{"id":626572,"date":"2024-02-05T09:30:50","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626572"},"modified":"2026-03-01T15:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T20:02:00","slug":"natural-remedies-for-high-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/natural-remedies-for-high-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"10 natural remedies for high cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your healthcare provider has recently expressed concern about your cholesterol levels, you\u2019re not alone. About <\/span>86 million American adults<\/span> have high cholesterol, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though high cholesterol does not usually cause symptoms, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack if left untreated. Fortunately, lifestyle changes\u2014diet, in particular\u2014can help you lower your cholesterol naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n

10 home remedies for high cholesterol<\/span><\/h2>\n

Along with a personalized action plan from a healthcare professional, which may include cholesterol-lowering medications, these natural remedies for high cholesterol can help.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Increasing fiber intake<\/h3>\n

Improving your diet is one way to lower cholesterol naturally. Increasing your fiber intake is a great first step. Fiber-rich foods can help flush out cholesterol from the body. \u201cIncreasing soluble fiber <\/span>helps to lower LDL<\/span> (\u201cbad\u201d) cholesterol levels,\u201d says <\/span>Rickelle Tallent<\/span>, RDN, LD, owner of <\/span>Tallent Nutrition & Wellness<\/span> in Las Vegas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins and is considered \u201cbad cholesterol.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that there are many natural sources of soluble dietary fiber. Oats, barley, and <\/span>psyllium<\/span><\/a> (available in supplement form) are easy to find at most supermarkets. Other heart-healthy fiber sources include whole grains and lentils.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Reducing saturated fat intake<\/h3>\n

Understanding the type of fat you are eating is essential to a healthy diet. Eating foods high in saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels over time. If saturated fat consumption has led to high cholesterol, reducing the amount of saturated fat you eat can help decrease your levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturated fat is found in red meat, dairy products, and processed or packaged foods. When <\/span>Amy Offutt, MD, medical director of <\/span>Heart & Soul Integrative Medicine<\/span><\/a> in Texas, <\/span>has a patient with high cholesterol, one of her first recommendations is to cut out <\/span>fast food. <\/span>You can also decrease your saturated fat intake by swapping red meat for lean white meat, limiting dairy, and eating whole, home-cooked foods instead of processed foods or takeout. It is not necessary to stick to a low-fat diet; unsaturated fats\u2014which can be found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil\u2014are part of a healthy lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Cutting back on sugar<\/h3>\n

A diet loaded with sugar is not good for healthy cholesterol levels. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that high sugar intake is linked to increased LDL (\u201cbad\u201d cholesterol) and decreased high-density lipoproteins or HDL (\u201cgood\u201d cholesterol) levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Offutt and Tallent<\/a>, the relationship between sugar and cholesterol is a two-way street. Just as a sugar-rich diet can <\/span>lead<\/span><\/i> to high cholesterol, reducing sugar can also <\/span>improve<\/span><\/i> high cholesterol.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>The best diet for high cholesterol<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Consuming omega-3s<\/h3>\n

Fish oil coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBumping up omega-3 intake helps to improve HDL \u2018good\u2019 cholesterol and triglyceride levels,\u201d Tallent says. She adds that the <\/span>Mediterranean diet<\/span><\/a>, the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet all incorporate omega-3s in addition to the dietary suggestions mentioned earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Omega-3 fatty acids<\/span><\/a> are found naturally in many foods, including:<\/span><\/p>\n