Cholesterol is a natural substance whose formation is done by the liver and is the body’s requirement for proper functioning of cells, nerves, and hormones.
It travels in the fatty acids of the blood and can build up in the walls of the arteries. This decreases the flow of blood to important areas of the body. If this build-up continues for longer terms, the chance of having a heart attack or stroke increases.
That is why it is important to keep cholesterol in balance. But, the normal western diet containing a large number of saturated fats leads to an imbalance. Some more reasons behind this increase are fatness, excessive drinking, and smoking, and heredities. Besides this certain underlying conditions like diabetes, high B.P, and kidney or liver diseases are too responsible for it.
Now the question arises what are normal cholesterol levels? Below 200 mg/dl is normal. The borderline range is between 200 and 239 mg/dl and when the level reaches 240 or higher mg/dl it is regarded as high cholesterol.
A test known as a lipoprotein profile is used to test the cholesterol levels in terms of total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL. Of these, HDL is considered good, because our body needs a certain amount of HDL to function in a proper manner. Those with a low level of HDL are at risk of getting a heart disease. LDL is bad as it tends to build up along the inner walls of arteries; narrowing the blood vessels.
Nowadays, many people suffer from this problem because of unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical exercises. So, today I’m going to share with you some home remedies for managing high cholesterol levels. Plus some lifestyle changes can help you.
Let’s start!
Coriander Seeds :
According to researches, coriander helps to lower the levels of total cholesterol, LDL (the “bad” one) and triglycerides. These have hypoglycemic effects. Just take two tsp. of coriander seed powder and add it to one cup of water.
Boil the mixture and strain it. Have this 1-2 times a day. You can add milk, sugar or cardamom to this drink and replace it with your regular tea.
Onions :
To deal with high cholesterol levels red onions are beneficial. They help to reduce the bad cholesterol and elevate the good levels. This, in turn, lowers the chances of developing the heart disease.All you have to do is, mix one tsp. each of onion juice and honey and drink this once in routine. Or you can chop the onion into fine pieces and add them to one cup of buttermilk with ¼ tsp. pepper.
Indian Gooseberry (AMLA) :
It helps to promote the reduction of concentrations of lipids in the serum. This fruit has certain properties which help to maintain normal cholesterol levels.
Dry the Indian gooseberries and make a powder of them. To a glass of warm water mix one tsp. of powder of amla and drink it every morning on an empty stomach.
Apple cider Vinegar :
This is helpful for lowering down the total cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Plus it is a home remedy for a number of problems like acid reflux, high B.P, gout and others.
Take 1 tsp. organic apple cider vinegar and mix it in a glass of water. You can drink this 2-3 times a day for at least a month. In case you don’t like the taste of it, you can mix apple cider vinegar with any fruit juice.
Orange Juice :
Having three cups of fresh orange juice on regular basis can be a great help in reducing bad cholesterol levels. This is because it is rich in vitamin C and other compounds.
It is proven that 750 ml of pure orange juice can decrease the HDL/LDL ratios.
Coconut oil :
It is a beneficial home cure for high lipid levels. Coconut oil contains an acid which helps to increase HDL (the “good” cholesterol) and improve the LDL/HDL ratio. So, add moderate amounts of organic coconut oil to your diet. Try to avoid refined or processed oil.
Some Lifestyle Changes for high cholesterol Levels :
- Quit the habit of smoking
- Lose extra weight
- Exercise on a regular basis
- Eat healthy foods including the ones rich in soluble fiber
- Try to limit your consumption of foods which are high in saturated fats, like try to replace butter with olive oil
- Remove trans-fat from your diet
- Try to limit your alcohol intake
- Take measures to reduce stress levels
So, now that you are aware of cholesterol and what are its normal levels, try to maintain it. Following any of the above remedies, can be helpful in keeping the cholesterol levels in check. Increase the intake of whole grains and other high-fiber foods.
Take healthy decisions to increase the HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease the bad one LDL.
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