High cholesterol is the main cause of atherosclerosis. The latter leads to the accumulation of plaques in the arteries. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications - stroke, myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is necessary to lower cholesterol. You can do it without statins. There are several effective ways.
Usually, to lower cholesterol, specialists prescribe drugs from statins. But they have many side effects, so they are very harmful to the body. Can you lower cholesterol without statins? For this, other effective methods are used, which are discussed in more detail below.
Functions of cholesterol
This name means a fat-like substance, most of which is synthesized by the liver and intestines. Only 20% the body receives from animal food. It is an important component of cell membranes. Without cholesterol, hormones, bile acids, vitamin D are not synthesized.
Cholesterol neededfor the normal functioning of the nervous, hormonal systems. In foreign medicine, it is called cholesterol. The consumption of this component is as follows:
- 17% - for the liver;
- 15% - on brain cells;
- 55% - for the construction of cell membranes;
- 13% - for other purposes.
Without cholesterol, the work of the gastrointestinal tract cannot be carried out, the component allows the production of s alts, digestive juice. A deviation in its volume leads to various disorders, a decrease in immunity, and a deterioration in well-being. Can you lower cholesterol without statins? It is possible, the main thing is to use effective methods.
Types of cholesterol
It includes different fractions - lipoproteins and triglycerides. The first are divided into:
- Low-density lipoprotein is bad cholesterol or LDL.
- High-density lipoprotein - beneficial or HDL.
The level of each is different according to gender. In men, total cholesterol is 3.5-6 mmol / l, and in women - 3-5.5. LDL molecules accumulate on the walls of the arteries, leading to their narrowing. This is the cause of vascular inflammation. HDL is valuable, lowering LDL.
Why are statins dangerous?
Statins in medicine are the best way to lower cholesterol. Medications provide blocking of a certain enzyme that takes part in the transformation of the cholesterol precursor. But the inhibition of mevalonate affects not only cholesterol metabolism. The relationship between this component and the maintenance of homeostasis in tissues has already been identified, so the effect of statins cannot becall harmless.
Although the drugs are effective, they must be used carefully. Statins greatly reduce mortality from heart attack, stroke by 40%, but have different contraindications and have many side effects. For example, with long-term use, the development of diabetes, oncology is likely.
Other cons of statins include:
- constant need to take drugs;
- high cost;
- serious side effects such as muscle weakness, acute muscle necrosis, memory impairment, liver damage, limb tremors.
With long-term use of drugs, the risk of polyneuropathy increases. Uncontrolled treatment leads to big problems. It is desirable to reduce cholesterol without statins. For this, medicinal and natural remedies are used.
Ways
How to lower blood cholesterol without statins? In medicine, there are means to replace these drugs. These are fibrates - medicines with fibroic acids. Lowering cholesterol without statins with other drugs is effective, because they affect LDL and triglycerides. Experts identify: Clofibrate, Fenofibrate and others.
Cholesterol reduction without statins can be done with Questran, Cholestide. These drugs affect the synthesis of fatty acids and prevent them from being absorbed into the intestine. Only take them should be prescribed by a doctor. I wonder how to lower cholesterol without statins? This requires adherence to a diet, a he althy lifestyle.
Healing herbs
Some useful herbs are also called natural statins. In practice, there are many cases when they lowered cholesterol and kept it at the right level for a long time. To achieve this goal, admission is allowed:
- sage;
- melissa;
- elecampane;
- immortelle;
- dandelion;
- nettles;
- raspberries;
- hawthorn.
They are allowed to be combined, creating herbal preparations. It is important to familiarize yourself with the contraindications so as not to harm your he alth. Rosehip, yarrow, plantain, which improve digestion and saturate with antioxidants, will help strengthen blood vessels and the heart. You can brew 1 tbsp. l. herbs or collection with boiling water (1 cup), leave for an hour, and then use 100 ml three times a day for 1-2 months.
Sports loads
How to lower bad cholesterol without statins? Sport accelerates fat metabolism, so the substance is processed and removed more actively. Physical education has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels - it increases tone, enriches the blood with oxygen.
A year of regular exercise is enough to reduce the level of the harmful component. And for some, it may return to normal. 3-4 workouts per week are enough - jogging, walking, exercise therapy, swimming, cycling. Thanks to sports, weight is normalized, and obesity is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis.
Traditional medicine
With the help of simple recipes, bad cholesterol is also reduced withoutstatins. The best of them are the following:
- Propolis tincture (10 drops) is added to warm water (100 ml). Should be taken half an hour before meals for 4 months.
- Before eating, you need to eat red rowan (5 berries each). The course is a week, followed by a break of 10 days, after which the course is repeated.
- Cholesterol lowering without statins is done with lemon and garlic. From them you need to prepare a useful remedy. It will take 1 kg of lemons, which are ground in a meat grinder. Then chopped garlic (1 cup of cloves) is added to them. The product is stored in the refrigerator. You should drink 1 tsp. twice a day before the end of the meal.
- In the morning, in the evening before meals, you need to take flaxseed oil (1 tsp each), which significantly reduces LDL.
- It is necessary to cut a leaf of a golden mustache (20 cm). It is poured with boiling water (1 liter), insisted for a day. You need to drink it 30 ml 3 times a day before eating. Treatment lasts 3 months.
It is not worth it to finish taking medications on your own and use folk remedies. You must first obtain a doctor's permission.
Products
How to lower cholesterol without statins? You can do it with products. They must contain pectin. This is a cholesterol-lowering ingredient. There are other ingredients that make it worth adding to the diet.
The basis of nutrition should be plant foods - vegetables, fruits, cereals, normalizing the activity of the digestive tract, preventing the absorption of fats and toxins. They also remove debris. Antioxidants, minerals and vitamins protectvessel walls from injury. Cholesterol reduction without statins is provided with the help of apples. If you eat 1 fruit a day, then in 2 months the harmful component will decrease by 20%.
Effective cholesterol reduction without statins is provided by:
- citrus;
- lingonberry, black currant;
- red grapes, wine;
- bell pepper;
- cabbage;
- artichoke;
- avocado;
- carrots;
- turmeric;
- celery;
- parsley.
Phytosterols
How to lower cholesterol without statins? Phytosterols are analogues of steroids found in plant foods. They provide better absorption of fats, protecting against the absorption of excess cholesterol in the intestines. Phytosterols are:
- in vegetable oils, especially sea buckthorn;
- corn;
- soy;
- nuts;
- legumes.
With the help of such products, the content of good cholesterol is increased and the level of bad cholesterol is reduced. Therefore, phytosterols monitor harmful fats and protect against sterosclerosis. Now there are even dietary supplements with campesterol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol, which lower cholesterol by 15% in a month.
Polyphenols
Reducing bad cholesterol without statins can be achieved by eating plant foods. These components increase the level of HDL and are used as prevention of atherosclerosis. Polyphenols also provide free radical scavenging.which increase the aging process of the body and lead to oncology.
These components are:
- in cranberries;
- blackcurrant;
- grapes;
- brown rice;
- legumes.
If you use these products regularly, the overall metabolism is accelerated, including lipid metabolism. And this has a positive effect on overall he alth.
Unsaturated fatty acids
These are natural substitutes for statins, as doctors call them. Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids are involved in lipid metabolism and capture the "bad" fractions to be transferred to the liver, processed and removed. Omega 6 and 9 have the same effect, but have a less effective property.
Omega-3s are not produced in the body, so they must be obtained from food or dietary supplements. Most of the component is found in the fat of sea fish - anchovies, salmon, sardines, mackerel. Omega 6 and 9 are found in avocados, nuts, and vegetable oils. If you have these products in the right amount, you will be able to reduce weight and restore the exchange.
Vegetable fiber
Vegetables and fruits contain vegetable fiber, which protects against the penetration of cholesterol into the blood. Daily consumption of plant foods leads to an improvement in intestinal motility, a decrease in the absorption of fats and sugars.
Almost every vegetable product contains polysaccharides that prevent the penetration of cholesterol through the intestinal wall. Allexperts recommend a high-fiber diet to lower cholesterol, which provides an excellent treatment effect.
Spices
Garlic is used in many dishes. Its valuable properties perfectly compensate for the specific smell. This is a powerful natural statin that can lower cholesterol in a few months of constant use. Garlic lowers LDL and increases HDL.
Turmeric is also a natural statin. It tastes like a mixture of hot pepper, ginger and nutmeg. This spice is a great addition to any dish. Turmeric lowers cholesterol, protects against blood clots.
The plant Commiphora Mukul or Guggul has a similar effect. But finding it as a spice is not so easy. But a rich selection of guggul capsules can be purchased at the pharmacy. Please note that spices and spicy foods are prohibited for patients who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Berries and nuts
In almonds, the natural statin is the nut skin. It lowers the content of LDL. And because of the antioxidants, the walls of the vessels will be clean. Almonds can be eaten alone or added to various dishes.
Hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids that control cholesterol. But these nuts are high in calories, so you can eat no more than 25-30 grams per day.
Antioxidants are in prunes. Of the berries, blueberries are useful because they are saturated with pterostilbene. Thanks to raspberriesstrawberries, cranberries, lingonberries stimulates the production of HDL. These berries can be eaten raw, as well as mashed and juiced.
Alcohol
Many people know about the benefits of alcoholic beverages to eliminate atherosclerotic plaques. But you should not take alcohol as the best remedy for all diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
The use of strong alcohol, red wine, beer is prohibited for hypertension, arrhythmias. Also, they should not be used by people with diabetes and liver disease.
Juice Therapy
If high cholesterol is manifested by unpleasant symptoms, you can use natural juices that cleanse the blood of lipids and toxins. With drinks, you can quickly normalize weight.
There is a juice diet. You need to consume a certain number of drinks every day:
- On the 1st day - celery (70 g), carrot (130 g).
- Beetroot (70), Carrot (100), Cucumber (70).
- Apple (70), Celery (70), Carrot (130).
- Carrot (130), Cabbage (50).
- Orange (130).
The exclusion of pharmaceutical products is not always justified. With the help of products, you can lower cholesterol by 10-20%, but for many this is not enough. You should not give up treatment with pills with an advanced form of atherosclerosis. If a heart attack or stroke has been suffered, then all actions must be coordinated with the doctor.
Prevention
Many people know that with the help of physical activity, giving up bad habits, restoring the work of the nervoussystem will be able to reduce cholesterol by 10-20%. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis by 40%.
Improve metabolism, lower cholesterol will allow physical activity: morning workout, walking, swimming, light jogging, Nordic walking. Timely treatment is important:
- high pressure;
- diabetes;
- thyroid disease;
- hormonal disorders;
- dysfunction of the kidneys, liver.
If you do not treat ailments for a long time, because of this, lipid metabolism is disturbed, the composition of blood, blood vessels, and heart function worsens. Excess LDL accumulates on the walls of blood vessels, forming plaques.
It will not be possible to detect a high concentration of cholesterol by external signs. This is done only with the help of a blood test - a lipid profile. It should be done:
- after 5 years - men, women over 25;
- after 2-3 years - with risk factors;
- once every 6-12 months - in old age, with a hereditary predisposition to hypercholesterolemia.
High cholesterol is not dangerous if detected in a timely manner. If the deviations are minor, then you need to follow a diet for 2-3 months, use folk remedies, adjust your lifestyle so that the indicator returns to normal.
