Cholesterol is not intrinsically harmful, in fact, the body needs it to build healthy cells. High levels of cholesterol are harmful, however, because they cause fatty deposits to develop in your blood vessels. This increases your risk of heart disease, a major cause of death in the UK and worldwide. Taking either of these two supplements could help to lower your levels.
One of the best strategies to help reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol is by taking a magnesium supplement daily.
Magnesium acts like a natural statin drug and lowers bad cholesterol, reduces triglycerides and increases good cholesterol.
In order for the body to make cholesterol, it requires a specific enzyme known as HMG-CoA reductase.
Magnesium regulates this enzyme and helps to maintain a proper amount of cholesterol in the body.
When the body is magnesium deficient, cholesterol continues to be produced in excess and this causes a build-up of cholesterol which may lead to coronary heart disease.
Medical journal BMJ advised how magnesium could help with high cholesterol.
The health site said: “Magnesium is an essential mineral found in the body and is naturally present in many foods.
“Magnesium serves as a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions including those responsible for regulating blood pressure, glycaemic control and lipid peroxidation.
“Magnesium is therefore critical to the cardiovascular system.”
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The healing benefits of green tea have been enjoyed worldwide for centuries and modern science is now catching on to its myriad of health benefits.
Extracts from the powerhouse tea can be made into supplements which taken daily may help to lower cholesterol levels.
Research has shown that green tea may treat some medical conditions, including high cholesterol.
In a study with The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea intake and its cholesterol lowering abilities was analysed.
Fourteen eligible randomised controlled trials with 1136 subjects were enrolled in the meta-analysis.
The study found that green tea consumption significantly lowered the LDL-cholesterol concentration by 2.19 mg/DL, but no effect of HDL cholesterol was observed.
Green and black tea can help lower cholesterol levels.
Green tea is prepared from unfermented leaves and black tea from fully fermented leaves of the same plants.
Researchers believe that catechins, a type of antioxidant found in tea are responsible for its cholesterol-lowering effect.
Antioxidants found int green tea helps fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body which could help to lower your cholesterol levels.
The national health body insists that engaging with 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week can improve cholesterol levels.
Moderate activity means you’re working hard enough to raise your heartbeat and to break a sweat.
Such activities include jogging, dancing and pushing a lawn mower, as well as hiking.
Working out at this level of intensity means you’re still able to talk, but you wouldn’t be able to sing.
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