People who suffer from high cholesterol problems often seem to seek out the easiest and quickest solutions and go to consult their doctor about taking prescription drugs such as Lipitor to solve their problems.
Atorvastatin is the true name of the product marketed under Lipitor and various other similar producers. Lipitor is part of a group of drugs called statins that that target the liver to stop producing an enzyme called HMG CoA reductase. Lipitor is used to treat high cholesterol and reduces the levels of “bad” cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, LDL) and raise the levels of “good” cholesterol (high density lipoprotein, HDL). This prescription drug lowers the risk of heart problems/ complications such as heart attacks or strokes in people who suffer from type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease.
Taking Lipitor comes with a lot of side effects including difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fever, muscle cramps, pain, stiffness, swelling, unusual tiredness or weakness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, diarrhea and joint pain to mention a few. Rather than resort to taking Lipitor, certain foods have been shown to decrease heart disease risk by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and raising HDL (good) cholesterol. In addition to fish, oatmeal, red wine, beans, and olive oil, the following food will also help to lower your cholesterol levels.
Cayenne is that ever so popular type of chili pepper that is more commonly known as being a spice for foods than as a medicinal herb but it will still help reduce that “bad” cholesterol. The pepper contains capsaicin, which is a chemical compound that reduces your cholesterol and enlarges your arteries. The dilation of the arteries allows blood flow to become improved and lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. While consuming this pepper may be a rather hot as it clocks in at around 40,000 scovilles the results will be worth it. Just make sure to have some milk at the ready if the heat becomes a bit much.
Garlic is another commonly used as a cooking spice while still working to reduce “bad” cholesterol. Garlic is helpful because of the property Allicin within it. Allicin is a chemical that lowers the levels of the “bad” cholesterol and thins your blood to prevent clotting and increases “good” cholesterol.
Turmeric has Curcumin, a chemical that will help with high cholesterol. Turmeric is for being one of the world’s all time healthiest foods, Turmeric is an herb used to cure liver disease and chest congestion. The plant is most commonly used India where it is cooked with cuisine and used a dye. Since the plant’s properties consist of curcumin, it may also be ingested in order to lower “bad” cholesterol levels. The plant is known for tasting either bitter or somewhat spicy depending on how it is prepared.
You’ve probably heard red wine is good for the heart, well how about grapes? The heart-healthy polyphenol found in red wine, resveratrol, is also found in grapes of all colors. In addition, fresh grapes provide other heart-protective nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and flavonoids. Together these nutrients may promote healthy blood pressure, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, provide anti-inflammatory effects, and help your blood pump. One serving of grapes (3/4 cup) contains just 90 calories, no fat, no cholesterol and virtually no sodium. Enjoy them as a snack off the vine, or add them to your salad, smoothie, or wrap.
Strawberry is one of the things you can eat to improve your diet. A study published in Journal Nutrition using freeze-dried strawberries stirred into a drink found that women who had the drink (equal to about three and a half cups of fresh strawberries) three times a week showed a significant reduction in cholesterol levels by week four of the study.
Other foods that will lower your cholesterol levels includes; avocado, bailey and Indian gooseberry, also known as alma
