What is the Best Natural Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement?

Keeping your heart in good shape is paramount. For that, we have to ask the question: What is the best natural cholesterol-lowering supplement?

Chances are high that you or someone you know suffers from cardiovascular disease. The staggering truth is that cardiovascular diseases (or CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide.

According to World Health Organization, an estimated 17.9 million people die per year due to various kinds of heart and blood vessel problems. And today’s topic, high cholesterol, is the leading cause of CVDs.

Here at Phytocopeia, we worked around the clock to develop a range of natural supplements that support heart health. Read on to learn more.

What Is The Main Cause of High Cholesterol?

Before even scratching the surface of the question of what is the best natural cholesterol-lowering supplement, let’s discuss bad cholesterol and the habits that cause it.

Firstly, it’s important to know our bodies need and create cholesterol. In fact, our own livers create as much as 80% of the cholesterol in our bodies. The rest and anything extra usually comes from food.

The truth is that cholesterol isn’t always bad – in fact we need it. Cholesterol helps regulate cell membranes, hormones, and vitamin D. But the fatty substance is only useful in certain amounts.

Moreover, scientists discovered that there are two types of cholesterol. They need to be in balance for good health:

• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “the bad cholesterol”
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL), or “the good cholesterol”

LDL, the bad cholesterol, builds up and creates plaque on the inside walls of blood vessels. Effectively, this narrows down the arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of blood clots. HDL, the good cholesterol, helps reduce the level of LDL in your body.

Dietary, environmental, and genetic factors all influence cholesterol levels:

• Unhealthy diet is the leading cause of high cholesterol. Mostly, foods high in saturated and trans fats are the main culprit, followed by too much salt in food.
• Smoking – The acrolein found in cigarettes inhibits the function of HDL which lowers bad cholesterol.
• Genetic predisposition for familial hypercholesterolemia. In addition, existing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure are a risk factor.
• A sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol consumption are also bad for heart health and increase the risk of CVDs.

A Few Diet Changes to Help High Cholesterol

Before you turn to supplements and medication, try to fight high cholesterol through a few changes in your food choices.

Here are some of the foods you should reduce or avoid completely:

• Full-fat dairy products like whole milk, full-fat yogurt, and butter
• Red meat like beef and pork, especially the fatty chops
• Processed meats like bacon, sausages, ham, and other delis
• Anything fried in oil, including potato fries and fried eggs

Instead, eat more of these cholesterol-lowering ingredients:

• High-fiber foods – any vegetable or fruit will do. But the foods high in soluble fiber are especially good at reducing cholesterol absorption in your digestive tract. In order to get these benefits, include more veggies and fruits like apples, beans, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
• Oats, or an oat-based cereal (think Cheerios) are high in beta-glucans, a type of essential fiber.
• Fish oil – Omega-3 fatty acids are a well-known way to protect your cardiovascular health (1). Go for non-fried fatty fish like anchovies, herring, sardines, and salmon twice a week!

What is The Best Natural Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement Out There?

If you want to protect the health of your heart, consider taking cholesterol-lowering natural supplements along with dietary changes. With the right lifestyle adjustments, supplements can help your body deal with cholesterol in a natural, stress-free way.

So, let’s cut to the chase – what is the best natural cholesterol-lowering supplement? There are a few good contenders, but the truly best one will depend on your condition and other supplements you take. Today, we covered some of the most effective supplements that lower cholesterol.

Always consult your physician before you start taking any dietary supplement. That’s especially important if you already suffer from CVD or other diseases, or take medicines and other supplements.

 

1. Beta-Glucans

Beta-glucan is a type of fiber that’s found in grains like oats, barley, and wheat. It’s known to help control the sugar levels in the blood, manage cholesterol (2), and reduce inflammation.

What this fiber actually does is slow the passage of food through the intestines, making it easier for your gut to ingest the good stuff. Beta-glucan slows sugar absorption at the same time. In addition, it makes you feel full for a longer time, so you won’t feel the need to munch as much.

As a dietary supplement, beta-glucan is tested and tried. It has a long history – it’s been used to reduce bad cholesterol absorption (3) since the 1960s.

We recommend ImmunoBran, a Phytocopeia original beta-glucan natural supplement with black rice bran extract.

 

2. The Vitamin B3 Family

The many substances from the Vitamin B3 family are used to boost cardiovascular health. When taken as supplements, they all get converted into NAD+. That’s why we call them NAD+ precursors. This molecule is widely known for its regenerative and protective effects on body cells.

The different NAD+ precursors come often found in supplement form are, for instance:

• Niacin,
• NR (Nicotinamide riboside),
• NAM (Nicotinamide),
• NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)

It’s good to know that, while they’re all good supplements that can boost your health, they’re not equally efficient at regulating cholesterol.

For example, NR is great at regulating blood pressure and it has strong anti-inflammatory properties. However, NR just doesn’t affect glucose or insulin management very much.

Niacin does help control cholesterol and triglycerides, but it causes flushing as a side effect and requires doctor supervision.

Research shows that NMN is the safest (4) and most efficient B3 option for people who need help regulating blood sugar, insulin resistance, and cholesterol levels.

SirtPro is a great choice for an NMN supplement. What sets it apart is its active component, NMN, but it also includes Apigenin which regulates the fats and cholesterol in blood, and resveratrol which helps your liver control cholesterol production (5).

Keep in mind that all forms of Vitamin B3 are water-soluble. It’s best to take them on an empty stomach or between meals.

 

3. Phytosterols

Plants naturally produce sterol and stanol esters in their cell membranes. Luckily, most people get enough just enough phytosterols through a diet rich in veggies and fruits.

Clinical practice guidelines (6) and The National Cholesterol Education Program endorse phytosterol supplements as a way to help and prevent cardiovascular disease. As a result, they’re available in supplement form too.

Of course, these compounds are found in nature – and they structurally look very alike to cholesterol. They’re used to reduce the levels of LDL in your system – since phytosterols and cholesterol compete in the digestive tract. Essentially, your body absorbs less cholesterol because it’s already processing plant sterols instead.

 

4. Anthocyanin Supplements

Berries are one of the most healthful foods you can eat.

Blueberries, raspberries, black currants, cranberries, bilberries, strawberries, and everything in between. Their many health benefits come from the chemicals that give them their strong color: anthocyanins.

Naturally found in plants, anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid. Firstly, they’re strong antioxidants. Secondly, anthocyanins can protect your body from LDL cholesterol. Thirdly, they also help prevent diabetes and obesity, and improve your cardiovascular health.

Here at Phytocopeia, we believe in C3G PRO – a natural anthocyanin supplement with bilberry fruit and black currant extracts.

 

Bonus – The Botanical Wonder Pill for Vascular and Overall Health

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution alike to your multivitamin, consider our 9-in-1 Botanical Wonder Pill.

The Botanical Wonder Pill is full of natural substances that support health, including healthy cholesterol regulation. It contains several phytonutrients that support cardiovascular health, for instance:

• A blend of anthocyanins from berries
• Beneficial flavonols including Myricetin and Kaempferol
• Beta-glucan Rosaex®
• Ellagic acid extract (10).

Live Life with Your Whole Heart

If you’re here, it means you’re the kind of person that does their research before making important decisions. Now, you also know what is the best natural cholesterol-lowering supplement and how to keep your heart healthy.

There you have it – Paired with a healthy diet and moderate exercise, the right natural supplements to lower cholesterol will help you live longer and feel better.

References

(1) – https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-omega-fatty-acids

(2) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618555/

(3) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5810204/

(4) – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.604404/full

(5) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27085216/

(6) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4986030/

(7) – https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/99/2/561/2536964

(8) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19640950/

(9) – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.00016/full

(10) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32110925/