato with sour cream.

Use tomato base sauces instead of cream base.

Use lemon juice, low sodium soy sauce or herbs to season vegetables.

Make chili with extra beans and seasonings while leaving out the meat.

Lose weight – If you are overweight, the chances are almost 100% that you have a problem with high cholesterol.

You can lower your LDL and elevate your HDL just by dropping some pounds.

Eat fewer fatty foods and more fruits, vegetables, grains and beans and it’s a pretty good bet that you will slowly but surely lose weight.

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