Cholesterol is a fatty substance and an integral part of cell membrane in our body. Cholesterol is also found flowing in our blood. Cholesterol circulation in blood comes from two sources - dietary intake and liver production. Cholesterol through dietary intake mainly comes from poultry, meat, fish, and dairy products; vegetables and fruits do not contain any cholesterol. The liver is a place that can control the cholesterol level in blood, either by removing cholesterol from blood or by manufacturing cholesterol and releasing it in the blood. Although certain amount of cholesterol is essential for human beings, high levels of cholesterol circulation in the blood may lead to atherosclerosis, a serious disease that causes clogging or narrowing of arterial blood vessels. Too much of cholesterol in blood, therefore, increases the chances of getting a heart attack or stroke.
Here are some of the home remedies you can try to control your cholesterol level. Mix 1 teaspoon of roasted chicory root, 1 teaspoon of lime flower, ½ teaspoon of fenugreek seeds, ½ teaspoon of ginger rhizome, and 250 ml of water. Heat the ingredients till it boils, and drink this concoction after it is cooled down and strained. Consuming roasted sunflower seeds is another home remedy for cholesterol control. Coriander is yet another effective remedy for cholesterol control. You can soak coriander overnight and drink the water in the morning. Or, you can also boil coriander seeds in water and drink it after cooling down and straining. Drinking coriander water regularly can help lower your blood cholesterol level.
It is necessary to follow a proper and healthy diet to keep cholesterol level under control. Always eat a fiber rich breakfast consisting of oatmeal, whole grain porridge, and fruits. Eat legumes at meals along with vegetables and salads. Garlic is considered to lower cholesterol production in liver, so include garlic in your meals. Also add foods with high monosaturated fat content (for example, salmon oil, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, avocados) that helps improve cholesterol in your body.
Also, do some amount of physical exercise everyday as an active body is less likely to have a high cholesterol level. Stay away from foods with saturated fats such as whole milk, clarified butter, coconut oil, red meat, poultry skin, etc. Stick to a dominantly vegetarian diet as far as possible as almost all animal products are likely to increase cholesterol level. It also helps your cholesterol if you cook your food by boiling and steaming rather than by frying. Pastries and confectioneries should also be avoided as they are yet another source of saturated fats.
answered by M W