These days many people are concerned with the problems connected with high total cholesterol. Here are some information about the causes of high cholesterol and what you may do about it.

What are the possible causes of high cholesterol?

Well, you may have inherited a specific gene from your father or mother which causes an overproduction of cholesterol by the body. This is unfortunate, but it is possible to influence the amount of cholesterol in the blood. When there is a family history of high cholesterol, it would be good to have regular blood tests to determine your lipoprotein profile and risk factors.

Other causes of high cholesterol are less defined and have to do with your lifestyle and diet. Cholesterol are found in animal products such as meat, eggs and cheese. These high cholesterol foods to avoid also contain saturated fat which can unbalance your lipoprotein profile and increase the risk of arterial plaque formation. Lifestyle factors such as a lack of exercise and obesity can contribute to an unhealthy cholesterol profile.

How to lower triglycerides naturally

Another thing to consider are your triglycerides levels. Triglycerides are fats that are burned by the body as a source of power. You can get triglycerides from the food you eat and your own body makes it as well when you need it. This is only a problem when the levels are too high. It can then increase the risk for obesity and heart disease.

You may lower triglycerides naturally by switching to a low triglyceride diet. You will have to limit your sugar use and avoid eating sugary foods like ice cream and candy. Soft drinks are a no-fly zone. You will have to stop drinking alcohol as well. It just gets worse right? First sugar, now alcohol. What about fried chicken and fried potato chips? Are you gonna eat that? No, you cannot! Fried foods are not good for high triglycerides levels.

The optimal cholesterol HDL ratio

The level of HDL cholesterol particles is important because of the effect it has on the removal of fatty deposits on the walls of arteries. HDL has the ability to remove these potential blockage points where a random blood clot can get stuck and disrupt blood flow. The recommended total cholesterol HDL ratio should be less than 5 cholesterol parts for every 1 HDL part. So it is lower than 5:1.

What about cholesterol supplements?

There is a vitamin supplement that could be useful for improving your lipoprotein profile. It is vitamin B3 or niacin. There seems to be a link between niacin and cholesterol. The matter has been studied and it shows that optimizing niacin levels in the body may lead to a small reduction in LDL and triglycerides. It may raise HDL levels by a small amount. Since the effect of niacin on cholesterol is not enormous, this should not be the only thing you do to lower cholesterol levels. However, it can form part of a more complex dietary and lifestyle approach.

Niacin can be obtained from eating a “hill of beans”. Meat and dairy products are the most common source of vitamin B3, but obviously these products contain saturated fat which may unbalance all your efforts to get the perfect lipoprotein profile. You can get niacin in many supplement on the market today, so if you are a vegetarian that eats no meat, you can get it that way. If you take too much niacin you may experience skin discomfort like redness or itching. Carefully follow the dosage instructions.

Here is a list of other cholesterol supplements that may help you to control lipid levels:

• Sitostanol and beta-sitosterol supplements might lower LDL cholesterol.
• Fish oil capsules can reduce LDL cholesterol.
• Garlic extract capsules may decrease LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Flax seeds could decrease triglyceride levels.

You should not take cholesterol supplements if you are already using statin medication or blood-thinning drugs since certain supplements can interfere with the workings of prescription medicines. Also tell your doctor that you are taking this or that cholesterol supplement. Your doctor will then be able to check for undesirable drug interactions.

You can learn how to reduce cholesterol and then follow through on your commitment to balance your lipid levels. Stay in communication with your family physician and keep her informed about your current fitness levels, diet patterns and which supplements you decide to take.

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