by Jackie Hart, MD
Q: Are there alternatives to medication to lower cholesterol? I am a 37-year-old, otherwise healthy man; I walk a lot and consider myself to be quite active. Therefore, I was surprised to find out that my total cholesterol is 258 and my LDL is 197. I have heard that exercise and diet together only reduce cholesterol by 10%. I would really like to avoid medication.
A: Your concern is understandable, although your story is not that unusual, because high cholesterol is generally "silent" until complications of cardiovascular disease develop from long-standing elevated cholesterol levels.
You are taking the right first steps, however, with diet and exercise. I recommend incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet, as well. The book fiber and low in saturated fat. It is also loaded with fruits and vegetables, which contain substances such as bioflavonoids and carotenoids that may also reduce your risk for heart disease. Soy protein, lycopene (found in tomatoes) and beta-carotene (found in leafy green vegetables) may also help lower cholesterol.
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been thought to help lower cholesterol levels, but there is no definitive evidence of this and patients in my own clinical practice have not had much change in their cholesterol levels after taking garlic supplements. One way to consider increasing your intake is by incorporating fresh garlic into your meals. The research, though, has been conducted with garlic in supplement form, as either tablets (300 milligrams three times per day or 500 milligrams twice a day) or oil (.03 to 0.12 milliliters three times per day). If you take garlic supplements, make sure to let your doctor know, especially if you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin (Coumadin), because garlic also has blood-thinning properties.
Another substance thought to help lower cholesterol is Hawthorn berry (Crataegus oxyacantha). Some studies from China and Europe have yielded promising results, but it may be too early to tell definitively if this herb works to bring down cholesterol. If you are going to try Hawthorn berry, the amount is 200 milligrams of freeze-dried extract two to three times per day or 30 drops of a tincture three times per day. Like cholesterol-lowering medications, Hawthorn berry may affect the liver; therefore, your doctor must know that you are taking this herb and monitor your liver function.
Finally, there are some remedies from Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient practice that originated in India) that have successfully lowered cholesterol in animals: Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Amla (Emblica officinalis), and Bahira (Terminalia belerica). Consider working with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to try to lower your cholesterol.
If after three to six months of trying any of the alternative remedies mentioned here your cholesterol levels do not respond, you may need to consider medication to lower your risk for heart disease.
Q: Are there alternatives to medication to lower cholesterol? I am a 37-year-old, otherwise healthy man; I walk a lot and consider myself to be quite active. Therefore, I was surprised to find out that my total cholesterol is 258 and my LDL is 197. I have heard that exercise and diet together only reduce cholesterol by 10%. I would really like to avoid medication.
A: Your concern is understandable, although your story is not that unusual, because high cholesterol is generally "silent" until complications of cardiovascular disease develop from long-standing elevated cholesterol levels.
You are taking the right first steps, however, with diet and exercise. I recommend incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet, as well. The book fiber and low in saturated fat. It is also loaded with fruits and vegetables, which contain substances such as bioflavonoids and carotenoids that may also reduce your risk for heart disease. Soy protein, lycopene (found in tomatoes) and beta-carotene (found in leafy green vegetables) may also help lower cholesterol.
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been thought to help lower cholesterol levels, but there is no definitive evidence of this and patients in my own clinical practice have not had much change in their cholesterol levels after taking garlic supplements. One way to consider increasing your intake is by incorporating fresh garlic into your meals. The research, though, has been conducted with garlic in supplement form, as either tablets (300 milligrams three times per day or 500 milligrams twice a day) or oil (.03 to 0.12 milliliters three times per day). If you take garlic supplements, make sure to let your doctor know, especially if you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin (Coumadin), because garlic also has blood-thinning properties.
Another substance thought to help lower cholesterol is Hawthorn berry (Crataegus oxyacantha). Some studies from China and Europe have yielded promising results, but it may be too early to tell definitively if this herb works to bring down cholesterol. If you are going to try Hawthorn berry, the amount is 200 milligrams of freeze-dried extract two to three times per day or 30 drops of a tincture three times per day. Like cholesterol-lowering medications, Hawthorn berry may affect the liver; therefore, your doctor must know that you are taking this herb and monitor your liver function.
Finally, there are some remedies from Ayurvedic medicine (an ancient practice that originated in India) that have successfully lowered cholesterol in animals: Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Amla (Emblica officinalis), and Bahira (Terminalia belerica). Consider working with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to try to lower your cholesterol.
If after three to six months of trying any of the alternative remedies mentioned here your cholesterol levels do not respond, you may need to consider medication to lower your risk for heart disease.