Going "low fat" or "fat-free" is the biggest mistake you could ever make.

Did you know that cholesterol is actually a good thing? This is because your body uses it to make your major steroid hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, adrenaline, cortisone, and many more.

Rather than going fat-free, actually eating more full-fat products can be the answer.

We all need to understand Cholesterol a lot better as it is one of the symptoms of the biggest killer in the world, Metabolic Syndrome.

Discover the surprising facts below.

Has your doctor advised you that you need to lower your Cholesterol??

High Cholesterol is extremely common in developed countries around the world.?It is part of a very common negative health picture called?Metabolic Syndrome. To Find out what causes Metabolic Syndrome and how it can be prevented?Click Here

Having high Cholesterol causes your body to have some negative health effects and?can lead to a narrowing of the arteries by fatty plaque deposits (known as atherosclerosis).?Excess cellular Cholesterol induces apoptosis in macrophages, an event likely to promote the progression of atherosclerosis. (25)?Having these fatty plaques in your body may increase your risk of having a heart attack and/or stroke, therefore it is important to have regular Cholesterol checks to assess your Cholesterol levels.

The prevalence of elevated total Cholesterol is highest in the World Health Organization?Region of Europe (54% for both sexes), followed by the WHO Region of the Americas (48% for both sexes). The WHO African Region and the WHO South East Asian Region showed the lowest percentages (22.6% for AFR and 29.0% for SEAR). (1)

The Good and the Bad Cholesterol

There are two main types of Cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good Cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) sometimes called bad Cholesterol, but what are normal LDL?levels?and good LDL?levels?

HDL is essentially the ‘good Cholesterol’ that travels from your cells to your Liver where it is processed and removed from the body.

LDL is the ‘bad Cholesterol’ when it’s in excess, as this is the form that travels from the Liver out through your arteries, to your peripheries. It is the LDL form of Cholesterol that is most likely to clog your arteries and cause heart disease.

When the ratio of HDL / total Cholesterol?is high?(i.e. not enough HDL, too much LDL) more bad Cholesterol is being stored and circulated in the body rather?than being removed from the body. This is bad news and needs to be sorted.?To calculate your Cholesterol ratio, divide your high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) Cholesterol number into your total Cholesterol number. An optimal ratio is less than?3.5

One study did show that both extremely low or extremely high HDL Cholesterol can be harmful. (23)

Participants whose HDL Cholesterol levels were 41–60 mg/dL were the least likely to experience a heart attack or die from a cardiovascular event.

However, for people with very low HDL Cholesterol levels (less than 41 mg/dL) and those with very high levels (higher than 60 mg/dL), the risk of adverse cardiovascular events and death increased. (23)

Specifically, people with Cholesterol levels higher than 60 mg/dL were almost 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack or die from cardiovascular disease than those with levels at 41–60 mg/dL.

It can be a little difficult to get your head around, and even today new information is emerging about Cholesterol so it’s an ongoing field of research.

How to lower the Cholesterol ratio

Conventional drugs and Liver function

Doctors typically prescribe one of?six different classes of drugs available for lowering Cholesterol?levels. (11) We will discuss two of them?here.

The most common are Statins which lower LDL levels by inhibiting enzyme activity leading to decreases in Liver Cholesterol content resulting in an up-regulation of hepatic LDL receptors, which increases the clearance of LDL Cholesterol. The major side effects are muscle complications and an increased risk of diabetes. The different statins have varying drug interactions. (11) ‘Statins’ lower LDL levels by inhibiting Liver enzyme activity, leading to decreases in Liver-made Cholesterol. These drugs block your Liver cells (hepatocytes pictured) and their ability to make Cholesterol so the liver can’t send it out to where it’s actually needed.

Bile acid sequestrants lower?LDL Cholesterol?by 10-30% by decreasing the absorption of bile acids in the intestine which decreases the bile acid pool consequently stimulating the?synthesis?of bile acids from Cholesterol?leading to a decrease in Liver Cholesterol?content and an up-regulation of Liver?LDL?receptors. Bile acid sequestrants can be difficult to use as they decrease the absorption of multiple drugs, increase triglyceride levels, and cause constipation and other GI side effects.?(11)

The Liver plays a major part in the regulation of Cholesterol (12) and by?looking at the mode of action of these?drugs it makes sense to give yourself a Liver cleanse in order to lower your Cholesterol.

Dr. Carlos Fernández-Hernando from the New York University School of Medicine confirms the emergence of microRNAs in regulating Cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. Data from one study?strongly?suggests?that the Liver gene?miR-27b??regulates lipid metabolism. (24)

What causes high Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat that can be found in certain foods (e.g. meat, dairy, eggs), and is also made in your body by your Liver. You actually need Cholesterol to live – your body makes hormones like estrogen and testosterone?plus many?other important biological molecules from Cholesterol.

The problem is not having Cholesterol in your body – it’s actually having Cholesterol deposited in your arteries that can affect your health, increasing blood pressure and potentially causing a heart attack. Eating some Cholesterol-lowering food (low fat) is not necessarily the long-term solution as many low-fat foods are high in sugar which can lead to other problems such as pre-diabetes.

The Acid Link

It has been shown that Cholesterol is deposited in the arteries as a defense?mechanism against blood vessel wall damage. Cholesterol effectively protects the blood vessel from breaking down completely or bursting due to lesions or weakness. For example, it has been shown in studies with mice that?a high potassium diet, protects blood vessel walls (endothelial cells), which can greatly decrease this Cholesterol deposition. This effect could possibly be useful for preventing atherosclerotic complications such as heart attacks. (26)

It has also been shown that high?potassium citrate levels can reduce uric acid levels and kidney stone formation. (27) Potassium citrate is obtained at high levels by eating fresh fruits and vegetables. This means you can reduce your acid load and blood vessel damage by eating fresh fruit and vegetables, thus lowering Cholesterol deposition in your arteries.

The Ultimate Cholesterol Program Free eBook

Find out the completely natural protocol for maintaining healthy Cholesterol levels. Discover the power of simple foods and herbs.

Brett Elliott (Author of “Cleansed & Cured” & Medical Herbalist for 20 years) has created one of the world's best Cholesterol programs that you can do at home.

From this Free?eBook, you’ll also learn about:

• What the program is designed to achieve
• How to get started
• What to expect
• A Cholesterol-lowering diet plan

Get the Free eBook HERE

Here are 6 other steps to lowering Cholesterol levels naturally

People who have cardiovascular health risks such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, need to make lifelong dietary and lifestyle modifications to improve their health.

Diet and lifestyle changes must form the foundation of any Cholesterol-lowering plan. Incorporating the following simple modifications into your diet and lifestyle will help you to successfully treat high Cholesterol for life.

1) Follow a Cholesterol-lowering food plan

One of the ways?how to reduce Cholesterol without medication is to follow a Cholesterol-lowering diet.?How to lower Cholesterol with diet can be fairly simple. See some ideas below.

Food to avoid with High Cholesterol

If you make some important dietary modifications you can effectively reduce LDL levels. They include:

• Reduce the intake of acid-forming foods such as sugar, coffee, red meats, and processed carbohydrates.
• Eat more?Soluble fiber Add 5–10 grams/day to your intake.?Psyllium husk?is perfect.
• Reduce trans-fatty acid intake. Margarine, canola oil-containing products, and?frying oils usually contain?trans-fatty acids?and should be avoided. When you consume more unsaturated fat, you still must be careful to reduce your intake of trans fat. Main sources are stick margarine, baked products such as crackers, cookies, doughnuts, and bread, and foods fried in hydrogenated oils.?(7, 9)
• Consume more?Plant sterols?Add 2 grams/day to your intake. Corn and Soy products contain sterols. (8)
• Reduce your saturated fat intake by consuming only lean meats, as well as increasing good fats from cold-water fish and nuts and seeds. Remember this does not just mean go “Low Fat” on everything. Good fats are OK.
• Follow the principles of the Mediterranean diet as this style of eating has been found to be beneficial in reducing and managing Cholesterol levels. This diet comprises of fresh fish, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, and garlic. Find many good recipes with the natural Cholesterol-lowering food here

Foods that Lower Cholesterol

• Potassium foods -?As mentioned above, high potassium foods will help reduce Cholesterol deposits by protecting the blood vessel walls. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in?potassium such as bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit (some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates, are also?high?in?potassium), cooked spinach, cooked broccoli, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peas, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, pumpkins, other leafy?greens, orange juice, tomato?juice, prune juice, apricot juice, grapefruit juice.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Apple?cider?vinegar, regardless of the production method, decreased triglyceride and VLDL levels in all groups when compared to animals on high-Cholesterol?diets without?vinegar supplementation.?(22)
• Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits -?These fruits are rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that lowers?LDL.
• Barley and other whole grains - Like oats and oat bran, barley and other whole grains can help lower the risk of heart disease, mainly via the soluble fiber they?deliver.
• Beans - Beans are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for the body to digest, meaning you feel full for longer after a meal. That’s one reason beans are a useful food for folks trying to lose weight. With so many choices — from navy and kidney beans to lentils, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and beyond — and so many ways to prepare them, beans are a very versatile?food.
• Cinnamon - 13 randomized controlled trials with 750 participants investigating the effect of cinnamon supplementation on blood lipid concentrations were analyzed.?Cinnamon supplementation significantly reduced blood triglycerides and total Cholesterol concentrations without any significant effect on LDL-C and HDL-C. (21)
• Oats - An easy first step to improving your Cholesterol is having a bowl of oatmeal or cold oat-based cereal like Cheerios for breakfast. It gives you 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber. Add a banana or some s
• Strawberries?for another half-gram. Current nutrition guidelines recommend getting 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day, with at least 5 to 10 grams coming from soluble fiber. (The average American gets about half that?amount.)
• Eggplant and okra - These two low-calorie vegetables are good sources of soluble?fiber.
• Nuts - A bushel of studies shows that eating almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts are good for the heart. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day can slightly lower?LDL, on the order of 5%. Nuts have additional nutrients that protect the heart in other?ways.
• Vegetable oils - Using liquid vegetable oils such as canola, sunflower, safflower, and others in place of butter, lard, or shortening when cooking or at the table helps lower?LDL.
• Foods fortified with sterols and stanols - Sterols and stanols extracted from plants gum up the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from food. Companies are adding them to foods ranging from margarine and granola bars to orange juice and chocolate. They’re also available as supplements. Getting 2 grams of plant sterols or stanols a day can lower?LDL?cholesterol by about?10%.
• Soy -?Eating soybeans and foods made from them, like tofu and soy milk, was once touted as a powerful way to lower Cholesterol. Analyses show that the effect is more modest — consuming 25 grams of soy protein a day (10 ounces of tofu or 2 1/2 cups of soy milk) can lower?LDL?by 5% to?6%.
• Fatty fish -?Eating fish two or three times a week can lower?LDL?in two ways: by replacing meat, which has?LDL- boosting saturated fats, and by delivering?LDL- lowering omega-3 fats. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and also protect the heart by helping prevent the onset of abnormal heart?rhythms.
• Olive Oil - Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and macrophage Cholesterol accumulation are both involved in atherogenesis.??LDL obtained after 1 and 2 weeks of the olive oil diet demonstrated reduced cellular uptake in comparison with LDL obtained before the supplementation of olive oil, by 50 and 61%, respectively. (20)
• Fiber supplements - Supplements offer the least appealing way to get soluble fiber. Two teaspoons a day of Psyllium, bulk-forming laxatives such as Symlax, provide about 4 grams of soluble?fiber. (10)
• Detox Diet?Foods -?All of these foods are recommended as part of our Ultimate Herbal Detox diet and have been proven to help lower Cholesterol.?Cucumber,?Beetroot,?Blueberry,?Celery,?Chia seeds.?Pineapple,?Avocado,?Tomato?

2) Herbs that lower Cholesterol?

• Cinnamon?–?The?blood Lipid-lowering effect of?Cinnamon has been shown in?clinical tests (2)
• Cayenne?–?The fecal excretion of Cholesterol and triglycerides can be significantly increased by the consumption of?Cayenne. (3)
• Ginger?–?Has been shown to possess both Anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic (Cholesterol-lowering) properties (4)
• Garlic?–?There is consistent evidence that?garlic?intake reduces cardiovascular disease risk factors including lowering LDL Cholesterol. (5)
• Turmeric?(Curcumin) and?Black Pepper?–?This combination is an efficacious adjunctive therapy in patients with Metabolic Syndrome and can lower blood Cholesterol concentrations. (6, 12)
• Papaya?–?A study dose-dependently inhibited the total Cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) level, and significantly increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level. (13)
• Psyllium?–?Total Cholesterol was significantly decreased from 252+/-39mg/dl before treatment to 239+/-37mg/dl after 3 weeks of treatment. (14)
• Milk Thistle?–?One animal study found that silymarin worked as effectively as the Cholesterol-lowering drug probucol and?with the extra benefit of greatly increasing good HDL Cholesterol. (15)
• Globe Artichoke?–?Based on recent basic and clinical investigations, the extract of artichoke (Cynara?scolymus) leaf has been revealed to be used for?hepatoprotective?and Cholesterol reducing purposes. (16)
• Turkish Rhubarb?–?Data has suggested that?emodin?from Turkish Rhubarb had the potential value for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. (High Cholesterol) The underlying mechanism is probably associated with a binding capability to Bile acids and subsequent increased expression of?Cholesterol-lowering enzymes. (17)
• Dandelion?–?Results showed that treatment with dandelion root and leaf positively changed plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles in Cholesterol-fed rabbits, and thus may have potential hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects.?(18)
• Aloe Vera?–?studies?suggest that oral administration of Aloe Vera?might be a useful adjunct for lowering blood glucose in diabetic patients as well as for reducing blood lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidaemia. (19)

Isn’t it funny that the hot spicy herbs help to melt away the Cholesterol!

3) Lose weight

If you are overweight then weight loss is an essential part of reducing your Cholesterol levels. If you need to lose weight, you could use the?Ultimate Herbal Detox?and?Slim?programs to assist with your weight loss.

4) Get moving

Daily physical activity is vital to improving cardiovascular health, for weight maintenance, and to keep you as healthy as you can possibly be.

If you need help getting started on an exercise regime, start gently with some daily walking and look for a physical activity that you really enjoy.

5) Make some key lifestyle changes

It is also important that you address factors such as stress and smoking?as these can severely increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

6) Have regular Cholesterol testing

Regular Cholesterol testing helps keep you informed about how your treatment is progressing, as well as providing you with motivation to stick you your new way of life. You can get Cholesterol tests done by your Doctor or your Natural Healthcare practitioner.

7)?The Ultimate Cholesterol Program

Because high cholesterol is largely connected with Liver function, high-calorie diet, blood sugar levels, metabolic acidity, and general inflammation a full inner-body cleanse is recommended. The best program we offer is the Ultimate LiverClenz Combo which you can see outlined below. Of course, you can just try using the parts of this program individually and each part will help, but the combo program is virtually guaranteed to bring your cholesterol down with the month.

Herbal supplements that address the entire digestive system indirectly support the Liver. By clearing undigested, built-up matter from the colon these herbs will reduce the amount of re-circulating waste substances straining the Liver.

The Ultimate Herbal Cholesterol program includes almost all of the dietary changes and herbs mentioned in this book and has proven to help lower cholesterol. The high dosage of herbs in the Ultimate Cholesterol Program includes Aloe Vera, Chia seeds, Dandelion, Globe Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Papaya, Pineapple, Psyllium Husk, Turkish Rhubarb, Ginger, and Cayenne. You consume a mega-dose of the herbs in capsules or in drink form along with the detox diet, rich in all the cholesterol-lowering foods. After the 30-day program, you should be able to get your blood tested again and see the result of your efforts.

This will inspire you to make a few simple long-term dietary adjustments.

The Ultimate Herbal Detox and BodiClenz

The Ultimate Herbal?Detox?or?BodiClenz programs?both give the benefits of most of the very effective herbs we have talked about, including?Milk thistle,?Globe?Artichoke,?Goldenseal,?Dandelion,?Wormwood,?Turkish Rhubarb,?Kiwifruit,?and?Barley grass.?It is the combination of these foods along with the specific foods mentioned above which give you an excellent liver cleansing program.

You should use these programs over 30-days following what’s called the Gentle Cleanse Program.?Read more about the Deep Cleanse program here

The LiverClenz 500ml Liquid Formulation

Because your liver is central to controlling cholesterol production a liver tonic is essential. LiverClenz contains a blend of the following herbal extracts in a base of pure New Zealand bush honey.

Click the names to read more about each ingredient.

Take 15ml Daily

• NZ Bush Honey
• Licorice
• Milk thistle
• Dandelion
• Globe artichoke
• Bupleurum
• Andrographis
• Gentian
• Goldenseal

Aloe Vera Juice – 1 litre

?Because aloe is so healing and has proven cholesterol-lowering effects it’s an important part of the program. I’ve been using this Aloe vera gel in my clinic for the last few years, and I swear by it. Unlike many Aloe vera drinks you buy, that is watered down, this Aloe juice is thick and still has visible pulp in it.

Take 30ml Daily

Symlax Bulking Fibre Blend?– 120 capsules

?Because soluble fibre is an important part of reducing cholesterol levels, it is important to include some extra fibre during your one-month program. Symlax contains a blend of these herbs.

• Psyllium(Plantago ovata) seed husk
• Chia(Salvia Hispanica) seed
• Aloe Vera(Aloe Barbadensis) leaf
• Slippery Elm(Ulmus rubra) bark

Take 4 capsules daily

Ultimate Herbal Cholesterol Program Complete

Get all four products in one easy-to-follow program and save 25%.?Click here to buy

Contents

• BodiClenz Powder?500g?$149.00 or…?Ultimate Herbal Detox?480 Capsules?$199.00
• LiverClenz Liquid Formulation?500ml?$149.00
• Forever Aloe Vera?1lt?$49.00
• Symlax Fibre Blend Probiotic?120 Capsules?$49.00

Total Value NZD $396.00-446.00

Combo Price $297.00-$333.00 Savings 25% Discount (Save up to $110.00)

Click HERE to buy

References:

(1)?Global Health Observatory (GHO) data, Mean Cholesterol?https://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/cholesterol_mean_text/en/

(2) Lipid-lowering effect of?Cinnamomum zeylanicum?in hyperlipidaemic albino rabbits.?PMID:?22186322?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22186322

(3)?Hypocholesterolemic effect of the oleoresin of?Capsicum?annum L. in gerbils (Meriones hurrianae?Jerdon).?PMID:?12164276?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12164276

(4) Anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic properties of?ginger?(Zingiber officinale) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic?rats.?PMID:?17010224?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17010224

(5) Garlic?powder intake and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.?PMID:?25489404?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25489404

(6) Lipid-modifying effects of adjunctive therapy with curcuminoids-piperine combination in patients with metabolic syndrome: results of a randomized controlled trial.?PMID:?25440375?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25440375

(7)?[Margarine’s trans-fatty acid composition: modifications during the last decades and new trends].?PMID:?16640201?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16640201

(8)?Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant sterols/stanols provided in capsule and tablet formats: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.?PMID:?24144075?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24144075

(9)?Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC?https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/chol_tlc.pdf

(10)?11 foods that lower?cholesterol.?https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/11-foods-that-lower-cholesterol

(11)?Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27809434

(12)?Long-term curcumin administration protects against atherosclerosis via?hepatic regulation?of lipoprotein?cholesterol?metabolism. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22058071

(13)?Effect of ether- and water-soluble fractions of?Carica?papaya?ethanol extract in experimentally-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22077166

(14)?Cholesterol reduction using psyllium husks – do gastrointestinal adverse effects limit compliance? Results of a specific observational study. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222665

(15)?Silymarin inhibits the development of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9525106

(16)?The Effect of Artichoke Leaf Extracts on?Alanine?Aminotransferase?and?Aspartate?Aminotransferase?in the Patients with Nonalcoholic?Steatohepatitis.?PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879230/

(17)?Hypocholesterolemic effect of?emodin?by simultaneous determination of in vitro and in vivo bile salts binding. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26964768

(18)?Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dandelion (Taraxacum?officinale)?root?and leaf on cholesterol-fed rabbits. PubMed?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20162002

(19)?Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1313538/pdf/10885091.pdf

(20)?Dietary olive oil reduces low-density lipoprotein uptake by macrophages and decreases the susceptibility of the lipoprotein to undergo lipid peroxidation. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8517637

(21)?The effects of cinnamon supplementation on blood lipid concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28887086

(22)?Effects of?apple?cider?vinegar?produced with different techniques on blood lipids in high-cholesterol-fed rats. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21561165

(23)?Too much of a good thing? Very high levels of “good” cholesterol may be harmful.?https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Too-much-of-a-good-thing-Very-high-levels-of-good-cholesterol-may-be-harmful

(24)?A study identifies Liver gene that regulates cholesterol and fat blood levels.?https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130207131407.htm

(25)?The endoplasmic reticulum is the site of cholesterol-induced cytotoxicity in macrophages. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12907943

(26)?High K diets markedly reduce atherosclerotic cholesterol ester deposition in aortas of rats with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2306340

(27)?Successful management of uric acid nephrolithiasis with potassium citrate. PUBMED?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3784284