Are there safe supplements to take to reduce high cholesterol?

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simba	I know about a product / supplement that has positive results for lowering cholesterol. If you need doctors #s, let me know. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jeffrey G	Yep...Niacin !! Might have to get a low- or no-flush brand (ask your primary doctor) as flushing is a chief side effect of OTC Niacin, but this may be a good, non-prescription/natural way to get control over your "bad" cholesterol as a good first effort, along with proper and healthful diet! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

GojiGirl	There are indeed safe supplements to take for high cholesterol. I am taking one that is an adaptogen which is effective on auto-immune deficiencies including high cholesterol. This is backed with medical validation including 72 clinical studies published on pubmed.org. Contact me for more information. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

sugars_that_heal	The answer is yes. Info is on my page. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jill W	Besides the Niacin, you might also want to increase your fiber intake with something like Metamucil or fibercon. But do it slowly to avoid bloating discomfort. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Therapist26	GRAPEFRUITS, GRAPEFRUITS,GRAPEFRUITS. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

danjelho	I'll second the Niacin answer... worked great for me. But definitely get the slow release to avoid the hot flushing ..... not fun! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

medhelp	Yes, omega 3's with phytosterols along with plenty of fiber works great. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

jjelenass	A more natural cure would be an oatmeal water. You bring to boil few handfulls in 1l of water and you leave it covered for a while. You drink only the water. It really should help! :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

think4yorself	'Red Yeast Rice'--it supposingly works like a statin (like Zocor or Simvastatin) and some people claim it is effective 'omega 3 Fatty Acids'--like fish oil capsules--although some people do not care for the side effects of sometimes burping up a fishy odor. It is very effective in clinical trials. Like the 'good cholesterol' it helps lowers the bad cholesterol Soy products--although the jury is out on this one. If you use Soy products to reduce your red meat consumption, thenthere is no question-- it is definitely a big help. Plant stanols and sterols. You can find them in enriched margarines. The sterols/stanols work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine. You will need about 2 to 3 grams plant stanols per day. Garlic--although the jury is still out on this one Soluble fiber--like Metamucil. soluble Fiber forms a 'gel' with the 'bad cholesterol' and eliminates in from the body. You can also find it in oatmeal and whole grains. OTC Niacin should not be substituted for prescription Niacin. Prescription Niacin is in a slower release formulation which reduces side effects. If you prefer OTC Niacin, let your doc know--it is cheaper. Niacin will cause you to have 'hot flashes'--the best description I have heard. You can take asprin prior to taking the Niacin to reduce the side effects. Other ways to reduce high cholesterol: Lose weight if you are overweight or obese Exercise can get you modest gains in the 'good-cardio-protective', HDL cholesterol Reducing your consumption of dietary fat, especially trans fat and saturated fat. Fat should be no more than 15-35% of your total daily intake of calories and the preferred fats are mono or polyunsaturated fats found in things like olive oil and almonds. Make sure to have a fasting blood sugar test. When there is insulin resistance in diabetes, prediabetes or 'metabolic syndrome' , then you are more prone to high triglycerides levels. The 'bad cholesterol' is definitely a risk factor for strokes and heart attacks--more so than the total cholesterol. If your bad cholesterol is greater than 100 mg/dL, then seek a medical evaluation. You may not need to do anything, based on what ever risks factors you may have or you may have to make monumental changes to reduce your LDL-cholesterol. Remember there is no pill or supplement you can take that will impact your cholesterol lowering than diet and exercise--although sometimes, people have inherited their tendancy to have higher cholesterol, or have a medical condition (like diabetes) that would raise their cholesterol to health-harming levels. That is where supplements and medication is most warranted. If you have significantly high cholesterol, it is imperative to see a physician. Initiating therapeutic lifestyle changes--like a better diet, exercise, is important, but do not use supplements to treat yourself if you need serious medical intervention. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No