What Helps High Cholesterol

Red Yeast Rice is white rice fermented with Monascus purpureus red yeast. Used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, Red Yeast Rice contains monacolin compounds, specifically Monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the cholesterol-lowering drug, lovastatin. In addition to lowering cholesterol, it has also been shown to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and the growth of certain cancer cells.

Red Yeast Rice may help High Cholesterol by decreasing total and LDL cholesterol, additionally, it has been presented as an alternative to patients intolerant of other lipid-lowering medications.

Psyllium is a soluble fiber made from the ground husks of Plantago ovata plant seeds. It is a prebiotic inducing the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the human body, as well as a widely-used laxative. Grown worldwide, it is most common to India.

Psyllium may help High Cholesterol by lowering total and LDL cholesterol, particularly effective adjunct to diet therapy.

Soy Protein is isolated from nutrient-rich soybeans, Glycine max. Native to eastern Asia, these antioxidant-rich legumes are protein powerhouses containing all ten essential amino acids. Soy Protein is derived from dehulled, flaked and defatted soybeans that are washed to remove fiber and sugar, dehydrated, and milled. Soy Protein contains naturally-occurring phytates, which may decrease mineral absorption.

Soy Protein may help High Cholesterol by increasing HDL concentration, while lowering LDL. Additionally, natural soy products appear to have a greater effect than supplements.

Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, is one of the eight, water-soluble B vitamins that play a key role in cellular metabolism. Naturally present in animal foods including meat (beef, pork), poultry (chicken, turkey), fish (salmon, tuna), legumes (peanuts, lentils), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), vegetables (potatoes, mushrooms, green peas) and fruits (avocados, bananas).  Vitamin B3 aids is skin, nervous and digestive system health.

Vitamin B3 may help High Cholesterol by improving all lipoprotein abnormalities, however, it may cause adverse effects.

Garlic also known as Allium Sativum is a species of the onion genius, Allium. Native to Asia and Iran, garlic is a perennial flowering plant sprouting from a multi-segmented bulb, closely related to the onion, leek, shallot and chive. Upon trauma, the bulb creates sulfur compounds used for medicinal qualities.

Garlic may help High Cholesterol by reducing total cholesterol levels.

Ginger is a tropical, green-purple, flowering plant from the Zingiberaceae family closely related to cardamom and turmeric. The oily resin from its rhizome contains many biochemic compounds including gingerol regarded for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been widely used throughout ancient Sanskrit, Chinese, Greek, Roman, and Arabic history for its medical properties treating ailments like colds and nausea.

Ginger may help High Cholesterol by lowering low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Flaxseed is the seed from the plant Linum usitatissimum. Flaxseed oil is extracted from cold-pressed, ripened flax seeds and contains the omega-3 fatty acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA). ALA is an organic compound found in human cells that serves as a powerful antioxidant.

Flaxseed Oil may help High Cholesterol by lowering total and LDL cholesterol.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fats absorbed through food including fish (mackerel, salmon, seabass), vegetable oils (flax oil, soybean oil), nuts (walnuts) and seeds (flax, chia, hemp). There are three main Omega-3 Fatty Acids: ALA also known as Alpha-Linolenic Acid, EPA also known as Eicosapentaenoic Acid and DHA also known as Docosahexaenoic Acid. ALA is found naturally in plants, while EPA and DHA are found in fish. Omega-3 Fatty Acids maintain heart, vascular, lung, brain, immune and endocrine system health, while reducing inflammation.

Whether Omega-3 Fish Oil may help High Cholesterol is inconclusive. While it may be beneficial to patients with elevated triglyceride levels, it also may have an adverse effect on LDL levels and therefore may need to be used in conjunction with statin therapy.

Vitamin B Complex contains all eight, water-soluble B vitamins that play a key role in cellular metabolism. Including Vitamins B1, Thiamin;  B2, Riboflavin; B3, Niacin; B5, Pantothenic Acid; B6, Pyridoxine; B7, Biotin; B9, Folic Acid; and B12, Cobalamin the supplement may contain 100% of the recommended daily allowance of every vitamin, however brands vary. Pregnant women, vegetarians, vegans and the elderly may benefit from supplementation.