How to lower cholesterol naturally without medication?

How to lower cholesterol naturally without medication?

- The Naturachol team.

Elevated cholesterol levels have been strongly associated with heart disease and stroke. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood and is carried around the body attached to proteins known as Lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins that transport cholesterol: low-density and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). Cholesterol attached to LDL known as LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) tends to get deposited in blood vessels as plaque and can cause heart attacks and strokes. These deposits increase over the years and gradually reduce blood flow to organs such as the heart. Ultimately, plaque induced by LDL cholesterol deposits can break off, leading to a blockage in heart vessels and causing a heart attack.1

Statins: lowers cholesterol but have significant side-effects

There are many approaches to lower LDL-C. Up until recently the main approach was to start patients on the class of prescription medications known as statins. Statins reduce cholesterol by decreasing the production of cholesterol in the liver by inhibiting the enzyme known as HMG-CoA reductase. However in recent times there has been significant concerns about the side-effects of statins. Possible side effects include memory loss or confusion, muscle pain, and liver damage.3 Due to the potential side effects there has been great interest in controlling cholesterol using lifestyle changes and natural sources instead of statins. 

Lifestyle changes that could help lower cholesterol 

Some commonly recommended lifestyle changes that help lower cholesterol are eating heart healthy foods and increasing exercise. There are multiple other blogs within this website that discusses heart healthy foods. Exercise can also improve cholesterol levels. Moderate physical activity can help raise HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), known as the the "good" cholesterol. It is recommended that individuals perform at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.3 However, for many patients lifestyle changes are inadequate to attain healthy cholesterol levels. For such patients taking a supplement may help attain healthy cholesterol levels.

Supplements that could help lower cholesterol

There are a multitude of supplements that claim to lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, many of the supplements have not been scientifically proven to work. Garlic extract and spinach tablets for instance has been touted as a supplements that helps lower cholesterol. However, a large randomized controlled trial that enrolled 192 patients to examine the effectiveness of garlic found no benefit in lowering LDL-C or total cholesterol.4 Similarly, studies that examined the consumption of spinach have not discovered any significant effects on cholesterol levels. 5

There are some supplements that have been scientifically proven to reduce cholesterol. These include oat beta-glucan, olive leaf extract and Red Rice yeast extract. Oat β-glucan is a soluble dietary fiber that is found in oats. Studies have shown that intake of oat β-glucan may reduce total cholesterol and LDL-C levels by 5-10%.6 As a result, oat beta-glucan is one of the few dietary components that have been approved by the FDA to have a claim that states "As part of a healthy diet, the soluble fiber in oatmeal helps remove cholesterol".

Another supplement proven to reduce cholesterol is olive leaf extract. This extract has an abundance of oleuropein which gives it an extra boost for health since this substance has cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that olive leaf extract helps prevent LDL cholesterol build up in the arteries and also lowers blood pressure. By decreasing these two factors it helps reduce risk of heart disease. 7

Multiple studies have also shown that Red yeast rice extract lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. There is documentation of its use in China dating back to 800 AD and it is widely consumed in other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.8 Studies conducted in China have shown a reduction in cholesterol ranging from 11-32% in individuals who consume red yeast rice extract.9 US studies have shown a total cholesterol reduction of 16% to 18% with RYRE dietary supplementation.10

Naturachol: A single tablet that combines three proven supplements

A novel supplement, known as Naturachol, has combines oat beta glucan, the olive leaf extract, and Red Yeast Rice Extractl. It has been clinically proven in a research study to reduce LDL cholesterol in patients while not affecting HDL or good cholesterol.11 While there are many options to reduce cholesterol, Naturachol stands out as a new, all-natural choice to attain healthy cholesterol levels.

References

  1. Clark LT. Cholesterol and heart disease: current concepts in pathogenesis and treatment. J Natl Med Assoc. 1986 Aug;78(8):743-51. PMID: 3531531; PMCID: PMC2571342.

  2. US Preventive Services Task Force. Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2016;316(19):1997–2007. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.15450

  3. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. (2020, January 14). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013.

  4. Gardner CD, Lawson LD, Block E, et al. (2007) Effect of raw garlic vs. commercial garlic supplements on plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia: A randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med 167: 346-353.

  5. Rebello CJ, Chu J, Beyl R, Edwall D, Erlanson-Albertsson C, Greenway FL. Acute Effects of a Spinach Extract Rich in Thylakoids on Satiety: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial. J Am Coll Nutr. 2015;34(6):470-7. doi:

  6. Othman RA, Moghadasian MH, Jones PJ (2011) Cholesterol-lowering effects of oat ß-glucan. Nutr Rev 69: 299-309.

  7. “Olive Leaf Extract Improves the Atherogenic Lipid Profile in Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 29 Aug. 2015, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.5445/.

  8. Nguyen T, Karl M, Santini A (2017) Red yeast rice. Foods 6: 19.

  9. Gerards, Maaike C., et al. "Traditional Chinese lipid-lowering agent red yeast rice results in significant LDL reduction but safety is uncertain–a systematic review and meta-analysis." Atherosclerosis 240.2 (2015): 415-423.

  10. Becker DJ, French B, Morris PB, Silvent E, Gordon RY. Phytosterols, red yeast rice, and lifestyle changes instead of statins: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Am Heart J. 2013 Jul;166(1):187-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.03.019.

  11. Silva AO (2021) The Combination of Red Yeast Rice Extract, Oatmeal and Olive Oil Reduces Serum Cholesterol. J Hum Nutr 4(1):130-135

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*There is no guarantee of specific results, and the results may vary from person to person. The statements on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Dr. Tarique Perera is not responsible for side-effects of any kind incurred as a result of consuming Naturachol. The average reduction in total cholesterol achieved was 20% in the following clinical study: The Combination of Red Yeast Rice Extract, Oatmeal and Olive Oil Reduces Serum Cholesterol. Journal of Human Nutrition 4(1):130-135 (2021).