Having high cholesterol might not sound too bad, but it can lead to a number of serious life-threatening complications. For example, you’re more likely to have a stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and many other conditions.
Luckily, there are many ways in which you can lower your cholesterol levels. Eating a healthy and balanced diet can help to lower cholesterol levels, as can getting plenty of exercise.
There are also a number of cholesterol lowering supplements that you can try. Keep reading to find out the best cholesterol lowering supplements.
- Psyllium Supplements
Psyllium is fiber that comes from the husk of seeds of the Plantago ovata plant. This supplement is believed to help significantly reduce cholesterol, help relieve constipation, and lower blood sugar levels.
So, if you’re looking for fool-proof supplements to help lower your cholesterol, you might want to start here. You can find psyllium supplements in pill or powder form.
- Amla Supplements
Amla supplements can help regulate your cholesterol levels without affecting your good cholesterol levels. You have two types of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is known as good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is known as bad cholesterol. It’s important to keep the good cholesterol in your body.
Amla is available in pills and powder formats. It can also be found in green tea, so if you prefer, you can drink your way to a healthier life. Amla supplements can also help lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and relieve constipation.
- Niacin Supplements
Niacin can be found in foods such as liver or chicken, but it can also be taken as a supplement. Niacin is a B vitamin (B3) that can help increase the amount of good cholesterol and reduce triglycerides (which are a type of fat that can clog up arteries).
Your doctor might suggest taking niacin supplements if you have high cholesterol or heart problems. The recommended intake for women is 14 milligrams and for men it’s 16 milligrams.
Due to potential side effects of niacin supplements, you should always consult your doctor before taking them. Your doctor will be able to discuss how to take them and how many supplements you should take.
- Soluble Fiber Supplements
According to Brett Holmes from THEGOODESTATE, “Soluble fiber supplements can help to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the bad type of cholesterol). It does this by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed in the intestines and bloodstream.”
The daily recommended amounts of fiber for men are 38g for those aged 50 and below, 30g for men over 50. The daily recommended amount for women who are 50 and under is 25g, and 21g for women over 50.
You can find fiber in foods such as oranges, pears, peaches, carrots, potatoes, oatmeal, and kidney beans. But if you struggle to consume your recommended daily intake, then you might want to think about trying a soluble fiber supplement.
In addition to the four supplements that you can try above, you might also want to try fish oil, soy protein, and/or red rice yeast supplements. If you aren’t sure about taking supplements, make sure you speak to your doctor first and ask any questions about the effects of the supplements.
