How to reduce cholesterol in 7 days naturally

01/9Natural Remedies for cholesterol

Table of Contents Show

01/9Natural Remedies for cholesterol
02/9Turmeric
03/9Green tea
05/9Flaxseeds
06/9Fish oil
07/9Coriander seeds
08/9Amla or Indian gooseberry
09/9Apple cider vinegar
Recent Blog Articles
Foods that make up a low cholesterol diet can help reduce high levels
Add these foods to lower LDL cholesterol
Putting together a low cholesterol diet
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What foods can lower cholesterol immediately?
Can you lower cholesterol in 1 week?
What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?
What is the best home remedy for cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat present in the blood. The body uses cholesterol to perform various activities such as keeping the cell walls flexible, synthesizing of hormones, bile acid and vitamin D. There are mainly two types of cholesterol-Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) which is the bad cholesterol that increases your risk of heart disease and the High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) which is the good cholesterol that reduces your risk of heart diseases. Being overweight, age, family history and foods rich in saturated and trans fat are the factors that affect your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol can lead to the blockage of arteries, but can be reduced by making few changes like following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Here is a list of home remedies that can help you lower bad cholesterol levels naturally.

02/9Turmeric

Turmeric helps in cutting down the plaque or cholesterol deposits on the walls of the arteries. Add turmeric to your curries or drink turmeric milk before sleeping to help in reducing bad cholesterol. The best way though is to have half a teaspoon of turmeric with warm water first thing in the morning.

03/9Green tea

04/9Garlic

Garlic contains a high concentration of allicin, a sulfur containing compound which is known for reducing total and LDL cholesterol significantly. Chew a few cloves of garlic in the morning and at bed time regularly. Raw garlic works better than cooked ones.

05/9Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acids which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides levels. The research is still on to fully support these claims made by several nutritionists. Add a tbsp of powdered flaxseeds to a glass of warm water or milk and mix well. Drink it immediately.

06/9Fish oil

Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Regular intake of these fatty acids in the form of fish like mackerel, salmon, lake trout, sardines and halibut helps in lowering the cholesterol levels and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If you are a vegetarian, start taking 100 mg of fish oil tablets on a daily basis.

07/9Coriander seeds

Coriander or dhaniya is loaded with high levels of antioxidants that help bring down cholesterol levels. They have numerous key vitamins like folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin A and beta-carotene. Boil one tsp of coriander seeds in water for about two minutes, and then strain and drink it. This remedy helps in keeping cholesterol levels under check.

08/9Amla or Indian gooseberry

Amla is rich in essential amino acids and antioxidants which are great for lowering your cholesterol levels. Consume fresh amla or drink a glass of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon of dried amla everyday.

09/9Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar acts as a effective remedy for reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in your body. Add a tbsp of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water. Mix well. Drink this solution daily for best results.

Recent Blog Articles

Heart Health

August 13, 2021

Foods that make up a low cholesterol diet can help reduce high levels

Changing what foods you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream. Adding foods that lower LDL, the harmful cholesterol-carrying particle that contributes to artery-clogging atherosclerosis, is the best way to achieve a low cholesterol diet.

Add these foods to lower LDL cholesterol

Different foods lower cholesterol in various ways. Some deliver soluble fiber, which binds cholesterol and its precursors in the digestive system and drags them out of the body before they get into circulation. Some give you polyunsaturated fats, which directly lower LDL. And some contain plant sterols and stanols, which block the body from absorbing cholesterol.

1. Oats. An easy first step to lowering your cholesterol is having a bowl of oatmeal or cold oat-based cereal like Cheerios for breakfast. It gives you 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber. Add a banana or some strawberries for another half-gram. Current nutrition guidelines recommend getting 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day, with at least 5 to 10 grams coming from soluble fiber. (The average American gets about half that amount.)

2. Barley and other whole grains. Like oats and oat bran, barley and other whole grains can help lower the risk of heart disease, mainly via the soluble fiber they deliver.

3. Beans. Beans are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for the body to digest, meaning you feel full for longer after a meal. That's one reason beans are a useful food for folks trying to lose weight. With so many choices — from navy and kidney beans to lentils, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and beyond — and so many ways to prepare them, beans are a very versatile food.

4. Eggplant and okra. These two low-calorie vegetables are good sources of soluble fiber.

5. Nuts. A bushel of studies shows that eating almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts is good for the heart. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day can slightly lower LDL, on the order of 5%. Nuts have additional nutrients that protect the heart in other ways.

6. Vegetable oils. Using liquid vegetable oils such as canola, sunflower, safflower, and others in place of butter, lard, or shortening when cooking or at the table helps lower LDL.

7. Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits. These fruits are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers LDL.

8. Foods fortified with sterols and stanols. Sterols and stanols extracted from plants gum up the body's ability to absorb cholesterol from food. Companies are adding them to foods ranging from margarine and granola bars to orange juice and chocolate. They're also available as supplements. Getting 2 grams of plant sterols or stanols a day can lower LDL cholesterol by about 10%.

9. Soy. Eating soybeans and foods made from them, like tofu and soy milk, was once touted as a powerful way to lower cholesterol. Analyses show that the effect is more modest — consuming 25 grams of soy protein a day (10 ounces of tofu or 2 1/2 cups of soy milk) can lower LDL by 5% to 6%.

10. Fatty fish. Eating fish two or three times a week can lower LDL in two ways: by replacing meat, which has LDL-boosting saturated fats, and by delivering LDL-lowering omega-3 fats. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and also protect the heart by helping prevent the onset of abnormal heart rhythms.

11. Fiber supplements. Supplements offer the least appealing way to get soluble fiber. Two teaspoons a day of psyllium, which is found in Metamucil and other bulk-forming laxatives, provide about 4 grams of soluble fiber.

Putting together a low cholesterol diet

When it comes to investing money, experts recommend creating a portfolio of diverse investments instead of putting all your eggs in one basket. The same holds true for eating your way to lower cholesterol. Adding several foods to lower cholesterol in different ways should work better than focusing on one or two.

A largely vegetarian "dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods" substantially lowers LDL, triglycerides, and blood pressure. The key dietary components are plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains instead of highly refined ones, and protein mostly from plants. Add margarine enriched with plant sterols; oats, barley, psyllium, okra, and eggplant, all rich in soluble fiber; soy protein; and whole almonds.

Of course, shifting to a cholesterol-lowering diet takes more attention than popping a daily statin. It means expanding the variety of foods you usually put in your shopping cart and getting used to new textures and flavors. But it's a "natural" way to lower cholesterol, and it avoids the risk of muscle problems and other side effects that plague some people who take statins.

Just as important, a diet that is heavy on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts is good for the body in ways beyond lowering cholesterol. It keeps blood pressure in check. It helps arteries stay flexible and responsive. It's good for bones and digestive health, for vision and mental health.

For more information, read "How to lower your cholesterol without drugs."

image: Giovanni Boscherino | Dreamstime.com

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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

What foods can lower cholesterol immediately?

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol.

Can you lower cholesterol in 1 week?

Cholesterol drops over time, not suddenly, after a few days of healthier living. There is no set period in which cholesterol is guaranteed to drop. Cholesterol-lowering drugs usually produce a change in LDL within 6 to 8 weeks. It is possible for lifestyle changes to change cholesterol levels within weeks.

What is the best drink to lower cholesterol?

There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, soy milk, plant-based smoothies, and red wine.