Most people know that excess cholesterol in the blood is life-threatening. But at the same time, if it is normal, the human body cannot function without it, since cholesterol is found in cell membranes and is involved in the formation of adrenal hormones, vitamin D and bile acids.
It is an organic substance - a fatty alcohol contained in the cells of living organisms. A person produces about 80% of all cholesterol, the rest comes from food.
How to reduce blood cholesterol using folk remedies you will find in our article
Its excess begins to gradually clog the arteries, forming plaques. This can lead to the formation of gallstones, arteriosclerosis and blood clots, heart attack and stroke, and sudden death if blood vessels are blocked.
It is important to know! Before reducing cholesterol in the blood with folk remedies, it is necessary to check the functioning of the liver, as it can cause its increase.
It is known that Drinking green tea in the morning is beneficial. It not only invigorates and tones, it also helps fight “bad” cholesterol, lowering its content by 15%. This is facilitated by the flavonoids contained in tea.
Avocados can reduce cholesterol by 17% within a week. This product contains beta-sitosterol. 
Fish fat – This is a proven remedy that will keep blood vessels clean if included in the diet. It contains the substance omega-3. Therefore, it is necessary to eat fat-containing fish: herring, trout and salmon.
It is recommended to cook food in vegetable oil if your cholesterol levels are off the charts, so the best alternative is olive oil. It contains fats that do not affect cholesterol levels.
Dark chocolate is considered a useful product in the fight against cholesterol.. But only when the cocoa bean content is above 70%. Then it does not contain animal fats. The product prevents the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels.
Flax seeds and oil to lower cholesterol
Invaluable flaxseed powder helps normalize cholesterol and the oil obtained from it. They reduce the flow of fat into the blood from the digestive system. The substance contained in flax, about 60% - omega-3, greatly helps with this. 
It is most convenient to use flaxseed oil. To do this, you need to drink it on an empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast (1 tbsp). The result of changes in cholesterol levels will be noticeable within a month.
For oral administration, flax seeds must be turned into meal. They are placed in a coffee grinder and ground. It is recommended to add the powder to baked goods, porridges, pancakes, or eat it three times a day (1 tsp) with tea.
How to use linden in the fight against high cholesterol
Linden contains substances that prevent the absorption of cholesterol from food eaten, these are: flavonoids and phytosterols. And saponins and essential oils help flush out excess cholesterol from vessels. Therefore, linden is a plant that fights excess cholesterol. 
Tea is considered the easiest to prepare; it does not cause allergies and does not complicate the course of diseases. To do this you need to take 2 tbsp. l. dried linden blossom and pour 2 tbsp. boiling water, leave for about 15 minutes. It is recommended to use three times a day.
To improve the properties of tea, add lemon slices and 1 tsp. honey Dry linden flowers are ground and a powder is obtained; 1 tsp is consumed. and drink water 30 minutes before meals, for 1 month.
Legumes to lower blood cholesterol
Beans are considered an excellent remedy for normalizing blood cholesterol levels. This has been proven by scientists who have conducted a number of studies. When cooking beans daily, the level of reduction in “bad” cholesterol per day was 20%, but at the same time, good cholesterol increased by 9%.
The results of the treatment will be noticeable after 20 days. Legumes include: lentils, beans, chickpeas, soybeans and beans. They are all plant proteins. They are used as a side dish, boiled in water, soaked and baked in the oven, and added to soups and salads.
How eggplants help in the fight against cholesterol
Eggplants have been found to help reduce cholesterol. This is due to the fact that they contain ballast substances that remove cholesterol due to its poor absorption. It is more useful to take the product in question raw, pouring boiling water over it to avoid bitterness.
Fruits and berries to lower cholesterol
Fruits and berries are considered folk remedies that lower blood cholesterol. Before you find out what substances contained in them help eliminate cholesterol, you need to remember that they are sources of vitamins and microelements. 
They remove “bad” cholesterol - phytosterols, phytoalexins, fiber, pectin, contained in many fruits and berries. They block the absorption of lipids from the intestine and help improve its excretory function. Polyphenols bind cholesterol through the production of high-density lipoproteins.
It is useful to eat: apples, grapes, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, viburnum, dogwood. It is better to eat them fresh, prepare juice, puree, and cook compotes.
Herbs for “bad” cholesterol
Be careful! Many herbs can cause allergies, so before taking any medications, you should consult your doctor.
Red clover is considered an effective remedy in the fight against excess cholesterol. To obtain an infusion, take 2 tbsp. l. dry inflorescences and pour 1 tbsp. boiled water. It is placed in a water bath and heated for 15–20 minutes. Take 1/3 tbsp 20 minutes before meals. The duration of therapy is 3 weeks.
Folk remedy - herbal mixture, well reduces cholesterol in the blood, is prepared by making a mixture of fruits and herbs in equal proportions; the finer you chop it, the better it will brew:
- fruits of hawthorn and chokeberry;
- seaweed;
- buckthorn bark;
- chamomile flowers;
- series;
- motherwort;
- lingonberry leaves.
To prepare the product, take 2 tbsp. l. collection and pour 1 tbsp. boiled water. Prepare the infusion in a water bath for 10–15 minutes, cool and drink immediately after eating – 100 ml.
Bee products, their effect on cholesterol
Products created by bees have proven themselves to be excellent in the fight against cholesterol.– this is propolis. It is produced by bees in order to process the hive, and has a complex composition that blocks the flow of cholesterol from the digestive tract.
To prevent cholesterol plaques from forming, you need to take an alcohol tincture, which can be purchased at a pharmacy. For treatment, take 15–30 drops of 10% tincture and add it to boiled water. The tincture is consumed before each full meal (3 times).
We can recommend dead bees. A decoction is prepared from it. To do this, take 1 tbsp. l. and pour 0.5 liter of boiling water and cook over low heat for about 2 hours. Then it should cool down, drink 1 tbsp in the morning and evening. l. Treatment lasts about 1 month.
Podmor tincture is useful. To prepare, take a glass liter jar, fill it halfway with dead water and fill it with medical alcohol, slightly higher than the contents in the jar. Infuse in a dark place for 2 weeks. Before taking, everything is passed through a sieve. Take 3 times a day, 1 tsp. half an hour before meals. It is advisable to dilute the tincture in boiled water.
How to prepare and use kvass to lower blood cholesterol
Kvass made from jaundice, the recipe for which is offered by Boris Bolotov, can be of great help in lowering cholesterol in the blood. He is a modern scientist who has written many works on rejuvenation and prolongation of human life.
To prepare kvass, take a 3-liter jar of cool boiled water. 50 g of dry jaundice are immersed in it under a load in a gauze bag, add 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. l. sour cream 15% fat. The entire composition is placed in a warm place for two weeks and stirred daily with a spoon.
Drink kvass 20 minutes before meals, 0.5 tbsp. morning, afternoon and evening. The course of admission is 1 month. To ensure that the kvass does not run out, 0.5 tbsp is always added. sweetened water. During treatment it is necessary to switch to a vegetarian diet.
The benefits of natural juices for high cholesterol
Juices are considered an excellent remedy for reducing cholesterol levels. from natural products. It is advisable to conduct juice therapy once a month. Its duration is 5 days.
A special juice therapy program has been developed to lower cholesterol, designed for the fact that during these days in the morning you need to drink various juices according to a drawn up scheme, 60 ml from each product.
Note! It is not recommended to drink beet juice after it has survived; it must be kept in the refrigerator for 1.5–2 hours.
Healthy cocktails for cholesterol
Before reducing blood cholesterol using folk remedies, you need to familiarize yourself with the recipe for preparing a special cocktail. 
Among the famous ones are cocktail containing lemon and garlic. To prepare it, take the juice of 0.5 kg of lemons and mix it with 100 g of garlic pulp. This mixture is infused for 3 days, placing the contents in a dark and cool place.
Treatment can be carried out by mixing 0.5 tbsp. water and 1 tbsp. l. garlic-lemon mixture. You should drink the entire contents, preparing the cocktail twice. The substance allicin, which is part of garlic and lemon, is considered an effective remedy in the fight against “bad” cholesterol.
Other popular and effective folk remedies for lowering cholesterol
Everyone needs to know what is the best way to reduce blood cholesterol. Therefore, herbs and fruits are considered good folk remedies.
Alfalfa has an excellent effect on cholesterol levels. You will need fresh plants, juice is obtained from them, it is consumed 3 times a day after meals.
It is enough to eat 5-6 rowan berries 3 times a day, and after 4 days your cholesterol levels will change.
Important to remember! You can also lower blood cholesterol with medications rather than using folk remedies, but they can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, with a slight deviation, nothing can replace healing medicinal plants.
If cholesterol levels are violated, it is recommended to switch to a dietary diet. It is necessary to exclude animal fats, smoked meats, and sausages from the diet, as they contain hidden cholesterol. 
Must be used:
- oils of vegetable origin (olive, sunflower, corn, flaxseed);
- turkey meat;
- fish (mackerel, salmon);
- oyster mushrooms;
- cabbage (white cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli);
- porridge (buckwheat, barley);
- apples (2-3 per day);
- raspberries (1 tbsp. per day);
- dill, parsley, basil;
- pumpkin seeds, walnuts and almonds;
- tomatoes;
- potato.
How to maintain normal cholesterol levels: prevention
Of no small importance for vascular health is not only the organization of a balanced diet, but also physical activity.
Therefore, you need to know how to reduce cholesterol in the blood, using not only folk remedies, but also other methods.
They include different types of movements: morning exercises, walking and jogging, housework and gardening, swimming, fitness classes. Movements activate metabolic processes and cleanse the body.
To avoid the occurrence of arteriosclerosis, it is necessary to observe the following prevention:
- Maintain constant control of blood cholesterol, taking tests. According to the indicators, carry out correction treatment.
- Consume products, which are able to keep cholesterol normal.
- Need to quit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Treat concomitant diseases, which can affect blood cholesterol levels. These include: diabetes, various types of infection, hormonal imbalance and liver disease.
If you have high cholesterol, it is advisable to consult a doctor and follow his instructions. Along with medicines, folk recipes are of no small importance, since treatment must be comprehensive.
This video will tell you how to reduce blood cholesterol using folk remedies:
About effective cholesterol reduction using folk remedies, watch this video:
The question of how to lower cholesterol without statins worries patients because these drugs can have a very negative impact on health. All human organs and tissues contain cholesterol, which is an insoluble fatty alcohol. It imparts stability to cell membranes and is involved in the production of vitamins and hormones. It is present in the body in the form of complex compounds called lipoproteins. Some of them dissolve in the blood and precipitate, creating atherosclerotic plaques.
Elevated cholesterol levels contribute to the formation of gallstones and the development of ischemic stroke and heart attack. There are low molecular weight low density lipoproteins (LDL), high molecular weight high density lipoproteins (HDL), low molecular weight very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons. High molecular weight cholesterol is considered “good”, while low molecular weight cholesterol is considered “bad”.
The essence of the problem
Statins are drugs that suppress the production of cholesterol. Their action is aimed at reducing the production of mevalonate, as a result of which the body forms less cholesterol. However, mevalonate is necessary for other important biological functions and its deficiency negatively affects the functioning of the human body.
In addition, long-term use of statins has a number of dangerous side effects. It is permissible to take it in cases where the patient’s condition deteriorates significantly. But as soon as the health danger has passed, analogues should be selected. Doctors recommend switching from taking statins to supplements that lower blood cholesterol:
Reducing cholesterol without statins is impossible without limiting foods containing high amounts of cholesterol. These are primarily fast food products, which contain large amounts of trans fats. Lamb and beef fats are saturated with refractory fats; their consumption should be kept to a minimum. It is not recommended to consume large quantities of egg yolks, fatty meats, offal, sausages, etc.
You should reduce your consumption of confectionery products, including sugar. It is necessary to consume butter minimally, replacing it with vegetable oil.
Ways to lower cholesterol
How to replace statins for high cholesterol? You should saturate your diet with vegetables and fruits containing pectin, a natural polysaccharide that removes cholesterol from the body.
A large amount of pectin contains:
- pumpkin;
- carrot;
- beet;
- eggplants.
White cabbage is very useful, as it lowers cholesterol and helps eliminate it from the body. It is beneficial in any form: raw, stewed,... Also useful: cherries, plums, apples, pears and citrus fruits. Berries: black currant, strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry. It is recommended to eat a lot of greens, which contain luteins and carotenoids. Freshly squeezed juices, which you can drink 1 glass daily, have a beneficial effect.
will provide, which are the hard shell of the grain. They can be wheat, rye, buckwheat, oatmeal, and are obtained during the production of flour. Bran contains a large amount of B vitamins and dietary fiber. Regular consumption of bran will reduce cholesterol and blood sugar and lower blood pressure. However, they are not recommended for use if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Another useful product is garlic. It contains substances that prevent the formation of blood clots, neutralize the causative agent of infections and reduce blood pressure. It is useful to consume garlic raw or in the form of a tincture, which retains its healing properties, but does not scare away others with its strong smell. The tincture is prepared as follows:
- 100 g of ground garlic is poured into 0.5 liters of vodka.
- Leave in a dark place for 2 weeks.
- Take 20–30 drops before meals for 4–5 months.
Replacing meat with vegetable proteins will have a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol levels. b, lentils, soybeans are protein-rich foods that are easier to digest by the body. If it is difficult for a person to do without meat, then preference should be given to low-fat varieties, fish or poultry.
Fatty sea fish containing omega acids is very useful. It is recommended to season salads with vegetable oils: flaxseed, corn or sunflower.
Seaweed contains spirulina, which lowers cholesterol. You can take seaweed tablets or add the dried product to your food.
In order to do this, physical activity is required. For example, athletes never have such problems. You should choose a suitable sport: swimming, running, tennis. It is recommended to walk more, choose active recreation: rollerblades, skates, skis, team sports games. With the help of physical activity, you can increase your metabolism and normalize cholesterol.
It is recommended to get rid of extra pounds and bad habits. It is well known that excess weight is the main cause of many diseases. Obesity leads to diabetes, which in turn disrupts proper metabolism. Smoking and alcohol have a detrimental effect on overall health.
However, in some cases, medications cannot be avoided. A number of chronic pathologies lead to increased cholesterol levels. In this regard, it is necessary to treat diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys, liver and diabetes mellitus with medication. There are also genetic disorders that are inherited, in which high cholesterol levels are reduced with medications.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine can also help with the question of what can replace statins:
When using medicinal herbs, you should consult with your doctor and observe moderation, because combining several plants can have undesirable consequences.
Your body mass index may be normal, you may not have any problems with being overweight and absolutely no symptoms of high cholesterol...until you get tested or until you become a victim of a stroke or heart disease. Before things go too far and something beyond repair happens, try these natural remedies that will normalize your cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a kind of fat cell (lipid) found in human blood. Cells need it to function normally, and our body produces it. We also get it from the fatty foods we eat.
If the amount of cholesterol in the blood is increased, it begins to accumulate and be deposited on the walls of the arteries. This leads to the development of atherosclerosis, and in the long term can lead to the formation of blood clots, heart attack and stroke.
This disease associated with high cholesterol levels is called hypercholesterolemia.
There are two main types of cholesterol:
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - It's bad cholesterol that increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- High density lipoprotein (HDL) - It is good cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Let's look at the factors (not related to diet) that increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol.
What causes high cholesterol?
The following factors are the most common ones that affect cholesterol levels:
- Foods containing saturated and trans fats: Regular consumption of these foods increases LDL levels.
- Obesity: The presence of excess weight indicates that the level of good cholesterol is reduced, and bad cholesterol is increased.
- Less active lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise also increases bad cholesterol levels.
- Age: LDL levels usually begin to rise after age 20.
- Genetics: Genetic predisposition may cause high blood cholesterol.
Let's now look at the main symptoms indicating high cholesterol levels.
Signs and symptoms of high cholesterol
In most cases, a person does not realize that they have high cholesterol until they undergo appropriate testing.
In some cases, people discover the problem after suffering a stroke or heart attack. Such situations occur when elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood lead to the formation of plaques.
Cholesterol levels
A blood test is the only way to find out your cholesterol levels.
- High cholesterol – over 240 mg/dl;
- Borderline high cholesterol – 200-239 mg/dl;
- Normal cholesterol is below 200 mg/dl.
Today, more and more people have high cholesterol, which puts them at risk of heart attack or stroke. The sooner you start normalizing your cholesterol, the better it will be for you and your health. Below are the most effective folk remedies that will help reduce bad cholesterol at home and without drugs.
Natural remedies to lower cholesterol
1. Essential oils
A. Lemongrass essential oil
You will need:
- 2 drops lemongrass oil;
- 1 glass of water.
What do we have to do:
- Add 2 drops of lemongrass essential oil to a glass of water.
- Drink the mixture.
How often should this be done:
How it works:
This oil is known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It lowers the level of bad cholesterol, and it dilates blood vessels.
b. Holy basil
What you will need:
- 2 drops of basil oil;
- 1 glass of water.
What to do:
- Add 2 drops of oil to a glass of water.
- Stir well and drink.
How often to consume:
This mixture should be drunk 2 times a day.
How it works:
Holy basil oil is known for helping to remove bad cholesterol from the blood, thanks to the presence of a compound called eugenol.
2. Vitamins
Vitamins B3, E and C reduce serum cholesterol levels. Vitamin C supplements are used to lower LDL levels. Vitamins B3 and E help fight and treat symptoms of high cholesterol, such as atherosclerosis, by reducing the amount of cholesterol deposits on artery walls.
These vitamins can be found in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, chicken, mushrooms, tuna, almonds and sweet potatoes.
3. Fish oil
What do you need:
1000 mg. fish oil supplements.
What to do:
- Take 1 capsule of fish oil once a day.
- You can eat fish such as sardines, salmon, tuna and mackerel.
What is the benefit:
Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Taking these fatty acids regularly is one of the best and easiest ways to lower your cholesterol levels quickly. Fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of heart disease.
4. Coconut oil
You will need:
- Coconut oil.
What do we have to do:
- Add coconut oil to your favorite dishes and salads in moderation.
- You can replace regular frying oil with coconut oil.
- Or you can consume a tablespoon of oil every morning.
How often should you do this:
Do as stated above daily.
How it works:
Coconut oil increases good cholesterol and reduces bad cholesterol, and also helps keep weight under control.
5. Garlic
What you will need:
- Chopped garlic cloves.
How to use:
- Add garlic to salads and other dishes.
- You can simply chew a clove of garlic.
How often to do this:
Garlic should be included in your diet on a daily basis.
What are the benefits:
Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which is only released when crushed. This compound helps to quickly get rid of cholesterol.
6. Green tea
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp green tea;
- 1 glass of water;
How to cook:
- Add a teaspoon of tea to a cup of water.
- Bring to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Let it simmer for another 5 minutes, then strain.
- When the finished tea has cooled a little, add honey to it.
- Drink warm.
How often can you drink:
You can drink green tea 3 times a day.
What are the benefits:
The powerful antioxidant potential of green tea is due to the presence of epigallocatechin gallate, which reduces low-density lipoprotein levels.
7. Yogurt
You will need:
- 1 jar of probiotic yogurt.
What to do with it and how often:
Eat probiotic yogurt every day in the morning or evening.
Why do this:
Probiotic yogurt contains a large amount of good bacteria, which promotes gut health and is great for lowering bad cholesterol levels.
8. Chia seeds
What you will need:
- 1 tbsp. chia seeds.
What to do with them:
Add chia seeds to your favorite smoothie or fruit juice.
How often to do this:
It is best to have these seeds in your diet daily.
What are the benefits:
Chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
9. Grapefruit juice
You need:
1 cup fresh grapefruit bough.
How often can you drink:
Drink this juice 1-2 times a day, preferably after meals.
What are the benefits:
Grapefruit is an excellent source of plant-based protein and many other beneficial nutrients. It recharges the body with vitamin C, fiber and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. The strong antioxidant potential of grapefruits, coupled with this array of nutrients, is an excellent way to combat high cholesterol.
10. Orange juice
What do you need:
1 glass of orange juice.
How often can you drink:
Drink freshly squeezed juice 2-3 per day.
What are the benefits:
11. Pomegranate juice
What is needed for this:
1 glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.
How often should you drink this juice:
Drink juice 1-2 times a day.
What are the benefits:
Pomegranate contains a huge amount of antioxidants, much more than in green tea and red wine. These antioxidants help lower LDL cholesterol and keep heart and vascular disease under control.
12. Lemon juice
Ingredients:
- ½ lemon;
- 1 glass of warm water;
How to cook:
- Add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of warm water.
- Stir and add honey to taste.
- Drink the juice immediately.
How often should you drink:
Drink lemon juice once a day, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach.
What are the benefits:
This natural juice is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, making it great for lowering cholesterol and losing weight.
13. Apple cider vinegar
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar;
- 1 glass of water;
How to cook:
- Add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and stir well.
- Put some honey in a glass and drink.
How often should you drink:
Drink this solution once a day or every other day for best results.
How it works:
I block vinegar contains acetic acid and pectin. Acetic acid helps to lose unwanted excess weight associated with high cholesterol levels in the body. Bad cholesterol attaches to pectin (fiber) and is eliminated from the body naturally.
14. Flax seeds
You will need:
- 1 tbsp. ground flax seeds;
- 1 glass of warm milk/water;
- honey (optional).
How to cook:
- Add a tablespoon of flax seed powder to a glass of your liquid of choice and stir.
- You can add a little honey to the mixture to improve the taste of the drink.
- Drink right away.
How often can you drink:
This drink can be drunk once a day.
What is the benefit:
Flax seeds contain a lignan called secoisolariciresinol digluzoide (SDG), which lowers blood cholesterol without statins and reduces the risk of liver disease.
15. Celery juice
What you will need:
- 2 stalks of celery;
- ½ glass of water;
- honey (optional).
How to cook:
- Blend 2 stalks of celery with half a glass of water in a blender.
- Strain and add a little honey to the resulting vegetable juice.
- Drink a glass of juice and put the rest in the refrigerator.
How often can you drink this juice:
You should drink celery juice twice a day.
What are the benefits:
Celery contains a lot of antioxidants that the body needs to remove bad cholesterol.
Now let's look at the list of cholesterol-lowering products that you need to include in your diet to enhance the effect of the above-listed folk remedies.
The Best Foods to Lower Cholesterol Fast
The products listed below are considered to be the best in the business:
- Cereals;
- Barley and other whole grains;
- Legumes;
- Avocado;
- Nuts: almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts and hazelnuts.
In addition to eating right, try to heed the following tips.
- Eliminate trans fats from your diet. Most often they are present in cookies, crackers, etc.
- Exercise regularly.
- Quit smoking.
- Monitor your weight to determine if you are overweight.
- Don't drink alcohol.
Once you start following the advice, diet and natural remedies we have suggested, you will see improvements within a few weeks. Try them all and let us know how these remedies help you in your fight against high cholesterol.
Expert answers to frequently asked questions
What foods are best not to eat if you have high cholesterol?
— If you have high cholesterol, then you need to eliminate foods containing trans fats (cookies, crackers, fried foods), eat less butter, fatty meats and dairy products.
Is it possible to eat pasta if you have high cholesterol?
If you love pasta, then I suggest choosing pasta made from whole grains and wheat.
How long will it take to reduce cholesterol levels?
If you take all the necessary measures and make changes to your daily menu and lifestyle, improvement will occur within 3 weeks.
Elevated cholesterol levels provoke the development of atherosclerosis, a disease of the blood vessels in which they become clogged with atherosclerotic plaques.
This disease is the starting point for many serious diseases, the most dangerous of which are stroke and heart attack. In order to avoid these terrible consequences, there are many methods to combat cholesterol deposits.
How to lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood
Not all cholesterol in the blood is bad. In normalized values, all cholesterol fractions are needed by the body. Total cholesterol is divided into:
Of these cholesterol subgroups, only the first is considered “good” cholesterol, while the remaining three are nicknamed “bad” cholesterol, giving it a bad name.
Therefore, you need to lower the values of the last three fractions. This can be done through proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, or medications. The attending physician will decide where exactly to start based on the results of a lipid profile - a detailed analysis of the amount of total cholesterol in the blood, all its types and the atherogenicity coefficient. The latter displays the ratio of all cholesterol fractions.
Diet principles
If the deviations of the lipid profile from the norm are small, then the doctor begins to reduce low-density lipoproteins by adjusting the diet.
The basic principles of the diet are that meals should be fractional, portions small, and the number of meals per day should be at least five: breakfast, snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner.
Priority in cooking is given to boiling, stewing or baking in the oven. There is no need to fry or cook food on open coals, grill, or deep-fry.
From the list of allowed foods for cholesterol, the leaders in reducing LDL levels are:
- Fruits and berries of red and blue color (pomegranate, plum, black grapes, cranberries, blueberries, etc.);
- Sea fish;
- Almond;
- Barley;
- Legumes;
- Carrot;
- Avocado;
- Eggplant.
Completely excluded from the diet:
Restricted in use:
- Sour cream;
- Chicken yolk;
- Pasta made from durum wheat.
The main principle of the diet should be a change in eating behavior in general, because by first maintaining a diet and lowering cholesterol levels, and then returning to your previous diet, you can achieve a “swing effect.” That is, decreased cholesterol can return to even greater levels, just like excess weight.
You can prepare wonderful dishes from healthy products and get from them not only gastronomic pleasure, but also a healthy, fulfilling life.
Juice therapy to lower cholesterol
Reducing cholesterol with juices is not only effective, but also very tasty. The main principle of making juices is that they should be:
If the juice is too sweet or rich, you can dilute it with water.
The imagination in making juices can be limitless, but for convenience and clarity, the following weekly plan is proposed:
Herbal medicine, folk recipes
The course of therapy, consisting of traditional medicine recipes, lasts from one and a half to two months. After this, a break of the same number of days is taken. Then, if necessary, the course is repeated.
The following recipes have proven to be the best for lowering cholesterol levels.
In addition to flax, this recipe also includes dill seeds. Both the first and second are required in the amount of one glass. They are mixed in a heat-resistant container, a teaspoon of crushed valerian root is added and poured with a liter of boiling water.
You need to infuse this mixture for a day. After this, this tincture is taken one tablespoon before meals three times a day. If you wish and are not allergic to honey, you can add it to the cooled broth. 
Garlic oil
To prepare it, you need to peel the head of garlic, chop it and pour half a liter of olive oil into this pulp.
After a week, when the oil has infused, you can season any salads or side dishes with it.
To make this tincture you will need one hundred grams of chopped garlic and one hundred milliliters of alcohol. After a week, the tincture is ready. Take it by adding it to milk. Treatment proceeds according to the following scheme:
- Start taking it with 50 ml of milk, adding 2 drops of tincture into it;
- Then, one drop is added to the same amount of milk every day, that is, on the second day - 3, on the third - 4, and so on;
- Having brought the number of drops to twenty, continue to take fewer drops, that is, on the 19th day add 20 drops, and on the 20th - 19, and then in descending order until the number of drops again reaches two.
Herbal decoction with hawthorn fruits
Hawthorn, horsetail, mistletoe and periwinkle take a tablespoon of each and add two tablespoons of yarrow to the resulting mixture. Pour a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour and drink in small portions. A glass of this decoction should be drunk in one day.
Herbal mixture with yarrow
Yarrow is taken in the amount of twenty grams and the same amount of St. John's wort, four grams of arnica are added to this and poured with a glass of boiling water. Leave for 30-40 minutes and drink within one day.
The head of garlic is peeled and ground in a blender with one lemon. Half a liter of warm water is poured into this mass and left for three days. When the tincture is ready, take it three times a day, 50 ml. 
Linden blossom
Linden flowers are ground in a coffee grinder to a powder state. You need to take this linden powder one teaspoon at a time with water.
Propolis tincture
Add seven drops of propolis alcohol tincture to a couple of tablespoons of water. Take every morning half an hour before breakfast. The course of propolis therapy is one and a half months. If the propolis tincture is not alcohol-based, but water-based, then take it, without diluting, two tablespoons.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa seeds are poured with warm water and left overnight. In the morning they are covered with cling film. They need to be washed from time to time. After 3-4 days, the alfalfa will sprout. Sprouted alfalfa is ground in a blender and taken two tablespoons three times a day. You can store sprouted seeds in the refrigerator for no longer than ten days.
The largest percentage of strokes and heart attacks occur in smokers and people who abuse alcohol.
Nicotine and tars that make up tobacco products clog blood vessels every day, creating microcracks in the intima - the inner surface of blood vessels.
Microcracks create an excellent environment for the deposition of low-density lipoproteins. Every day, atherosclerotic plaque increases in size and thickens, forming into plaques. Over time, they calcify and form blood clots. At the same time, the vessels lose their elasticity and become hard. This increases their fragility and failure.
Blood clots tend to break off partially or completely. Floating along the bloodstream, a blood clot can get stuck in any organ, causing a heart attack: kidney, lung, heart. If a blood clot or atherosclerotic plaque blocks the blood vessels of the brain, a stroke occurs.
It often happens that a smoker simply coughs, and they don’t even have time to take him to the hospital. 
Alcohol also plays an evil role in the life of blood vessels. Abusing it, few people think about how harmful it is to the body, wearing out the vascular system of its adherents many times faster.
When drinking alcohol, a redistribution of vascular pressure occurs in the body. Superficial vessels expand, and internal ones, thanks to which all organs are nourished, contract, not supplying the necessary oxygen and nutrients to the body.
The same applies to drugs. But they require a completely different treatment.
Addiction to food is also considered not the weakest drug addiction. If a person does not eat right, if he is addicted to fatty foods, sweets, fast food and other unhealthy foods, then no diet will help him. Because having “suffered” the allotted time on the diet, he will return to poor nutrition again.
Diet, or rather, correction of eating behavior, should become a way of life. After all, from healthy products you can prepare dishes no less tasty than food from a fast food cafe. Over time, you can adapt and receive gastronomic pleasure and health benefits at the same time.
Giving up bad habits will allow you to return to a healthy, fulfilling and happy life.
Exercise stress
Physical exercise is very important. Not just for lowering cholesterol. For the whole body, for physical and mental health, it is very useful to do daily exercises. And even better - take up a feasible sport. It’s not for nothing that the saying was invented: movement is life!
When you run, walk, or exercise, your blood becomes oxygenated. This allows the brain and all vital organs to function better.
In addition, metabolism and lipid metabolism improves. This means that the amount of low-density lipoproteins decreases, and the amount of high-density lipoproteins increases. Thus, with the help of exercise you can fight cholesterol deposits.
There are people who cannot do physical exercise. This means you need to go for walks and walks. Modern gadgets, such as smart watches that count the number of steps, help track physical activity. The pedometer application is freely available and can be downloaded to your phone. Many doctors claim that walking is even healthier than running.
Five-minute exercises every morning will bear fruit in the form of a surge of strength, improved overall well-being and good mood, after just a couple of weeks of daily practice.
It is important to start without waiting for Monday. Here and now. And make it a part of life.
Failures of the nervous system are the cause of the development of many diseases. Atherosclerosis is no exception. Being nervous, a person provokes pressure surges in his body. This is fraught with dangerous consequences for atherosclerosis. After all, uneven pressure can cause a cholesterol plaque or blood clot to rupture.
In addition, nervous tension causes insomnia and improper daily routine. This will affect destructive food intake, which, in turn, will cause disturbances in lipid metabolism.
For patients who cannot cope with nervous shock on their own, the doctor prescribes sedatives. Folk remedies in the form of sedative herbs are also good here.
Modern pharmacology offers excellent herbal formulations. Calming teas are available in the form of tea bags. This is very convenient and saves time. In addition, there is no need to calculate the dosage of one or another component. 
Breathing exercises have also proven effective in the prevention and treatment of nervous system disorders. It has a positive effect on the entire body as a whole:
- Saturates the brain and all organs with oxygen;
- Improves the functioning of the circulatory system;
- Helps a person quickly calm down.
There are entire collections of breathing exercises. Here are some of them:
- Focus on normal deep breathing. Its essence is to focus on breathing and discard all other thoughts. Just control your deep inhalation and long exhalation.
- Brief holding of breath. You need to inhale air for four seconds. Hold your breath for two seconds, and then exhale smoothly for four seconds. And again, hold your breath for two seconds.
Breathing exercises, at first glance, seem absurd. But they have tremendous effectiveness in calming the nervous system.
Therapy of chronic diseases
Often atherosclerosis appears against the background of other diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly treat such chronic diseases as:
All these disorders lead to blood vessels fragility, which means they create a favorable environment for cholesterol deposits. By clogging the vascular lumen, cholesterol plaques can provoke dire consequences.
Therefore, it is important to treat the underlying pathology against which atherosclerosis develops.
It is impossible to reduce cholesterol against the background of developing underlying disease. Only an integrated approach to therapy will give the expected results.
When all else fails: medications
It happens that the patient regularly follows a diet, leads an active lifestyle, does not smoke or drink, but the cholesterol level does not decrease. This situation suggests that atherosclerotic lesions have an advanced course, and it is no longer possible to do without taking medications.
The most commonly prescribed medications are:
- Statins. Drugs in this group block the production of cholesterol by the liver, accordingly, low-density lipoproteins decrease, and high-density lipoproteins increase. Today, statin treatment is considered the most effective in preventing the development of atherosclerosis and reducing LDL cholesterol. Some doctors believe that statin treatment is unsafe because it can have serious side effects. Therefore, the doctor first finds out all the details of the medical history, and then selects a medicine from this group, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body. The main ones:
- Fibrates. Medicines from this association help improve lipid metabolism, reducing LDL and increasing HDL, due to the redistribution of LDL into less dense and large lipoproteins, which contributes to their rapid catabolism. If hypercholesterolemia is of an isolated type, then the reduction in total cholesterol with the use of fibrates can reach 25 percent. Fibrates are most often used in the prevention of strokes and heart attacks. This:
- Bile acid sequestrants. This group of drugs is used in the prevention of coronary heart disease and other heart diseases, as it reduces the level of LDL in the blood. It was actively used before the advent of statins. At the moment, due to poor tolerability and lower effectiveness than the statin group, it is used less frequently. But it is still used as part of complex or auxiliary therapy. The mechanism of their action is based on the binding of cholesterol and bile acids. Thus, the liver, in order to produce more bile, must consume more cholesterol, which means that LDL levels become lower. These are medications such as:
- A nicotinic acid. Drugs in this group belong to the class of vitamins. This vitamin is involved in many redox reactions, as well as in fat metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism in living cells. Nicotinic acid is found in foods such as: bread (rye), mushrooms, pineapple, liver, kidneys, beets, buckwheat, beans, meat, mango. If the level of low-density lipoprotein is too high, the use of drugs of this type is not effective. Nicotinic acid is involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and amino acids. Reduces blood cholesterol levels by improving lipid metabolism. This:
- Nicotinomide;
- Niacin.
- Preparations based on herbal ingredients, dietary supplements or food additives. The plant extracts, fish oils and vitamins contained in these preparations help to quickly reduce LDL and increase HDL in the blood. This:
Any medications from the above groups should be prescribed only by the attending physician. Even dietary supplements, which at first glance look completely harmless, can have negative consequences if taken incorrectly, because the herbs they contain are also medicines.
Any medicine can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor. You should not risk your health and self-medicate. The doctor will prescribe the necessary remedy, which, together with diet and lifestyle changes, will give beneficial results.
Bibliography
- Antonova, Maria How to lower cholesterol / Maria Antonova. - M.: Vector, 2011
- McDonald, Pamela The Apo E Genetic Diet: Solution to Weight, High Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Alzheimer's / Pamela McDonald. - M.: IG "Ves", 2011
- Middleton, Helen Healthy food for a healthy heart. More than 50 healthy recipes for simple, tasty and nutritious dishes that are low in salt, fat and cholesterol / Helen Middleton. - M.: Dilya, 2007
- Arabidze, G. G. Atherosclerosis and risk factors. Clinical significance of apolipoproteins in the development of coronary artery disease / G.G. Arabidze, K.I. Tebloev. - M.: Litterra, 2013. – 242
- Aronov, D.M. Atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease / D.M. Aronov, V.P. Lupanov. - M.: Triada-X, 2015.
- Ganja, I.M. Atherosclerosis / I.M. Ganja, N.K. Furkalo. - M.: Healthy, 2012
- Dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis / Edited by R.G. Oganova. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2012.
- Zabotina, N. Atherosclerosis. Healing with herbs / N. Zabotina. - M.:IL, 2014
The surest way to lower your cholesterol levels is to make changes in your lifestyle, diet and, if you have indications, also start taking medications as prescribed by your doctor. There is no quick way to do this, but if your blood cholesterol levels are high, this problem cannot be ignored. High cholesterol levels increase the risk of blood clots in the arteries and heart attack.
Steps
Lifestyle changes
- Walking
- Swimming
- A ride on the bicycle
- Sports games (basketball, volleyball, tennis)
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Improve your health by quitting smoking. This will have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure and the likelihood of developing heart disease, heart attack, cancer and lung diseases. You may find it useful:
- Enlist the support of family and friends, sign up for a psychological support group, read forums, call the hotline.
- Consult your doctor.
- Resort to nicotine replacement therapy.
- Talk to a psychologist. There are psychotherapists who specialize in helping those who want to quit smoking.
- Take a course of treatment at a rehabilitation center.
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Watch your weight. This will help you control your cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, losing at least 5% of that weight will lower your cholesterol. Your doctor may recommend that you lose weight if:
- You are a woman with a waist circumference of 89 centimeters or more, or you are a man with a waist circumference of 100 centimeters or more.
- Your body mass index is greater than 29.
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Dietary changes
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Eat less cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in fats that are in your blood. The body produces a certain amount of cholesterol, so if you reduce your cholesterol intake in food, it will help you a lot. Excess cholesterol increases the risk of blood clots and heart disease. People with heart disease should consume no more than 200 milligrams of cholesterol per day in food. Even if you have a healthy heart, it's best to limit your cholesterol to 300 milligrams per day or less. This can be done through the following:
- Don't eat the yolks. If you need to use yolk when cooking, try to replace it with something.
- Don't eat animal organs. They usually contain a lot of cholesterol.
- Eat less red meat.
- Replace high-fat dairy products with low-fat or low-calorie dairy products. This applies to milk, yogurt, sour cream and cheese.
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Snack on fruits and vegetables. They are high in vitamins and fiber and low in fat and cholesterol. Eat 4-5 servings of fruits and 4-5 servings of vegetables per day. This equals about 2-2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables. To eat more of these foods:
- Start your lunch or dinner with a salad. If you eat a salad first, you won't be hungry when you get to fattier, calorie-dense foods like meat. This will allow you to control your portion size. Make salads from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables: lettuce and other leafy vegetables, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, avocados, oranges, apples.
- Instead of cakes, pies, other pastries and sweets, eat fruit for dessert. If you make fruit salad, don't put sugar in it. Enjoy the natural sweetness of fruits. You can use mangoes, oranges, apples, bananas and pears.
- Take vegetables or fruits with you to work for snacking between meals. Prepare some carrot sticks, peppers, apples and bananas the night before.
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Start eating more fiber-rich foods. Fiber helps fight high cholesterol. Fiber is the body's natural "broom" and helps lower cholesterol over time. You'll also feel full faster, which means you'll eat less fatty, cholesterol-rich foods. To start eating more fiber, you can turn to whole grains. There are several options:
- Whole wheat bread
- Bran
- Brown rice instead of white
- Oatmeal
- Whole grain pasta
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Talk to your doctor about dietary supplements. Don't be fooled by promises on the packaging to lower your cholesterol quickly. Supplements are not as strictly regulated as drugs, which means they are less tested and dosages may vary. However, it is important to understand that even though these substances are natural, they may interact with other drugs, including those sold over the counter. For this reason, it is important to discuss these supplements with your doctor before taking them, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if the supplements are intended for a child. You can take the following nutritional supplements:
- Artichoke
- Oat bran
- Barley
- Garlic
- Whey protein
- Plantain
- Sitostanol
- Beta-sitostanol
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Read the ingredients in red yeast supplements carefully. Some supplements contain lovastatin, the active ingredient in Mevacor. Taking such supplements is dangerous because the dosages are not controlled and the treatment is not carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
- It is better not to take red yeast, but to make an appointment with a doctor and get a prescription for a medicinal drug, which will be taken under the supervision of a doctor.
Taking medications
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Talk to your doctor about statins. These drugs are often prescribed to lower cholesterol. They prevent the liver from producing cholesterol, which is why it is forced to “flush” it from the blood. These drugs also help fight formations inside the arteries. Once you start taking them, you may have to take them for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol levels will start to rise. Side effects include headaches, muscle discomfort, and digestive problems. The most commonly prescribed drugs are:
- Atorvastatin
- Fluvastatin
- Lovastatin
- Pitavastatin
- Prevastatin
- Rosuvastatin
- Simvastatin
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Ask your doctor about bile acid binding resins. These substances bind bile acid, forcing the liver to take cholesterol from the blood to make new acid. As a rule, the following drugs are prescribed:
- Cholestyramine
- Kolesevelam
- Colestipol
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Try preventing cholesterol absorption with medications. There are medications that prevent cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestines during digestion.
- Ezetimibe can be taken together with statins. When taken alone, it usually has no side effects.
- Ezetimibe-simvastatin is a combination drug that interferes with the absorption of cholesterol and prevents the body from producing more of this substance. Side effects may include digestive problems and muscle pain.
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Ask your doctor about newer medications if older ones don't work. There are medications that are taken in the form of injections 1-2 times a month. They increase the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed by the liver. They are often prescribed to people who have had a heart attack or a heart attack at risk of having another one. Such drugs include:
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Start playing sports. Exercise affects how the body uses fat and cholesterol. It is important to start small and not overwork. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program and consider whether you can handle the exercise. Then gradually increase the intensity by 30 minutes to an hour of exercise per day. Try the following types of physical activity:
